ISSUE NO. 25
August 2026

Letters

About Time dedicates many of its pages to publishing the letters of people in prison, as well as from their family and friends.

This is the centrepiece of the paper: a platform for people to share their experiences and learn from each other.

Latest

First Time in Prison

By Adam

If you feel like you’ve lost everything and have nothing to look forward to, it is very important that you don’t lose hope for your life.

ISSUE NO. 25
2 MIN READ
Wes Hicks via Unsplash

Embracing the Next Chapter

By Anonymous

I’ve now been in for over a year – it’s my first (and last) time in. I still haven’t been sentenced but my lawyer has told me I’ll be doing a “substantial” sentence.

ISSUE NO. 25
1 MIN READ
Willy Pleasance
By Colin

We have an active veterans’ affairs type meeting here every month and an outside group called “Buddy Up” that sends two of their volunteers in.

ISSUE NO. 25
1 MIN READ
By Dylan

I’m only 23 years old but I feel like I’m 43. Being in prison definitely preserves your body but makes your mind and soul feel so much older if you know what I mean.

ISSUE NO. 25
1 MIN READ
By Darren

I’ve been in prison for 14 years now, and lockdowns have always been a feature of prison life, but I have also noticed that over the years they have gotten worse and worse.

ISSUE NO. 25
1 MIN READ
By Kyra

We will all have our freedom one day, so until then keep your head up, you got this and take it one day at a time.

ISSUE NO. 25
1 MIN READ
By Maude

My name is Maude. I am a young Jabbir Jabbir woman – I was born in Broome, Western Australia.

ISSUE NO. 25
1 MIN READ

Previous Editions

ISSUE NO. 18
January 2026

My Advice to Others Inside

By Aaron

I’ve made the most of my time in jail this time and have made myself a promise to not just waste my time here, but to learn as much as I can, study, get fit, do as many programs as possible, and come out a better person than I came in as. I've achieved that, and more.

3 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 18
January 2026

The Need for Compassion in End-of-Life Prison Care

By Laurence

What I’m hoping to achieve by writing this is awareness of the care I receive and the stubbornness of the exceptional circumstances parole in Queensland.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 18
January 2026

The Cost of Contact – New Prison Phone Fees Punish the Poor

By Anonymous

We are encouraged to maintain contact with our support people, our wives, our families, and our friends. This upcoming price increase will reduce the amount of contact we will be able to have with our supports.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

How I’ve GROWn

By Trevor

GROW is a community-based national organisation that works on mental wellbeing using a 12-step program of personal growth, mutual help and support. It operates through weekly peer support groups.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

‘Protection’ at the Cost of Human Rights

By Timmy

In New South Wales, there were previously three levels of protective custody for vulnerable inmates, such as myself, who have autism spectrum disorder and other mental health issues.

1 MIN RED
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

Rest in Paradise, Alithea

By Adrielle

I am writing to you about my one and only older sister, Alithea. RIP. It’s been 2 months since I lost you.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

Let Them Go Home

By Ed

Well, I’m writing this letter in relation to the housing crisis, which is a problem for many inmates trying to find a place to live.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

‘You Got This, Aye!’

By Belly

I have a short poem as well as a mindfulness technique called “Distress Tolerance”.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025

I Am Not My Crime

By Brendan

I encourage everyone who is incarcerated not to identify with your crime. Rather, identify with something higher, wider and greater than that.

1 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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