The Time to Work Employment Service is a national voluntary in-prison employment service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Time to Work Employment Service
The Time to Work Employment Service in non-remote areas ended on 30 June 2024.
The Time to Work Employment Service in remote areas has been extended until 30 June 2025 to align with the National Indigenous Australians Agency’s Community Development Program extension.
For more information about Time to Work Employment Services in remote areas please visit National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Pre-Release Prisoner (PRP) Initiative
The PRP Initiative provides access to Workforce Australia Employment Services for eligible people in custody. Services include wrap around support to assist people to build their vocational and non-vocational skills through educational or employment activities while in custody. These activities may include work or training that leads to or may lead to employment.
For more about PRP, please visit Chapter 9 of the Workforce Australia Guidelines – Part B.
New First Nations Prison to Employment Program
In the 2024-25 Budget, the Government committed $76.2 million over 5 years to a new program to improve the transition from prison to employment for First Nations people aged 15 and over who are in prison or recently released.
This investment responds to extensive consultation with First Nations organisations, communities and evidence on how to support First Nations people transition from prison to employment.
Services will include personalised, holistic support and mentoring to help people transition from incarceration into the community by reconnecting with health, housing and other social services, and building better connections to employment, education and training opportunities. In addition, the program will facilitate greater connection to languages, Country and culture.
The program will support First Nations people who have been incarcerated, with a known release date, or who are on remand. Support will commence up to 6 months before release and continue for up to 12 months post release.
The new program will begin on 1 July 2025, and will be implemented in a two-staged approach through to full implementation by 1 July 2026.
The department will continue to engage with stakeholders and partners to design and implement the new program.
Please see the following resources on the consultation for Prison Employment Services for First Nations Peoples: