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

Donate Here

Poetry

Ode to Ashton – Now Eighteen

By

Jacqui

Jacqui writes from Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre in Queensland.

Nuno Silva via Unsplash

My little boy has grown so strong

I can’t believe its been this long

Since he raised his tiny head

And gazed at me in the hospital bed.

I held you tight against my chest

And promised to always do my best

To give you all you’d ever need

And make sure you would succeed.

You always wanted to help mum out

Around the house or out and about

And that was merely just the start

To seeing the size of my little boy’s heart.

I can’t believe how fast you’ve grown

And even though I’ve always known

How smart and strong and extra kind

You have become heart, soul and mind.

We’ve had so many ups and downs

But you’ve always kept me on solid ground

You are so much more than a bundle of joy

You’re my giggly, gorgeous, mischievous little boy.

My little boy has grown so strong

I can’t believe its been this long

Since he raised his tiny head

And gazed at me in the hospital bed.

I held you tight against my chest

And promised to always do my best

To give you all you’d ever need

And make sure you would succeed.

You always wanted to help mum out

Around the house or out and about

And that was merely just the start

To seeing the size of my little boy’s heart.

I can’t believe how fast you’ve grown

And even though I’ve always known

How smart and strong and extra kind

You have become heart, soul and mind.

We’ve had so many ups and downs

But you’ve always kept me on solid ground

You are so much more than a bundle of joy

You’re my giggly, gorgeous, mischievous little boy.

This
piece
was originally printed in the
June 2025
edition of About Time.

Lanie's Painting

By Lanie

A painting sent to us by Lanie.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 25

1 MIN READ

Dan’s Drawing

By Dan

A drawing of Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, sent to us by Dan.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 25

1 MIN READ

Self Reflection

By Sofia

Often I try to self-reflect which turns into waves of rings around me. This picture reflects my days in general; life is static, surrounded by waves around.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 25

1 MIN READ

Beyond the Steel Mesh

By Anonymous

The cage stands bold, with its steel-clad mesh. For within its grip, it’s us it holds. Ten foot walls, of cold creme concrete. For outside we muster, like horses in stalls.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 25

2 MIN READ