need for a more comprehensive and effective
approach to crime prevention and community
safety that addresses the increasing incarceration
of Koori women in Victoria. Patterns of Koori
women's offending and imprisonment differ
from those of other women and Koori men,
consequently preventative and diversionary
responses to need to differ as well.
cycle.
literature that programs for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander women exiting prison must be
grounded in their cultural values, beliefs and
realities, and should be developed in consultation
with and run by Indigenous women.
needs to be community driven.
approach
rates we need to address all the causes of
offending- personal, social and economic. Similarly
if we are to honour previous policy commitments
to address the needs of Koori women we need to
look at all aspects of the justice system, including
the attitudes, practices and policies of Victoria
Police, the courts, community corrections and
prisons.
in this research that gaps and unmet need
in universal platforms (education and health,
including mental health and drug and alcohol
services) and resource limitations of specialist
platforms (most notably family/parenting support,
homelessness and housing) contribute to the over-
representation of Koori women in prison. These
gaps need to be addressed.
Eileen Baldry et al, `Needs Analysis Report', above n
62, 72.
Key informant interview, Victorian Aboriginal Community
Controlled Health Organisation, 7 March 2013.
of-person approach. This is consistent with
policy directions set out in key government
agreements including the Victorian Aboriginal
Affairs Framework, Human Services Aboriginal
Strategic Framework 2013-15, Victoria's Vulnerable
Children's Strategy, and the AJA3.
fragmented and hard to navigate, making it
extremely difficult for Koori women to access
supports in a timely way, or for the length of time
needed to really make a difference. Fragmentation
exists across universal and specialist service
systems, both before, during and after prison. This
fragmentation creates frustration for Koori women
as well as for the people and services that are
trying to assist them.
long waiting lists, or eligibility requirements that
Koori women prisoners and ex-prisoners cannot
meet. While unmet need is a reality in many human
services, the impact for Koori women is particularly
felt, as they are likely to be struggling with multiple
issues and significant levels of disadvantage. This
disadvantage is exacerbated by discrimination
in the basics of life including housing and
employment and in service delivery.
cultural, geographic or gender barriers that limit
the capacity of Koori women to engage and
complete programs that might prevent problems
escalating. This contributes to the pathway to
prison, risks reoffending and entrenches the
institutional effects of incarceration, at significant
cost to the community and to Koori women.
"We need to ensure that in the `justice system'
that there are actions across the age spectrum to
address parenting for Koori parents both in prison
and upon release". State of Victoria, Department
of Justice, `AJA3', above n 15, 5. See also, State of
Victoria, Department of Planning and Community
Development, Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework
2013-18 (2012) <http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/aboriginal-
affairs/aboriginal-affairs-policy/victorian-aboriginal-
affairs-framework> at 2 July 2013; State of Victoria,
Department of Human Services, Human Services
Aboriginal Strategic Framework 2013-15 (2013)
<http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/about-the-department/
documents-and-resources/policies,-guidelines-and-
legislation/human-services-aboriginal-strategic-
framework-2013-2015> at 15 July 2013; State of
Victoria, Department of Human Services, `Vulnerable
Children Strategy', above n 132.