The SA Department for Correctional Services has a volunteer program to support offenders both in prison and in the community. Volunteers have been critical in the development of the prison library service, resulting in a well managed and expanding library service that benefits prisoners by increasing their education opportunities and supporting better literacy.

1. VOLUNTEER UNIT
Department for
Correctional Services
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2. Background
 Started in 1975
 In response to Government initiative to
involve the community in the
rehabilitation of offenders
 Based in Port Adelaide Community
Correctional Centre
 Covers statewide area
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3. Scope
 Currently 104 volunteers
 Through mandate, DCS volunteers are
able to support:
 alldepartmental Directorates including
central office & staff undertaking rehab
 prisoners in all SA prisons
 offenders in every community correctional
centre
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4. General Information
 Departmental volunteers are:
 governed by DCS Policies and Procedures
 required to use government vehicles
 assigned to tasks closest to home where possible
(subject to skills matching task request)
 reimbursedfor incurred expenses as per staff
(Commissioners Standard 3.2) e.g.:
 Meal Allowances
 Mileage Reimbursement
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5. Statistics – 2011/2012 FY
 Number of requests ers the
“without volunte
lease
 3997 Adelaide Pre-Re
on
Centre would not functi
s”
as well as it doe
 Hours Bob Bolton, Pro
grams
re-
 18187 Coordin ator, Adelaide P
(APC)
Release Centre
 Value of volunteer work in DCS
 $426,000
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6. Reasons why people volunteer
 Work experience
 Retirees – ‘Grey Army’
 Give back to the community
 Support study
 Centrelink commitments
 Voluntary Work Initiative
 Newstart
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7. Volunteer Programs
 Transport: The provision of transport remains the busiest area of support
provided to offenders. Volunteers provide a transport service to assist prisoners
with pre-release needs. This service also provides for the movement of
offenders in the community to attend appointments and departmental
programs.
 Prisoner Family Visits: Volunteers support prisoner family members to
maintain contact during a prisoner’s sentence by transporting parents/children
to prisons, escorting unattended children in for visits and supporting family
members from interstate to undertake visits to their kin.
 Prisoner Visiting Program: Volunteers visit socially isolated prisoners to
assist with resocialisation and developing communication skills.
 Prisoner Release Program: Volunteers provided practical support for
prisoners attending court, or newly released from prison, to assist with the
transition to supervision in the community.
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8. Volunteer Programs
 Community Mentor Program: Volunteers support socially isolated
offenders to develop pro‑social supports in the community. The support
provided is adapted to meet the individual needs of each offender and
volunteers work closely with case managers ensure goals are established.
 Education: Volunteers support Education Coordinators in primarily
metropolitan prisons currently to provide basic literacy/numeracy to prisoners.
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9. Prison Library Program
2009
 As part of wider Prisoner Education Review, meeting with former
Corrections Minister Tom Koutsantonis
 Recognition of link between education and recreational reading
2010
 Library Review Project established
 Project Officer recruited (DCS Volunteer Abigail Day)
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10. Project Goals
 Review existing library functions around all prisons
 Create formal link between Education & Library Programs
 Increase prisoner utilisation of libraries
 Create ‘reading room’ style libraries (where possible)
 Develop recommendations for upgrading library services
 Develop better connections with community based libraries
 Improve quality of resources available
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11. Recommendations
 official recognition of existing library services
 all libraries to be under supervision of Education Coordinators
 combining all Education & Libraries in Education Centres
 standardise majority of management processes
 develop partnerships with community based resources
 more strategic management of resources
 computerised library system
 resources catalogued, barcoded and covered
 prisoner librarians recruited and paid in ALL prison libraries
 borrowers registered and accountable for items they borrow
 development of quality standards in relation to donations and library resources
 provision of funding for higher quality new resources
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12. Where are we right now?
 Mobilong/Cadell/Port Lincoln
 access for all prisoners – able to visit library, sit down and read a book or borrow to take back to
cell
 Pt Lincoln - computer to be set up when they figure it out 
 YLP
 currently 2 independent libraries within YLP. One within Education, one run by volunteers from
visits area
 @24,000 donated resources used to run both areas
 education library currently only accessible by prisoners assigned to education through
assessment process
 strip searches discourage engagement with education
 volunteer library provides ‘outreach’ service to all units
Note: YLP to be next prison upgraded. Education library to be culled & catalogued. Volunteer library
to run alongside & gradually be combined to become one library within Education Centre.
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13. Where are we right now- cont…
 Port Augusta – similar to YLP
 Adelaide Remand Centre
 Complete outreach service provided by DCS volunteers using donated resources
 Upgrade to be started shortly after completion of construction work
 Adelaide Womens Prison
 2 libraries (within ‘Mainstream’ (high security area) & within Living Skills Unit)
 both physically independent of Education Unit but now managed by Education Coordinator
 all resources covered, catalogued, barcoded
 computer system operational in both libraries
 prisoner librarians running libraries, supported by DCS volunteers
 protectees unable to access at same time as mainstream prisoners,
 opening hours waiting to be approved by management
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14. Project Goals
 Review existing library functions around all prisons - achieved
 Create formal link between Education & Library Programs - achieved
 Increase prisoner utilisation of libraries – partially achieved
 Create ‘reading room’ style libraries (where possible) – partially
achieved
 Develop recommendations for upgrading library services - achieved
 Develop better connections with community based libraries – partially
achieved
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15. Where to from here…
 Team Leader, Prison Library Services to continue to play a significant
role alongside the Volunteer Coordinator and Education Coordinators in
implementing the new computer systems and ensuring resources are
catalogued and managed appropriately.
 existing volunteers to continue to support the ongoing provision of
library services whilst the review and upgrades occur
 additional volunteers will continue to be recruited to support the libraries as
they are enhanced throughout the coming year.
 existing volunteers to continue to provide valuable training and support
to new volunteers
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16. Process of Entry
 Written Application & resume
 Interview
 National Police Certificate
 Local Induction to assigned work location
 Departmental Induction Program
 Team Leaders & buddies
 Reviews, ongoing training & support
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17. HOW TO CONTACT US
If you would like more information on volunteer support
from Departmental Volunteers please contact:
Julie Woodhall, Coordinator, DCS Volunteer Unit
Tel: 8440 3608
or
email: DCS:Volunteer Unit
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