Repay WA is an innovative program that allows eligible offenders to repay their debt to society through supervised community work projects.

To ensure the work of offenders benefits the community, the Department of Corrective Services develops partnerships with appropriate organisations that support or deliver community-based services and resources.

In addition, because court-ordered community sentencing costs 10 times less than imprisonment, the program saves Western Australian taxpayers a considerable amount of money.

The concept is not new – providing work projects for adults and juveniles completing community sentences has been running successfully in this State since 1977.  However the launch of Repay WA in 2004 meant the number of supervised community work programs managed by the Department of Corrective Services was greatly increased.

Also, the establishment of Repay WA perfectly supported the additional community sentencing created by the abolition of prison sentences of six months or less, which came into effect on 15 May 2004.

Through Repay WA, local government, community groups and not-for-profit organisations around the State have an opportunity to undertake projects that may not otherwise be feasible.

Court-ordered community work projects through Repay WA not only give many offenders the chance to physically repay their debt for crimes committed - they also offer ways for them to gain new skills and capabilities, increase self-worth and develop a greater sense of community spirit.  

Repay WA partnerships provide a way for offenders to:

• make a contribution to local communities as part of their rehabilitation
• develop valuable new skills while repaying society for their offences
• develop new work and social skills to help them re-integrate into society when released
• enhance their self-esteem, develop positive work values and a greater sense of responsibility
• embrace a constructive alternative to imprisonment whilst gaining valuable opportunities for training.

Repay WA also provides valuable labour resources for often under-resourced community organisations, helping complete or maintain many worthwhile projects that might not otherwise get done.

Repay WA is continually seeking new partnerships with eligible community organisations that provide meaningful work opportunities for offenders while supporting worthwhile projects and services in the community. 

Community organisations can nominate to host a community work project by completing a Repay WA application form and submitting it to your closest Community Justice Services branch.

• Repay WA provides valuable labour for under-resourced community organisations.
• Repay WA offers community organisations a way to increase their capacity to deliver more projects.
• Through Repay WA, community-based offenders contribute more than 200,000 hours of community work each year.
• Repay WA's graffiti removal program in the metropolitan area regularly services more than 100 sites.
• In regional areas Repay WA is involved in many projects that clean up petty vandalism.
• More than 5000 juvenile and adult offenders are subject to community work orders each year.   
• Fine defaulters make up around 15% of community work orders.
• The average cost of keeping an adult offender in custody in WA is about 10 times more than supervising an offender in the community.
• More than 1800 community work projects operate in WA – including projects for juveniles and adults.

Repay WA encourages not-for-profit and community organisations to nominate work projects that provide meaningful work opportunities for offenders on community work orders.

The Department provides offenders with opportunities to undertake a range of agreed work tasks for a set period, enabling offenders to complete their court order and providing relevant community organisations with much needed help.

Usually, community agencies directly supervise offenders. For large-scale projects, a supervisor may be provided to manage a work team.

To find out if your organisation is eligible to become a Repay WA partner, send an inquiry to Repay WA.

Repay WA work is as varied as the backgrounds and skill levels of offenders completing the orders.  Common tasks include gardening, tree planting, painting, grounds maintenance, cleaning, recycling projects, clothes sorting, kitchen duties and basic administration.

Local government, community groups and not-for-profits can make the most of the program’s workers, allowing for work that they could not otherwise afford.

Community work by offenders cannot be work that would normally be done by paid employees under a commercial arrangement.  Nor can community organisations make any direct financial gain as a result of project work.

Repay WA offenders might be juveniles or adults, male or female, employed or unemployed, and from a range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Some are first-time offenders, others are repeat offenders, and some are people who have not or cannot pay fines.

Some prisoners nearing the end of long-term prison sentences or on an early release scheme may be eligible to participate in Repay WA to support their transition back into the community.

Adult offenders participating with repay WA may be completing development orders, community-based orders, intensive supervision orders or early release orders.

Juvenile offenders participating with Repay WA may be completing youth community-based orders, intensive youth supervision orders, juvenile conditional release orders or community work orders.

For further information about Repay WA,  refer to:

Community Work Support Unit
39 Abernethy Road
BELMONT WA 6104
Telephone: (08) 9334 6042 or (08) 9334 6043
Facsimile: (08) 9334 6064
Email: RepayWA@correctiveservices.wa.gov.au

General enquiries:

Community Juvenile Justice
Level 12
141 St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9264 1394
Facsimile: (08) 9264 1837
Contact Community & Juvenile Justice