Castlemaine’s Loddon and Middleton Prisons are taking part in an international award winning program which brings together RMIT University criminology students with peers inside Victorian prisons.

The ground-breaking Australian-first ‘Inside Out’ program pairs ‘outside’ justice and criminology students from RMIT with people in custody who are ‘inside’ students – providing a chance to combine textbook learning with lived experience of the justice system.

The program aims to educate the policy makers of tomorrow, enhance the rehabilitation prospects of those in custody via education and lower recidivism.

Minister for Corrections Enver Erdogan visited Loddon Prison on Tuesday to meet some of the students and facilitators collaborating on the innovative program– and to congratulate facilitators on the award.

RMIT Associate Professor of Criminology and Justice Dr Marietta Martinovic introduced Inside Out to the prison system in 2015 and was last month awarded the Asia Pacific Triple E Award for Impactful Collaboration of the Year.

Dr Martinovic told the Mail that she first encountered the program during a visit to the former Graterford Prison in Pennsylvania in the US.

“I was working as a Community Corrections Officer and studying Criminology at the time so I was already really focused on rehabilitation. “The visit was eye-opening and made me realise the wealth of information those in custody had to offer us,” she said.

“It took quite some time but we eventually gained all the necessary approvals and jumped all the hurdles to introduce the program here in Victoria in conjunction with the UK,” Dr Martinovic said.

As part of the Inside Out program, students study a unit in ‘Comparative Criminal Justice Systems’ and work together to compare criminal justice systems around the world, with a focus on systemic improvement, humanisation of people in custody and how best to enhance rehabilitation prospects.

Since the program began it has operated in eight prison locations, including local prisons Loddon, Middleton and Tarrengower, as well as the Judy Lazarus Transition Centre, Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, Ravenhall, Marngoneet and Kareenga.

RMIT third year Criminology and Psychology student Isabel Doran said the experience has changed her perspective on those in custody.

“It has helped me to see the human behind the labels imposed by society and move beyond the text book to learn from those who have been through the system and experienced it for themselves,” she said.

Fellow third year RMIT student Jaydon Brain is studying Criminal Justice and was looking at a career in Australian Border Force but has now been inspired to consider a graduate role with DJCS where he might be able to work in the rehabilitation and reintegration program space.

“I think it would be good to play an active role in the Department of Justice helping to make positive change, perhaps in areas such as probation and parole,” he said.

Loddon Inside student H* completed the program three years ago and is now part of the RMIT’s prison-based Think Tank which provides a powerful and unique environment for further positive change.

H said when he first took on the program it was to alleviate boredom through study.

“Every day is the same in here. However, once I commenced the program I realised how important it was for changing perceptions about those in custody and working for positive change.

“It was a great opportunity to have a voice and the experience has actually inspired me to look at other areas of study and I have since undertaken an IT course through Distance Education. I’ve started looking to the future with some positivity about what I may like to do moving forward,” he said.

Loddon Inside student M* is 10 weeks into the current course and has enjoyed the chance to interact with those outside the prison walls and offer insights into life inside to promote a better understanding.

“I’m looking forward to taking part in the Think Tank moving forward. Little changes can have a big impact.

I am hoping the students can use this experience as a launchpad to go out and create change,” he said.

More than 800 students have moved through the program over the last nine years and the Think Tanks have resulted in more than 100 stakeholder consultations, and seen students produce more than 50 thought-provoking reports for Corrections Victoria and stakeholders.

Those who have subsequently left custody can also continue to engage in the conversation through the ‘Beyond the Stone Walls Advisory Collective’.

Minister Enver said these reports have led to improvements across the system such as on-site job hubs to assist those in custody to secure employment before they leave custody helping set them up for life outside the prison.

“We know that people in prison are less likely to reoffend upon release if they are engaged in meaningful education or vocational training while in custody – and the Inside Out program is a great addition to our education programs,” he said.

* ‘Inside’ students names changed to prevent identification.