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Beyond the Bars is a radio program giving a voice to First Nations people in prison in Victoria.
The live prison radio broadcasts are aired on 3CR and released on CD each year. This year, the program interviewed a number of First Nations people across six prisons during NAIDOC week.
The program has now been running for 24 years.
These are some of the voices included in the 2025 edition of Beyond the Bars.
Mine was having my babies, my three beautiful kids. Gave me a bit more of a purpose in life, as a father it was a proud moment. Can’t wait to get back to them, think of them every day in there.
I always just shout out connection to country, connection to family. Any time you're stuck, go sit by the fire or go sit by the river – water is life, fire is life.
Especially with broken families out there, hold on to what’s true, what’s close to you. Anywhere you go, especially in our society – lapsing, relapsing – you have to try to stay true and stick to your guns and do what you need to do for yourself first and your community.
Painting is a big thing for everyone, even if you don’t think you’re good at painting, a lot of people still do it.
When you’re in jail, especially with your family on the outside, you don’t really have anything to give them for birthdays or Christmas. When it was my partner’s birthday, all I wanted to do was make a painting, to show how grateful I am for the stuff she’s done for me and continues to do for me. But I couldn’t even do that – it’s been two weeks.
My youngest is only 15 months old, my oldest is three. When I was younger I didn’t even know we were Koori until I was 19 years old and in jail. I want to teach them how to paint and keep that culture strong in the family, and keep it going.
It makes you feel humble and whole, to give something to someone that didn’t cost you any money, but it’s worth more than money. I can’t wait to teach my kids how to paint. It’s a way to express how you’re feeling without having to talk about it. You can put it straight on a canvas.
You don’t have to confide with anyone, you can confide to the canvas. Sometimes you don’t want to talk, sometimes you want to let it out in your own way.
We all share our stories and the stuff we’ve been through. The canvas to me is like having a notepad in your pocket. If you can’t express yourself, what can you do?
Here it’s all self catered, you have to cook for yourself. You get a budget, you get an IGA spend $51.40 a week per person.
I like to get a few of the boys together and bank it up and eat together, that’s nice. I cook for my lodge. I’ve been cooking for eight fellas for the last six months.
My favourite meal is just a roast lamb with a potato salad. Just two elements to it but it’s delicious.
Ever since getting locked up, I can’t wait for the journey in front of me.
When I was a kid I didn’t have the perfect role model, I thought I wasn’t even going to live, with my dad doing what he was doing.
Now he’s on the right path, and I can’t wait to take that path with, being that good role model for my kids.
I know I haven’t been the best role model, but I’ve done my traffic management course at Fulham and I just want to do that. I can’t wait to take this path and be out there for my kids.
Hopefully one day I get that opportunity and take it and live a good life.
When I got out the first time, there was no housing. The second time I got out, there was no housing. The third time I got out there was housing. But there were no structures with my day. I’m waking up every day, I’m getting on the drugs and I find myself doing crime again. It’s just not right.
The third time I got out I got accepted in the ARC Program. They accepted me and they gave me a certificate and said ‘you now have housing’. Ages ago you’d get out and they’d put you on the normal housing list. As soon as I got on that program, I got housing.
Beyond the Bars is a radio program giving a voice to First Nations people in prison in Victoria.
The live prison radio broadcasts are aired on 3CR and released on CD each year. This year, the program interviewed a number of First Nations people across six prisons during NAIDOC week.
The program has now been running for 24 years.
These are some of the voices included in the 2025 edition of Beyond the Bars.
Mine was having my babies, my three beautiful kids. Gave me a bit more of a purpose in life, as a father it was a proud moment. Can’t wait to get back to them, think of them every day in there.
I always just shout out connection to country, connection to family. Any time you're stuck, go sit by the fire or go sit by the river – water is life, fire is life.
Especially with broken families out there, hold on to what’s true, what’s close to you. Anywhere you go, especially in our society – lapsing, relapsing – you have to try to stay true and stick to your guns and do what you need to do for yourself first and your community.
Painting is a big thing for everyone, even if you don’t think you’re good at painting, a lot of people still do it.
When you’re in jail, especially with your family on the outside, you don’t really have anything to give them for birthdays or Christmas. When it was my partner’s birthday, all I wanted to do was make a painting, to show how grateful I am for the stuff she’s done for me and continues to do for me. But I couldn’t even do that – it’s been two weeks.
My youngest is only 15 months old, my oldest is three. When I was younger I didn’t even know we were Koori until I was 19 years old and in jail. I want to teach them how to paint and keep that culture strong in the family, and keep it going.
It makes you feel humble and whole, to give something to someone that didn’t cost you any money, but it’s worth more than money. I can’t wait to teach my kids how to paint. It’s a way to express how you’re feeling without having to talk about it. You can put it straight on a canvas.
You don’t have to confide with anyone, you can confide to the canvas. Sometimes you don’t want to talk, sometimes you want to let it out in your own way.
We all share our stories and the stuff we’ve been through. The canvas to me is like having a notepad in your pocket. If you can’t express yourself, what can you do?
Here it’s all self catered, you have to cook for yourself. You get a budget, you get an IGA spend $51.40 a week per person.
I like to get a few of the boys together and bank it up and eat together, that’s nice. I cook for my lodge. I’ve been cooking for eight fellas for the last six months.
My favourite meal is just a roast lamb with a potato salad. Just two elements to it but it’s delicious.
Ever since getting locked up, I can’t wait for the journey in front of me.
When I was a kid I didn’t have the perfect role model, I thought I wasn’t even going to live, with my dad doing what he was doing.
Now he’s on the right path, and I can’t wait to take that path with, being that good role model for my kids.
I know I haven’t been the best role model, but I’ve done my traffic management course at Fulham and I just want to do that. I can’t wait to take this path and be out there for my kids.
Hopefully one day I get that opportunity and take it and live a good life.
When I got out the first time, there was no housing. The second time I got out, there was no housing. The third time I got out there was housing. But there were no structures with my day. I’m waking up every day, I’m getting on the drugs and I find myself doing crime again. It’s just not right.
The third time I got out I got accepted in the ARC Program. They accepted me and they gave me a certificate and said ‘you now have housing’. Ages ago you’d get out and they’d put you on the normal housing list. As soon as I got on that program, I got housing.
This painting represents me as the goanna, going back home to freedom, reconnecting with my dad, mum, brother and sister and the rest of family, and going back to Country.
Including a piece about songlines and another about the lands of the Namoi River People.
A Stolen Generations redress scheme has launched in Western Australia, with eligible people to receive $85,000.
Two new pieces from First Nations artists.
Help keep the momentum going. All donations will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. If you would like to pay directly into our bank account to avoid the processing fee, please contact donate@abouttime.org.au. ABN 67 667 331 106.
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.
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