1. QCAL 2009 Annual State Conference 6 November 2009 [Literacy & Numeracy in the Correctional Environment] Ron Cox Ron Cox - AEVET Branch, Offender Interventions Services

2. History  The Kennedy Report - 1988  Byrne Review -1990 Review of Prisoner Education in Queensland  Working Party – DETIR & QCSC – 1992  Commencement VET, Literacy Numeracy -1995  ABS National Literacy Survey – 1996  Griffith University research – Jean Searle and Chris Schluter

3. Disadvantage  Inability to access education  1999 VET Review 15.4%Had not completed primary school 10.0%completed year 8 52.8%completed either year 9 or year 10 19.3%completed either year 11 or 12 2.2%had undertaken tertiary study  November 2009 2.4%Had not completed primary school 9.25%completed year 8 53.94%completed either year 9 or year 10 22.27%completed either year 11 or 12 3.51%had undertaken tertiary study

4. Disadvantage (cont.)  Not a lot of change since 1999  Educational background of prisoners entering Queensland correctional centres similiar to that of 10 years ago, with improvement

5. Background  Component of VET delivery  Role to Play – Management and Rehabilitation & Reintegration of Prisoners Skills to: 1. Undertake further Education, VET 2. Undertake intervention programs 3. Participate/function in the community – post-release

6. QCS Procedures Literacy/numeracy  Screening – All sentenced prisoners  Assessment – Sentence length 12 months +  Screen – 30729QLD  Assessment – 39170QLD (VLA) 39171QLD (VNA) Employment/VET  EVNA

7. Delivery Process  Partnership – QCS and DET (since 1995)  Consultation with Centres/stakeholders  VET – Training Packages  Literacy – From Queensland accredited curriculum  Public & private providers  Hours allocated – Prisoner type

8. Literacy Hours 2009/10 Total hours - 16600 Arthur Gorrie1400 hrs. Borallon1100 hrs. Brisbane600 hrs. Brisbane Womens1450 hrs. Capricornia1280 hrs. Lotus Glen1700 hrs. Maryborough1600 hrs. Numinbah630 hrs. Palen Creek1100 hrs. Townsville Mens1100 hrs. Townsville Womens600 hrs. Wolston2000 hrs. Woodford2300 hrs.

9. CODETITLE 39181QLDCourse in Vocational Numeracy - Contextualised 39180QLDCourse in vocational Literacy - Contextualised 39171QLDCourse in Pre-Training Assessment - Vocational Numeracy 39170QLDCourse in Pre-Training Assessment -Vocational Literacy 39165QLDCourse in Vocational Numeracy 5 39164QLDCourse in Vocational Numeracy 4 39163QLDCourse in Vocational Numeracy 3 39162QLDCourse in Vocational Numeracy 2 39161QLDCourse in Vocational Numeracy 1 39160QLDCourse in Vocational Numeracy - Preliminary 39155QLDCourse in Vocational Literacy 5 39154QLDCourse in Vocational Literacy 4 39153QLDCourse in Vocational Literacy 4 39152QLDCourse in Vocational Literacy 3 39151QLDCourse in Vocational Literacy 2 39150QLDCourse in Vocational Literacy 1 30729QLDCourse in Pre-Training Indicator Literacy and Numeracy Curriculum

10. Literacy/numeracy Outcomes – 2008/09  Number of participants - 1686  AHC generated – 196 835  Enrolments – Correctional centres (Table)

11. Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) Prisoner enrolments* in Literacy/Numeracy - 2008-09 Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) Prisoner enrolments* in Literacy/Numeracy - 2008-09 Correctional CentresEnrolmentsWomenMenWomenMen Arthur Gorrie 5940578016 Borallon 3140272042 Brisbane 4910454037 Womens 5664880780 Capricornia 2520218034 Darling 00000 Helana Jones 2412210200 Lotus Glen Secure 46302930170 Lotus Glen Open 136080056 Maryborough Secure 3610303058 Numinbah 69184614 Palen Creek 3503302 Townsville 61613024316380 Wolston 4120393019 Woodford 9160880036 TOTAL54668573793262554

12. Program Locations

13. Review of VET, Literacy/numeracy  Conducted in 1999  Demonstrate effectiveness of program  Sample – 14% of 1998 population  Benefit to Prisoners: a positive learning experience satisfaction with completion of a program improvement of self esteem encouragement – further studies

14. How VET, Literacy/numeracy helps  Continue with education and training  use computer skills at home  Administer first aid if necessary  Write letters and keep in touch by writing  Now read books, papers and magazines  Help children with homework  Shop more effectively

15. Insert L Glen Delivery Schedule

17. Evidence – Program Effect NCVER Research – Victor Callan Recidivism rates – VET participation VET participation – 23% Non participation – 32% 2006 Evaluation Report– Victor Callan Participants Advance2Work– 6.9% Participants VET – 6.9% Participants VET + Advance2Work – 13.8%

18. Summary  Positive influence on behaviour  Undertake programs and VET  The challenge – to build on the momentum and achievements, to ensure that offenders acquire skills and attitudes for learning.  Gaining skills to participate effectively not only in the education and training system but also in the community when released from custody.  The vehicle for the journey

19. Questions ?