Correctional Centres Educational Programs

The Hon. KAYEE GRIFFIN: I direct my question to the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice. Will the Minister advise the House on whether prisoners in New South Wales are undertaking to participate in educational programs offered in correctional centres and how this will assist them in their rehabilitation?

The Hon. JOHN HATZISTERGOS: With the Higher School Certificate soon to begin, it is timely to update the House on the significant education programs underway in corrective centres around New South Wales. Many inmates enter prison with poor literacy, numeracy and work skills—that is an unfortunate reality. Most have had a fragmented school experience, very limited employment history and negligible work experience. The Government is serious about reducing reoffending, and that is why education programs in corrective centres are one of the core aspects of the State Plan. We know that if offenders come out of prison without skills or education they will be unlikely to get a job and more likely to commit further crime and end up back in prison. Education and work skills will stay with these people for life. It is an investment to help reduce reoffending and we hope it will pay dividends.

To help address education and skills issues in 2006 and 2007, the Government will be spending over $20 million on education programs—an increase of $7 million over that provided in the last three years. I am pleased to report that this investment is getting results. In 2006 and 2007 there was a monthly average of 4,718 enrolments by inmates in accredited educational courses in correctional centres around the State. In 2006 and 2007 these inmates successfully achieved 216 nationally recognised full certificate completions; just under 15,000 nationally recognised Statements of Attainment; 87 certificates awarded at certificate II level—the equivalent of School Certificate level qualification; 20 awarded a certificate III and IV level—the equivalent of Higher School Certificate level qualification; and seven inmates successfully completed pre-tertiary courses through universities.

Education in correctional centres in New South Wales is provided through the Adult Education and Vocational Training Institute, a registered training organisation with the New South Wales Department of Education and Training. The institute has 209 teachers employed by Corrective Services, delivering more than 80,000 teaching hours each year in 31 correctional centres across New South Wales. Inmates undertake a basic skills assessment that identifies literacy and numeracy skill deficits when they are processed into a correctional facility. Many offenders need to undertake treatment programs to address the offending behaviour—sex offender, drug and alcohol and violence prevention programs, to name a few. Often the offender does not have the skills necessary to be able to begin the program immediately. To deal with this, the Adult Education and Vocational Training Institute offers programs to help offenders develop the basic skills needed to participate in these offence-related courses. In this way the Adult Education and Vocational Training Institute works from the very beginning of the offender's time in prison to help him or her prepare for successful rehabilitation.

The Government's effort to reduce reoffending through programs and education is in stark contrast to that which it inherited. I recall a former Coalition Minister, the Hon. Michael Yabsley, referred to education programs as "useless activities which were implemented to help [inmates] get out [of jail] earlier". Under the Yabsley administration, expenditure on educational and other programs for inmates was slashed by 62 per cent. In fact, there were no permanently employed teachers in New South Wales prisons during that period. More recently, the previous shadow Minister for Justice said the programs available in correctional centres were "lifestyle programs" and that inmates should not have access to them. It is a shame that the Hon. John Ryan was dumped from the Liberal Party ticket for election to this Chamber; he saw merit in having such programs in correctional centres. The standing committee that he chaired reported:

70 per cent of inmates in New South Wales prisons committed their most serious offence whilst under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol. It makes sense that if we can address some of those matters we may set about the process of preventing crime.

Unlike our opponents, we are committed to helping prevent future crime by reducing the rate of reoffending. And one of the best ways of achieving this is to give inmates skills and education that will help them get jobs. [Time expired.]