BSWAC hosted three events at RMIT University as part of Law Week: two panel discussions, and an art workshop and exhibition. The aims of these events were to connect with the public, increase awareness about the ways people with lived experience of the justice system are contributing to policies and practices, and to illustrate these by sharing some personal stories about incarceration and reintegration.
BSWAC hosted three events at RMIT University as part of Law Week: two panel discussions, and an art workshop and exhibition. The aims of these events were to connect with the public, increase awareness about the ways people with lived experience of the justice system are contributing to policies and practices, and to illustrate these by sharing some personal stories about incarceration and reintegration.
The first panel discussion focused on providing a snapshot for the audience about people’s journeys fromentering to exiting custody, including their personal challenges and opportunities. These were then contextualised with an overview of the IBAC investigation and subsequent Cultural Review that found certain issues to be widespread, and recommended working with staff, Indigenous communities, and people with Lived Experience to inform best practice. The discussion closed with an overview of how this goal is being achieved, the challenges to implementing change in a bureaucracy, and beneficial outcomes recorded internationally from hiring people with Lived Experience to work in the justice sector.
The second panel discussion focused on reintegration, and included people with lived experience, a researcher, and a practitioner. The emotive conversation began by explaining the entire process of parole from the parolee’s perspective: procedural unawareness, simultaneous fear and excitement upon release, reactions from loved ones, and challenges associated with fulfilling parole requirements. The panel then discussed the reasons behind parole violations and recidivism, as well as the difficulty in accessing all-important reintegration support. The conversation closed with panel members’ hopes for the future and the ways to achieve them.
The final Law Week event was artwork on display in combination with an art workshop which gave participants a hands-on experience. The space was adorned with awe-inspiring pieces from justice-impacted individuals. The evening was a huge success, with many interesting and engaging discussions inspired by the moving works, stories, and lives on display.
Thank you to the community from all of us at BSWAC for being open and curious to learn about the experiences of people impacted by the justice system. We believe that through these brave and vulnerable conversation we will reach a better place, together.
Change through collaboration.