Australia's National Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn

ISSUE NO. 10
May 2025
Donate Here
“Kids Soften the Jail”: Keeping Mums and Kids Together in Prison
A number of programs across Australia allow children to live with their mothers in prison, and there are calls for them to be expanded.
By Denham Sadler

The Living with Mum program is one of many across the country that permit women to raise their baby in a dedicated area of a prison. These programs vary in eligibility and age restrictions.

ISSUE NO. 10
6 MIN READ
Ike Curtis
A Letter From Your Kin
A Mother’s Day love letter
By Yung Prodigy

To the mothers navigating the justice system, whether behind prison walls or holding it down on the outside while someone you love is locked away, we see you.

ISSUE NO. 10
4 MIN READ
The Pain of Motherhood Behind Bars
Motherhood in prison is a sentence that extends far beyond the walls of a cell
By Tabitha Lean

There are little reminders all around me of the time I lost from my children’s lives when I went to prison.

ISSUE NO. 10
6 MIN READ
Bethany Beck via Unsplash
Step Inside the Circle: Acknowledging Childhood Trauma
By Felicia Djamirze

In this interview, Fritzi speaks to me about her purpose, the impact of childhood trauma, and how healing is possible, even from the inside.

ISSUE NO. 10
5 MIN READ
Supplied Fritzi Horstman
Trying to Vote in Prison
By Damien Linnane

I know that it can sometimes feel like society has forgotten about people in prison, but there are political parties that are supportive of changing things in prison.

ISSUE NO. 10
3 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance

Pitch Your Idea!

Do you have a story you want to share, or an issue you want to investigate?
About Time is always looking for more stories and contributions from people outside prison.

Pitch it here!

Don’t Give Up: Reading and Writing
By George

After being incarcerated in 2017 at 40 years old, I thought this would be my opportunity to finally learn how to spell.

ISSUE NO. 10
3 MIN READ
Debby Hudson via Unsplash
Brotherhood of the Glen
By Paul

And from that day on, my very first day, I wasn’t alone – I had 27 brothers and we all looked out for each other.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
'Time Out' by Hoe, Boom Gate Gallery
Anonymous

Sometimes we take things for granted, like our freedom. I've only been in prison a short time compared to some, but I still feel the pinch.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
By Jeffery

All we are asking for is a basic improvement to our living conditions and a definite morale booster for deserving inmates.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
By Bradley

We want to know why we get treated differently in jail than on the outside.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
By Belly

One thing to keep in mind (and is also relevant) is the unemployment or hygiene wages ($15 approximately).

ISSUE NO. 10
1 MIN READ
By David

This is the continuous “therapy” I receive from those considered on the “bottom.” Never doubt your goodness.

ISSUE NO. 10
1 MIN READ
By Ruben

I agree that we should all be held accountable when it comes to our past actions, but what about the system? Is it being held accountable too?

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
By Adam

Whilst I appreciate that this issue only affects 0.01% of the prison population, I do find it hard to believe that this issue hasn’t been highlighted previously.

ISSUE NO. 10
3 MIN READ
By Jason

The real reason that I'm writing is not to whinge about our calls or our pay per week, it is about the lack of pen-pal services to give prisoners like myself connection and community whilst incarcerated.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
By Terri

Fight until there is no time left on the clock!

ISSUE NO. 10
3 MIN READ
By Kelly

I may look scary but I'm cuddly and feminine generally at most times.

ISSUE NO. 10
1 MIN READ
Get the full paper in print each month.

6-Month Subscription:

Physical copy of About Time delivered to your home or organisation each month for six months. Paid upfront.

Subscribe for $70

12-Month Subscription:

Physical copy of About Time delivered to your home or organisation each month for twelve months. Paid upfront.

Subscribe for $125

Vale Andrew Krakouer: The Comeback Man
By Tony Heselev

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following article contains the image of a deceased person.

After football, Krakouer continued to be an inspiration to others, mentoring young prisoners, Indigenous communities and footballers; speaking at schools, clubs and businesses; and co-authoring a children’s book, My Dad’s Gone Away, about a child whose father is incarcerated.

ISSUE NO. 10
5 MIN READ
A day to remember: Andrew Krakouer and coach Brian Dawson in the Swan Districts rooms after the 2010 grand final triumph. Source: Brian Dawson
Popular on the Inside
Benefits of Prison Pen-Pal Programs
Denham Sadler
December 2024
The Stress of Parole
Stacey Stokes
December 2024
A Dutch Prison Diary
Anonymous
December 2024
How to Deal with Shame
Annalise de Groot
November 2024
Around The Country – April 2025
The latest in criminal justice around the country
By About Time

Including an ACT prison receiving funding for education, changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act being paused in QLD, NSW introducing “open clinics” to improve healthcare in prisons and more.

ISSUE NO. 10
2-3 MIN READ EACH
Ethan Cassidy
Recent Major Elections Around the World
Results that went against the trend
By Denham Sadler

Historically, the party in power (the ‘incumbent’) has had an advantage going into an election. That all changed last year.

ISSUE NO. 10
6 MIN READ
Changes to the Law in Victoria: Expanded Police Powers and Machetes as Prohibited Weapons
By Lauren Tye Legal

Critics of these amendments argue this policy will result in significant over-policing and racial profiling.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Healing Justice: A Better Way Forward
By Tabitha Lean & Debbie Kilroy (National Network of Incarcerated & Formerly Incarcerated Women & Girls)

When people experience harm – whether through violence, trauma or the legal system – what they often need most is support, safety and healing. But too often our systems respond with punishment instead of care.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance

Newsletter

Be the first to learn about our monthly stories, plus new initiatives and live events

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.
Andrew’s Story: Curing Hep C and Getting Through Jail
By Andrew

It wasn’t a topic of conversation between us inmates, even though it should’ve been. Hep C is a serious virus.

ISSUE NO. 10
6 MIN READ
AIVL
Stir Fry Satay Fried Noodles (Meat and Veg)
By Anastasia and Kayla

A tasty recipe from Southern Queensland Correctional Centre.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
Upper Body Yoga
By The Prison Phoenix Trust

This series of upper body movements is both uplifting and calming, and is great preparation for meditation.

ISSUE NO. 10
5 MIN READ

Advertise With Us

Want to get your firm noticed by a highly relevant audience?

Join the dozens of law firms and other organisations advertising in Australia’s monthly prison newspaper.

Find Out More

Human Rights in Prison
By Human Rights Law Centre

All people behind bars should be treated with dignity.

ISSUE NO. 10
6 MIN READ
Marcus Spiske
Parole Conditions in Queensland
By Prisoners' Legal Service

All parole orders must have conditions setting out what you are required to do and what you must not do while on parole.  

ISSUE NO. 10
3 MIN READ
Legal Q&A – Varying Intervention Orders
Question from Dylan, Port Phillip Prison

I was reading a section of ‘Australia’s National Prison Newspaper’ where it gave some information about bail but I couldn’t find any information about people trying to vary intervention orders (I.V.O).

ISSUE NO. 10
4 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance

Legal Q&A

Do you have a general legal query that you want answered?
Is  there an area of law that you think people inside should know more about? Submit your question in the provided form, and we might publish an answer in the paper.

Submit Your Question

Healing After Release: My Story
You may have been released, but the memory remains
By Stacey Stokes

What helped me was realising that there was nothing inherently wrong with me and that it was my brain trying to cope.

ISSUE NO. 10
5 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
Mob
The Strength Within: Part 2
An interview with Felicity Chafer-Smith and Marie Mitchell
By VALS and Marie Mitchell

My name is Flick. I'm a Ngarrindjeri woman from South Australia. I spent a lot of my younger years in prison.

ISSUE NO. 10
6 MIN READ
Felicity Chafer-Smith with her Torch artworks
Rainbow Serpent
By Donny

Donny is a proud Worimi man and likes spending his time doing dot art. Donny completed this painting while incarcerated at Borallon Training & Correction Centre in Queensland.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
Donny (Worimi people) ‘Rainbow Serpent’ 2024, Acrylic on canvas
Movie Review of Dream Scenario
By Vincent

Dream Scenario is a deliciously quirky film by Director, Kristoffer Borgli. The audience is taken on an unexpected journey which travails the terrain between the conscious and subconscious mind.

ISSUE NO. 10
3 MIN READ
A24 / Square Peg
‘Blak In-Justice: Incarceration and Resilience’ Exhibition Opens in Melbourne
By About Time

A new art exhibition in Melbourne calls attention to Indigenous incarceration in Australia. It’s on from April to July 2025 at Heide Museum of Modern Art in Melbourne.

ISSUE NO. 10
3 MIN READ
Julie Dowling, The Visit, 2002, synthetic polymer paint, red ochre, glitter and metallic paint on canvas, 59.8 x 50 cm, The State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Gift of Brigitte Braun 2017, Copyright 2025 Photo: Bo Wong. Image courtesy of AGWA
She'll Be Apples
By Angela

This image depicts the wild woman and the apple tree. It is inspired by the character 'Aofie' in this year's production.

ISSUE NO. 9
2 MIN READ
Coloured Pencil on Paper, 2024
Joe, M.C.C. (Marngoneet Correctional Centre)
By Red Dragon

There's demons in my mind, I'm struggling to think. Life's leaving me behind, as deeper, I sink.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
By RM

Home sounds so sweet to the heart, if only shown from the very start. I only wish for my hands to be freed, don’t beat me up about my past. Coz I truly am a good seed.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
By Denis

In every ripple, her essence I find, a memory cherished, sweetly entwined. Her smile, a memory, forever aglow, like creeks that swell, and never forego.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
By April

Three four walls to sit in. Three four thoughts to think in.

ISSUE NO. 10
1 MIN READ
By Anastasia

If you turn to drugs instead, to silence the villains in your head. Or to minimise the self harm to your arm, without causing alarm.

ISSUE NO. 10
2 MIN READ
Play
Mother's Day Quiz

Test your general knowledge on our mother’s day themed quiz!

Dylan Nolte via Unsplash
Crossword

Can you find all the words from the clues?

Categories

Create four groups of four! Each group of four has a common theme.

Card Game – Go Fish!

For 2-3 players, deal 7 cards each. If there are more than 3 players, deal 5 cards each. The rest of the deck is then put in the centre.

Sebastian Pena Lambarri via Unsplash
Bad Jokes

If you have a better joke please send them to us because these ones are terrible!

Chaitanya Pillala via Unsplash

Support Australia's first national prison newspaper

A place for news and education, expression and hope.

Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

It's
About Time.

A place for news and education, expression and hope.

Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

Donate Here

Newsletter

Be the first to learn about our monthly stories, plus new initiatives and live events

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.