In June, people from across the country gathered in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) for the 18th Reintegration Puzzle Conference — an annual event for those working in justice reform and those with lived experience of prison and reintegration.
The conference brought together First Nations leaders, community workers, researchers, service providers — and most importantly — people who have done time in prison.
The conference was held in the shadow of the recent death in custody of Kumanjari White, a 24-year old Yuendumu man who passed away after being restrained by police in an Alice Springs supermarket. It was also held in the context of tough on crime policies, including lowering the age of criminal responsibility in the NT, restricting bail laws in Victoria, and "Adult Crime, Adult Time" policies in Queensland.
While it is true that "we are up against it", these tragic and preventable situations also provided a rage and urgency that encouraged a more serious conversation. It was also a reminder that to challenge counterproductive tough on crime policies, people with shared values need to work together to push the alternatives and collectively change hearts and minds.
About Time Was There - and We're Reporting Back
About Time attended the conference and sat in on various sessions and panels. We went to make sure that people on the inside don’t miss out on the conversations. The conference covered everything from post-release housing options and culturally-led rehabilitation programs to improving risk assessments and the role of peer workers with lived experience.
Over the coming editions, About Time will be sharing what we heard directly with people in prison. This includes printing summaries of talks and stories, interviews with speakers and analysis of key ideas. We know that if we are serious about reintegration, people inside have to be an active part of the conversation - not just talked about, but also hear and contribute to the conversation.
'Healing the Spirit': Centring Aboriginal Voices and Communities
A key theme of the conference was the need to shift away from punishment and control and towards self-determination and solidarity. This includes pushing back against the demonisation of young people in politics and in the media, and standing up against the manufactured crime crises across various jurisdictions.
Crucially however, it called for a renewed reckoning with the rate of incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — especially children. The program included a wealth of Aboriginal leaders, including a panel of state and territory Commissioners for Children and Young people, on how governments are failing children and what to do about it.
Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, also spoke powerfully about the harms of criminalising children and the urgent need to invest in culturally safe, community-led supports instead. The talk ended in a standing ovation and tears from the audience.
The Importance of Lived Experience as Experts
Another key aspect of the conference with the value of people with lived experience of prison. Those who had spent time inside generously shared their stories of strength and resilience, in a system that doesn’t seem to care if people reoffend. Speaker after speaker spoke of the barriers and collateral consequences of conviction that people face after incarceration that make reintegration so difficult. However, they also made it clear that if people are given a chance, one that is tailored and thoughtful, people can and will break the cycle of incarceration. These stories are those that don’t often get told — but should.
Kimberly Wilde from the Justice Reform Initiative (JRI) spoke to About Time about the importance of lived experience knowledge: "lived experience expertise is actual expertise". Through the conference, "JRI can actually demonstrate to the broader community that lived experience and peer work is actual expertise" and that people "should be at the table and we should be driving things like this".
Keep an Eye on About Time
About Time will be publishing stories, interviews, and conference reflections — written in plain language and shaped for people inside. We'll make sure that what was shared in Mparntwe doesn’t stay there, because those who’ve lived through the system must be part of changing it.
If you want to know more about a particular service or talk, please don’t hesitate to reach out to About Time.
In June, people from across the country gathered in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) for the 18th Reintegration Puzzle Conference — an annual event for those working in justice reform and those with lived experience of prison and reintegration.
The conference brought together First Nations leaders, community workers, researchers, service providers — and most importantly — people who have done time in prison.
The conference was held in the shadow of the recent death in custody of Kumanjari White, a 24-year old Yuendumu man who passed away after being restrained by police in an Alice Springs supermarket. It was also held in the context of tough on crime policies, including lowering the age of criminal responsibility in the NT, restricting bail laws in Victoria, and "Adult Crime, Adult Time" policies in Queensland.
While it is true that "we are up against it", these tragic and preventable situations also provided a rage and urgency that encouraged a more serious conversation. It was also a reminder that to challenge counterproductive tough on crime policies, people with shared values need to work together to push the alternatives and collectively change hearts and minds.
About Time Was There - and We're Reporting Back
About Time attended the conference and sat in on various sessions and panels. We went to make sure that people on the inside don’t miss out on the conversations. The conference covered everything from post-release housing options and culturally-led rehabilitation programs to improving risk assessments and the role of peer workers with lived experience.
Over the coming editions, About Time will be sharing what we heard directly with people in prison. This includes printing summaries of talks and stories, interviews with speakers and analysis of key ideas. We know that if we are serious about reintegration, people inside have to be an active part of the conversation - not just talked about, but also hear and contribute to the conversation.
'Healing the Spirit': Centring Aboriginal Voices and Communities
A key theme of the conference was the need to shift away from punishment and control and towards self-determination and solidarity. This includes pushing back against the demonisation of young people in politics and in the media, and standing up against the manufactured crime crises across various jurisdictions.
Crucially however, it called for a renewed reckoning with the rate of incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — especially children. The program included a wealth of Aboriginal leaders, including a panel of state and territory Commissioners for Children and Young people, on how governments are failing children and what to do about it.
Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, also spoke powerfully about the harms of criminalising children and the urgent need to invest in culturally safe, community-led supports instead. The talk ended in a standing ovation and tears from the audience.
The Importance of Lived Experience as Experts
Another key aspect of the conference with the value of people with lived experience of prison. Those who had spent time inside generously shared their stories of strength and resilience, in a system that doesn’t seem to care if people reoffend. Speaker after speaker spoke of the barriers and collateral consequences of conviction that people face after incarceration that make reintegration so difficult. However, they also made it clear that if people are given a chance, one that is tailored and thoughtful, people can and will break the cycle of incarceration. These stories are those that don’t often get told — but should.
Kimberly Wilde from the Justice Reform Initiative (JRI) spoke to About Time about the importance of lived experience knowledge: "lived experience expertise is actual expertise". Through the conference, "JRI can actually demonstrate to the broader community that lived experience and peer work is actual expertise" and that people "should be at the table and we should be driving things like this".
Keep an Eye on About Time
About Time will be publishing stories, interviews, and conference reflections — written in plain language and shaped for people inside. We'll make sure that what was shared in Mparntwe doesn’t stay there, because those who’ve lived through the system must be part of changing it.
If you want to know more about a particular service or talk, please don’t hesitate to reach out to About Time.
Including tough bail laws being introduced in Victoria, the South Australian Government ruling out raising the age of criminal responsibility, a new parole board president appointed in Queensland and more.
The Australian Federal election is coming up. This is about voting for the Prime Minister and other federal politicians. It will be held on 3 May 2025.
“We can’t get information about how a party or candidate’s policies must impact prisoners,” Kelly told About Time. “Prison officers also will not provide us with any information as it is seen as political.”
Prison work differs across the country.
Help keep the momentum going. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
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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