After getting out of prison in May 2025, I have been looking for employment. I have multiple qualifications and a strong work history with references. I go into an interview, and they speak highly about my resume and my long educational history and how I would make a great fit to the team.

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Then either someone comes in and whispers to the interviewer or the question comes up about a police check and working with children’s check.

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The atmosphere changes in an instant. All of a sudden, I am looked at differently – and then the words change. “Oh, I am sorry, but you need to pass these checks in order to work here.” I think of the stereotypes of people getting out of prison. How they just get on Centrelink and won’t get a job; that they are lazy and never took advantage of the rehabilitation programs etcetera etcetera.

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I see job after job advertisement, looking for staff. I fit almost every category for multiple industries. I get excited and think, “finally, this is the one.” I scroll down and there it is: Police Check and Working with Children’s Check required.

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One of the positions I applied for was sitting in an office ringing people and their businesses. Not being anywhere other than sitting down and calling people. There was no mention of Police Checks or Working with Children’s Check in the job advertisement, so I applied. I have all the skills and experience. I received a letter of offer to attend an interview; I accepted and attended. Getting to this point was not easy – I required phone credit to contact them; Myki money to get there; clothes to wear and a printout of my resume and cover letter. I get $1200 a fortnight from Centrelink and after paying my rent, I have $400 left. So, I am not unnecessarily applying for jobs that I can clearly see won’t be acceptable due to these checks.

I understand the need for these checks, for certain careers, certain jobs. But what I don’t understand is why these checks are necessary for jobs like I mentioned above. I also don’t understand – I did my time, did every program, every educational course the prison offered – the same educational courses I am being praised for in job applications. I worked hard, did high level jobs, sought counselling. I grew and developed. I am never breaking the law again as I now understand what I did and how I needed to change. And I have.

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I am being shut out of a market desperate for hard working people. When are we going to say, “let’s give them a chance to show us they can do it, that they can be great assets to our company?”

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We are all human beings with pasts. We broke the law and are doing everything we can to be better people. Employers, can you please look at who we are now and see how we can help you? We are hard working mothers, sisters, aunties and human beings who deserve employment, to provide for ourselves and our families. Let us show you who we are and our character now.

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I don’t want to be on Centrelink – I want to work. I will cook, clean, waitress, pick up rubbish – anything. But I cannot because of a Police Check and Working with Children’s Check.

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Can you give me and others a chance?