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

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ISSUE NO. 1
JULY 2024
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Free your mind
James' transformation after years in prison
Letters
News around the country
What's the latest in criminal justice?
News and investigations
'Why i left the police force'
A story of ethics in the line of duty
Experiences
Housing and homelessness
How to find transitional housing
Reintegration

Welcome to Australia’s National Prison Newspaper

By Joseph Friedman

Australia has never had a regular national prison newspaper. There have been at least 67 prison newsletters and magazines in Australian prison history, but none has been distributed regularly to every cell in the nation. We believe it’s about time that changed.

ISSUE NO. 1
2 MIN READ
Ike Curtis
By David

Have you ever heard the phrase: ‘It’s moments like these you need Minties?’ Well, in 1980, I witnessed one of these ‘moments’. 

ISSUE NO. 1
2 MIN READ
Anonymous

Routine becomes a necessity while serving a prison sentence.

ISSUE NO. 1
3 MIN READ
By S Shepherd

The more I think about life, the more I realise we have been given the greatest gift of all.

ISSUE NO. 1
3 MIN READ
By James

Hi my name is James. I had a traumatic childhood and from the age of six I had issues with anxiety. At 15 years old I started drinking alcohol and immediately I felt relief from my anxiety when I had alcohol in my system. 

ISSUE NO. 1
3 MIN READ
By Natascha

I spent nine months at Dillwynia CC in NSW; the first few weeks in Area 1 max and then in medium, but I quite quickly progressed to Area 2 minimum.

ISSUE NO. 1
4 MIN READ
Anonymous

I am definitely noticing a revolving door in my life with one side being prison. It is a wedge in my life that only I have driven. If I have created it then I can dismantle it.

ISSUE NO. 1
4 MIN READ

Around the Country – June 2024

By About Time

The latest criminal news from around the country, including new laws to combat ‘deepfake’ pornography, a landmark report on the CLC industry, and a review of First Nations over-incarceration.

ISSUE NO. 1
7 MIN READ
Ethan Cassidy

Report on the Inquest of Heather Calgaret

By About Time

Heather Calgaret was a proud Yamatji, Noongar, Wongi and Pitjantjatjara woman. She is remembered as a loving and smiling ‘mother hen’ who was a rock to her family and who loved and connected with her culture through her kids and art.

ISSUE NO. 1
3 MIN READ
From Galbally Parker

Ethics in the Line of Duty

Anonymous

Recently, I left my job as a police officer. When people asked why I left the police force, I said it was because my values misaligned with the job. And yet my certificate of service hangs in a frame on my wall. The irony is not lost on me.

ISSUE NO. 1
4 MIN READ
Paul Alain Hunt

Paper Chained International Art Exhibition

By Damien Linnane

In Sydney in May 2024, Damien Linnane (editor of the prison magazine Paper Chained) held an exhibition of art by people in prison around the world. Linnane managed to obtain over 100 artworks from currently and formerly incarcerated people in eight different countries.

ISSUE NO. 1
3 MIN READ
James Mutugi for Paper Chained

Dealing With Childhood Abuse

By Warrior's Advocacy

Childhood abuse is a traumatic experience that can have a profound impact on a person's life, affecting their emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.

ISSUE NO. 1
4 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance

Yoga Sequence

By The Prison Phoenix Trust

Yoga can help us tap into spring energy. Whatever the weather feels like outside, or inside your room or your mind, we can bring a feeling of sunshine in and you’ll feel brighter.

ISSUE NO. 1
2 MIN READ
From Inside Time

Slow Down to Grow...

By Gary Bultitude

Building muscle isn’t just about lifting the heaviest weights. In fact, incorporating slow-tempo exercises into your routine can offer surprising benefits for muscle growth. Here’s how.

ISSUE NO. 1
4 MIN READ
From Inside Time

Welcome to the Legal Corner

By About Time

Through these articles, we provide information on relevant areas of law. This first article provides basic information to make it easier for family and friends to support you. There are differences in the ways the systems operate depending on where you’re located (VIC, NSW, ACT or TAS), so we hope this is useful and relevant to where you are.

ISSUE NO. 1
7 MIN READ
From Paper Chained

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

Mob

Artwork from The Torch – Issue No. 1

By The Torch

The Torch is an organisation that assists incarcerated Indigenous artists to reconnect with culture and produce art. The torch supports hundreds of incarcerated artists, helping to promote and sell their artwork. This edition of About Time includes several beautiful artworks purchased from the Torch.

ISSUE NO. 1
2 MIN READ
Brendan H (Gunaikurnai/Kurnai/Gunditjmara) ‘Connecting to Country’ 2023, acrylic on canvas

NAIDOC in VIC

Beyond the Bars

By About Time

3CR Community Radio’s Beyond the Bars project began in 2002 and continues to present live radio shows during NAIDOC Week each year.

ISSUE NO. 1
2 MIN READ
Loddon Prison 3CR broadcast team 2023: Amos, Karina, Jody, Tash, Gab, Chris, Bart, Mercedes, Dale

Housing and Homelessness

By Community Restorative Centre and About Time

Homelessness is often the biggest worry that people have when being released from custody. A lot of people leave prison not sure of where they will live. This section gives a rough outline of how people can look for homelessness services and different types of accommodation.

ISSUE NO. 1
12 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance

The Write Ideas: Creative Writing Exercises!

By Michelle Wright

Writing can be a great way to express yourself, to get things out of your head and to pass the time. But writing can also be daunting: where to start? These exercises will help you get your pen to paper.

ISSUE NO. 1
4 MIN READ
Jan Kahanek
By Joseph B

If I could dress it up and say I never felt better, that I’ve got a girl at home and I’m waiting for a letter. I’d pretend the kids are fine and doing well at school, and when I phone they say they miss me and they think their daddy’s cool.

ISSUE NO. 1
2 MIN READ
By Lauren

No matter what our pasts may say, what hurts, our pains endured, and tears shed for those who walked away. You and I, need not let ourselves be defined by those hurts from our pasts and no longer will it influence our time.

ISSUE NO. 1
3 MIN READ
By Nick

Waiting for parole is like remand all o'er again. When starting on my 'things-to-do', my mind leaps back to 'when!?' All-consuming niggling thoughts contort me out of shape. Swarms of bees inside my head frantic for an escape.

ISSUE NO. 1
2 MIN READ
By Elisa

Don't follow in my footsteps, it's been no Sunday stroll, no the road to redemption, isn't paved in gold.

ISSUE NO. 1
3 MIN READ

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