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Studying after you leave prison may be a good option to help you learn new skills and give you more options and opportunities for employment. Studying can also help keep you motivated after leaving prison.
There are plenty of study options to help you with what you want to do next.
TAFE (Technical and Further Education) is an Australia-wide vocational education system that focuses on providing practical skills and hands-on training and experience in many technical and trade related industries.
If you’ve finished modules of study with providers like TAFE or a state/territory vocational education provider, like AEVTI, EETS or VTEC-SAwhile in prison, you’re already on the way. You can get recognition for the courses you’ve done, and keep working towards a qualification with TAFE or another training provider. If you didn’t get the chance to study in prison, you may have opportunities to get started after you leave.
If you’ve left prison and want help to decide whether you could study at TAFE, and what you would study, ask to speak to a TAFE counsellor at your local TAFE college. Almost all TAFE colleges have a counsellor, and they’re trained to provide counselling to help people make work and study plans. TAFE counsellors also help with personal or learning issues that could be barriers to studying successfully. They can help you get recognition for any of your prison studies,help you choose a course, and find out how to enrol. It’s a good idea to take the results of any courses you’ve done whilst incarcerated when you go to discuss study options at TAFE or other education providers.
There are many courses available at TAFE, spanning from construction, cybersecurity to counselling and more! No matter what you want to do, it’s likely there is a course for you at TAFE. TAFE courses are usually more hands-on than university courses, with less theory and a focus on practical training and experience, and can often be finished quicker than a university degree.
TAFE campuses are usually organised into groups, called institutes. Not all courses or services are available at each campus, so you will need to check what’s available at your local TAFE.
Many courses will enrol students only once or twice a year. This means that you may have to wait before you can enrol, depending on your release date. Outreach courses and basic education courses start throughout the year.
If you want to find out more about TAFE courses, or already know the area or course you’d like to study after you’re released, you can ask for information from the education centre in your prison. You can also speak to the education centre in your prison if you want to start studying before you’re released.
Since 2023, the Australian government has funded places in certain areas of training to provide fee-free placements to encourage people to go into these areas. Areas include agriculture, construction, defence, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing and technology and digital. Placements are prioritised for a number of people groups, including First Nations Australians, those 17-24yrs, and those who are out of work or receiving income support payments. You should speak to your prison’s education centre about the fee-free TAFE placements available in your state or territory.
Outside the specific free courses, there are a number of ways that TAFE course fees can be reduced or waived. First Nations Australians, those living with disability, apprentices and trainees, and those receiving Centrelink pensions or benefits may be eligible to undertake courses at a reduced or fee-free rate, depending on the course and the state or territory TAFE.
Each state and territory is different and may have free options. For example, in Victoria, there are over 80 free qualifications and short courses in high demand areas. Any Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen living in Victoria can access these. Free TAFE trains for in demand jobs in a variety of areas including construction and labourers, health support workers, community and disability services, agriculture, hospitality and other professional services like bookkeeping and accounting. You can find out more on 131 823 or www.vic.gov.au/free-tafe or ask someone in the prison to help you.
You should keep in mind that many TAFE or other vocational courses need textbooks and equipment, which you may have to buy in addition to paying any course fees. Your local TAFE can help you understand if you need to buy anything for the course you want to do, and if there are options to help you with this. For instance, if you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you should be able to get help through ABSTUDY with buying textbooks and equipment for courses.
There are a number of income support options to help you if you study full-time at a TAFE or other vocational provider. Programs through Centrelink include Youth Allowance, which is designed to help those up to 24 years old, Austudy which is for those 25 years or older, and ABSTUDY which is for First Nations Australians. All of these supports have requirements and you should speak with someone to help you understand what will work best for you. If you’re already receiving assistance from Centrelink, you should also speak with someone to find out if there is extra help available to you to study.
TAFE offers introductory learning courses that can help you improve your reading, writing and number skills and learn work skills. These can be stepping stones to other TAFE courses, or to the workforce.
To find other local reading and writing courses contact the Reading and Writing Hotline on 1300 655 506.
Outreach courses also provide introductory courses that cover a range of entry level vocational areas. They’re usually shorter courses running for about 6 to 10 weeks. For more information, contact the Outreach coordinator at the TAFE institute nearest to you.
TAFE offers services to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to feel comfortable about accessing TAFE courses. You can contact an Aboriginal Coordinator at the TAFE institute nearest to you to ask about support for First Nations students.
Most campuses will have a First Nationsstudent support officer. They can help you with enrollment and support while you do your course. They’ll also have information about any other support services that could help you.
You don’t have to tell anyone about being in prison unless you choose to. Sometimes TAFE staff will be able to support you better if they do know that you’ve been in prison, but the decision to tell staff is up to you.
TAFE counsellors provide a confidential service, so if you tell them that you’ve been in prison they can’t share this information with other TAFE staff. Certificates that you’ve gained in prison may show that you’ve studied at the specific prison-based program, such as AEVTI, EETS or VTEC-SA. Most people in TAFE or other vocational organisations who see your certificates will not be aware that you got them in prison.
University courses often focus far more on theoretical learning for traditionally academic fields. Many universities have alternative entry options these days, especially for mature aged students (often considered anyone over 21 years). These can include special or bridging study programs and special schemes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students or other specific cohorts of people.
Local libraries will generally have publications such as the UAC (Universities Admission Centre) Guide, Good Universities Guide or Job Guide with information about university courses which you can look through to decide if university study is right for you. Fees for university are generally much higher than for TAFE, and students often use government loan schemes to pay for them. University courses also often take years to complete, though some may offer the ability to graduate with different levels of qualifications, such as a certificate or diploma, if you’re unable or don’t want to complete the full degree.
TAFE qualifications at Certificate 4 level or higher can sometimes count towards the first stage of a university degree. You can contact the Universities Admission Centre on (02) 9752 0200 or www.uac.edu.au for more information about university and about counting TAFE study towards a university degree.
Studying after you leave prison may be a good option to help you learn new skills and give you more options and opportunities for employment. Studying can also help keep you motivated after leaving prison.
There are plenty of study options to help you with what you want to do next.
TAFE (Technical and Further Education) is an Australia-wide vocational education system that focuses on providing practical skills and hands-on training and experience in many technical and trade related industries.
If you’ve finished modules of study with providers like TAFE or a state/territory vocational education provider, like AEVTI, EETS or VTEC-SAwhile in prison, you’re already on the way. You can get recognition for the courses you’ve done, and keep working towards a qualification with TAFE or another training provider. If you didn’t get the chance to study in prison, you may have opportunities to get started after you leave.
If you’ve left prison and want help to decide whether you could study at TAFE, and what you would study, ask to speak to a TAFE counsellor at your local TAFE college. Almost all TAFE colleges have a counsellor, and they’re trained to provide counselling to help people make work and study plans. TAFE counsellors also help with personal or learning issues that could be barriers to studying successfully. They can help you get recognition for any of your prison studies,help you choose a course, and find out how to enrol. It’s a good idea to take the results of any courses you’ve done whilst incarcerated when you go to discuss study options at TAFE or other education providers.
There are many courses available at TAFE, spanning from construction, cybersecurity to counselling and more! No matter what you want to do, it’s likely there is a course for you at TAFE. TAFE courses are usually more hands-on than university courses, with less theory and a focus on practical training and experience, and can often be finished quicker than a university degree.
TAFE campuses are usually organised into groups, called institutes. Not all courses or services are available at each campus, so you will need to check what’s available at your local TAFE.
Many courses will enrol students only once or twice a year. This means that you may have to wait before you can enrol, depending on your release date. Outreach courses and basic education courses start throughout the year.
If you want to find out more about TAFE courses, or already know the area or course you’d like to study after you’re released, you can ask for information from the education centre in your prison. You can also speak to the education centre in your prison if you want to start studying before you’re released.
Since 2023, the Australian government has funded places in certain areas of training to provide fee-free placements to encourage people to go into these areas. Areas include agriculture, construction, defence, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing and technology and digital. Placements are prioritised for a number of people groups, including First Nations Australians, those 17-24yrs, and those who are out of work or receiving income support payments. You should speak to your prison’s education centre about the fee-free TAFE placements available in your state or territory.
Outside the specific free courses, there are a number of ways that TAFE course fees can be reduced or waived. First Nations Australians, those living with disability, apprentices and trainees, and those receiving Centrelink pensions or benefits may be eligible to undertake courses at a reduced or fee-free rate, depending on the course and the state or territory TAFE.
Each state and territory is different and may have free options. For example, in Victoria, there are over 80 free qualifications and short courses in high demand areas. Any Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen living in Victoria can access these. Free TAFE trains for in demand jobs in a variety of areas including construction and labourers, health support workers, community and disability services, agriculture, hospitality and other professional services like bookkeeping and accounting. You can find out more on 131 823 or www.vic.gov.au/free-tafe or ask someone in the prison to help you.
You should keep in mind that many TAFE or other vocational courses need textbooks and equipment, which you may have to buy in addition to paying any course fees. Your local TAFE can help you understand if you need to buy anything for the course you want to do, and if there are options to help you with this. For instance, if you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you should be able to get help through ABSTUDY with buying textbooks and equipment for courses.
There are a number of income support options to help you if you study full-time at a TAFE or other vocational provider. Programs through Centrelink include Youth Allowance, which is designed to help those up to 24 years old, Austudy which is for those 25 years or older, and ABSTUDY which is for First Nations Australians. All of these supports have requirements and you should speak with someone to help you understand what will work best for you. If you’re already receiving assistance from Centrelink, you should also speak with someone to find out if there is extra help available to you to study.
TAFE offers introductory learning courses that can help you improve your reading, writing and number skills and learn work skills. These can be stepping stones to other TAFE courses, or to the workforce.
To find other local reading and writing courses contact the Reading and Writing Hotline on 1300 655 506.
Outreach courses also provide introductory courses that cover a range of entry level vocational areas. They’re usually shorter courses running for about 6 to 10 weeks. For more information, contact the Outreach coordinator at the TAFE institute nearest to you.
TAFE offers services to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to feel comfortable about accessing TAFE courses. You can contact an Aboriginal Coordinator at the TAFE institute nearest to you to ask about support for First Nations students.
Most campuses will have a First Nationsstudent support officer. They can help you with enrollment and support while you do your course. They’ll also have information about any other support services that could help you.
You don’t have to tell anyone about being in prison unless you choose to. Sometimes TAFE staff will be able to support you better if they do know that you’ve been in prison, but the decision to tell staff is up to you.
TAFE counsellors provide a confidential service, so if you tell them that you’ve been in prison they can’t share this information with other TAFE staff. Certificates that you’ve gained in prison may show that you’ve studied at the specific prison-based program, such as AEVTI, EETS or VTEC-SA. Most people in TAFE or other vocational organisations who see your certificates will not be aware that you got them in prison.
University courses often focus far more on theoretical learning for traditionally academic fields. Many universities have alternative entry options these days, especially for mature aged students (often considered anyone over 21 years). These can include special or bridging study programs and special schemes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students or other specific cohorts of people.
Local libraries will generally have publications such as the UAC (Universities Admission Centre) Guide, Good Universities Guide or Job Guide with information about university courses which you can look through to decide if university study is right for you. Fees for university are generally much higher than for TAFE, and students often use government loan schemes to pay for them. University courses also often take years to complete, though some may offer the ability to graduate with different levels of qualifications, such as a certificate or diploma, if you’re unable or don’t want to complete the full degree.
TAFE qualifications at Certificate 4 level or higher can sometimes count towards the first stage of a university degree. You can contact the Universities Admission Centre on (02) 9752 0200 or www.uac.edu.au for more information about university and about counting TAFE study towards a university degree.
We all need identification. Identification (or ID) is a document that proves who you are.
Getting a job after prison is hard for most people. If you had a job before you went in, you may not be able to go back to it, or you might not want to.
Feeling isolated and lonely is very common after you’ve left prison. In prison you didn’t expect to open up to people and enjoy their company. Now you’re outside, it takes time to relax and be friendly to people.
If you’re returning to your partner, it’s normal to feel anxious about living together again. Talk about your hopes and plans before release and keep talking once you go home. Listen to them, and get help early if you’re having relationship problems.
I was released about four weeks ago and I was quite stressed. To be completely honest, I didn't really want to leave. The truth is, I loved prison and it became part of my identity.
Getting a job after prison is hard for most people. If you had a job before you went in, you may not be able to go back to it, or you might not want to.
For many of us, the idea of re-entering society after incarceration can feel like standing at a crossroad, unsure of which way to go.
As well as feeling excited about your release, you may also be feeling fearful that something will go wrong so that your release will be delayed, or that you won’t be able to make it once you’re released.
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.
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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