Research has found that positive community integration is critical to successfully prepare women for re-entry into the community after release from custody.
Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women's community engagement and volunteer program builds mutually-beneficial links with the community and local organisations and provides opportunities for direct participation by volunteers in prison activities.
It is the first program of its kind Western Australia and not only helps prisoners to rebuild their lives but contributes to the wellbeing of the neighbourhood and wider community.
The key objectives of the program are to:
- Make Boronia an integral part of the local neighbourhood to bring positive results for the community;
- Develop, establish and maintain long-term mutually beneficial community links;
- Build and maintain positive partnerships with people and organisations in the neighbourhood and wider community;
- Actively support progressive offender rehabilitation programs through community involvement;
- Nurture the community's pride in its involvement in the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners; and
- Enhance broader community understanding and support of the goals of rehabilitation.
The community engagement program involves both local community groups entering the prison to run programs and activities for the women, as well as the women working in the community to support local organisations, such as Swan Village of Care and the RSPCA.
In addition, Boronia has an active volunteering program, which involves community members entering the prison to work with the prisoners as mentors, visitors, tutors or to help the women enhance their employment skills.
New volunteers are always welcome to apply to work at Boronia. For further information, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator on 9212 3600.
