11. MELISSA LEE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
What recent announcements has she made on employment training skills for prisoners?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Corrections) Link to this
Recently I launched the Prisoner Skills and Employment Strategy 2009-2012. This strategy will ensure that more prisoners leave prison with essential work skills and habits. Research shows that prisoners who find work after their release are less likely to reoffend.
How will the Prisoner Skills and Employment Strategy 2009-2012 assist prisoners to be more employable?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The strategy details the plan to boost the number of prisoners learning industry-based skills by 1,000 by 2011. That was an election promise, and it will assist prisoners to leave prison with better skills than when they entered. There is also a much stronger focus on education and skills development in the strategy, and it targets offenders who are serving sentences of 6 months who currently have fewer opportunities to access the training and employment opportunities provided by the Department of Corrections.