Fourth “Lives in Transition” Course Starts in Port Phillip Prison
In late March, PF Australia-Victoria commenced the fourth Lives in Transition course to be held at Port Phillip Prison. The programme offers participants the opportunity to develop a new value system to help them address previous thought patterns and offending behaviours. Course elements include education, mentoring, volunteer support, reintegration with family, reintegration with the community and assistance with employment and housing after release.
For this fourth course at Port Phillip – the programme had operated in Barwon Prison for three years prior to moving to Port Phillip – PF staff chose twelve participants from thirty-three applicants. In describing the first day with this new group, programme coordinator Diane Spicer said the talkative group became quiet towards the end of the day. The silence was broken by one of the men saying, “At the selection interviews, this course sounded too good to be true, but I think I’m starting to believe you – that I can change and that there is hope.” His fellow participants agreed.
