Community Restorative Centre (CRC)

13/10/2026

It's National Carer's Week (11-17th October), a time to recognise, celebrate and raise awareness of the more than 3 million Australians who provide unpaid care to a family member or friend. Carers across Australia provide support for their loved ones with a diverse range of disabilities and support needs.

With people who are incarcerated having a greater likelihood of having a mental health condition, cognitive disability, alcohol or other substance dependence or other chronic health conditions, there are many carers who care for someone who has been in custody.

Navigating supporting a family member or friend in custody is stressful and difficult for anyone, but for carers who are already fighting as a daily advocate and support for someone with a disability, incarceration creates even greater challenges. Limitations in communication, disruptions or sudden ending of support services and poor management or responses to the loved one's specific needs in custody put carers separated by incarceration under severe strain.

If you are a carer and are seeking more information on how to navigate the criminal legal system in NSW, contact CRC's Telephone Information & Referral Service. CRC’s free and confidential telephone service provides specialist information to anyone affected by the criminal legal system and those supporting them. Phone (02) 9288 8700, 9am–5pm Monday to Friday, or contact us at via email at [email protected].

Find out more about National carers Week, including nearby events and resources. Visit https://carersweek.com.au/

13/10/2026

Support 2SER and community radio! By participating and supporting 2SER you're not only helping CRC's Jailbreak, but so many other great Australian community radio programs reach their audience. Visit https://2serradiothon.com/

RADIOTHON 2026 BEGINS OCTOBER 16!

This year, we're calling on the entire 2SER community to come together to PARTICPATE. CELEBRATE. DONATE! Whether you've been listening for 47 years or just the last month - we need your support!

SUBSCRIBE before 16 October and you'll go in the chance to win one of two early bird prizes!

🌟The chance to guest host a show on 2SER or
🌟Win a DOUBLE PASS to 2026

Check out the full program of events via the link in bio and SUBSCRIBE at 2ser.com/subscribe 💙

12/10/2026

Last week CRC staff spoke at the Australian Homelessness Conference held in Darwin. The conference brought together all sectors that work in addressing homelessness. CRC was represented in two talks, discussing people with experience of homelessness and criminal legal system involvement.

In ‘From custody to community: rehousing women after prison’, Marisa Moliterno, manager of the Advocacy, Research and Policy Unit (ARPU) and Rebekah Ross from the Reintegration Housing Support Program (RHSP) discussed the structural barriers for women leaving prison into homelessness, and the need for dedicated housing allocation to support women and girls.

In ‘Invisible no more: The case for stable, supported housing’, Marisa and Dr Stella Stolk from ARPU discussed research into the marginalised communities cycling through the criminal legal system, and the need for supported stable housing.

During this time at the conference, there are concerns in Darwin as the NT Government is set to close YiSSA, Australia’s largest crisis and short stay accommodation service, a move which will only worsen homelessness and the associated health and safety risks. The NT Government and Commonwealth Government must work together to prevent the closure of this vital service.

You can sign this petition to show your support for action:
https://petitions.getup.org.au/petitions/stop-the-closure-of-aboriginal-community-controlled-yissa-housing

11/10/2026

More than 13.4% of Australians are living below the poverty line.

In the most recent data, 1 in 6 Australian children aged 0-14 lived in poverty.

It's anti-poverty week, a time to talk about poverty that's occurring in Australia and take action collectively to end it.
People experiencing poverty have significant overlap with people who have been involved with the criminal legal system. The identified factors that increase someone's likelihood to be incarcerated - the Social Determinants of Justice - are marked by disadvantage. Coming from or living in a disadvantaged location, experiencing homelessness or unstable housing, and having a poor school education are all common experiences of people living in poverty, and factors influencing likelihood of incarceration.

As many as 70% of people in Australia experience economic disadvantage at some stage in their lives, but persistent poverty and the daily fight for survival has significantly long-lasting impacts on individuals, families and communities.

Learn more about poverty at antipovertyweek.org.au

You can help take action to end poverty.

Sign the petition to Raise the Rate of income support so members of our community receiving JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, and related payments are able to live with dignity and meet their needs, not be forced to choose between rent and food.
► https://www.raisetherate.org.au/petition

Support Homelessness NSW’s campaign ‘A Place to Call Home and the Support to Keep It’. Homelessness services are stretched to capacity and forced to turn away people in need. With adequate funding, homelessness can be made rare, brief, and non-recurring. Visit their website to learn more, and sign the petition
► https://homelessnessnsw.org.au/aplacetocallhome/

08/10/2026

Senator Lidia Thorpe's Bill to end shackling during childbirth will be voted on next week – we need our voices heard for the safety and humane treatment of people giving birth while in custody. Stop this dangerous and traumatic practice now!

Will you make a phone call to the Attorney-General and the Shadow Attorney General?

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland: (02) 6277 3045
Senator Michaelia Cash, Shadow Attorney General: (02) 6277 7300

08/10/2026

Ivan Clarke designs programs to empower aboriginal people in their journey of healing. On Jailbreak he talks about his youth, insecurities and violence and how he turned it around.

Listen in to Ivan Clarke on Jailbreak on 2SER 107.3FM this Sunday 11th or stream anytime www.2ser.com/programs/jailbreak

07/10/2026

It’s International Le***an Day! On 8th October, we celebrate a day for le***an history, diversity and culture.

As we’ve shared previously, there is no reported data on sexuality diverse people in our prisons by federal or state government. However, research has shown that almost 37% of incarcerated women in Australia identify as le***an or bisexual. This is compared to 4% in the community. [1] When we look at the drivers of incarceration, the discrimination and disadvantage that impact many people with experience of incarceration are also factors that have an increased likelihood for le***ans – experience of domestic and family violence, homelessness, unsupported mental health. Unstable family support systems and a lack of support in the wider heteronormative society increase social isolation and worsen outcomes for le***ans.

It is important to have days like today for public recognition and support of sexuality diverse people, to strive for a more inclusive and supportive society. CRC is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in our work supporting people impacted by the criminal legal system.

For those who are based in Sydney, Parramatta Pride Picnic is returning on Saturday 10th October at the Bowling Green, Parramatta Park, with entertainment, food, activities and connection building with the LGBTQIA+ community and allies.

Source:
[1] Simpson, P. & Hardiman, D. & Butler, T. (2019). Understanding the over-representation of le***an or bisexual women in the Australian prisoner population. Current Issues in Criminal Justice. 31. 365-377. 10.1080/10345329.2019.1668339.

***an ***anday

06/10/2026

CRC staff recently attended the 6th Australasian Youth Justice Conference in Adelaide. The conference brings together youth justice leaders, practitioners, practitioners, academics, and community organisations from across Australia and internationally to share ideas and evidence, as well as showcase initiatives and approaches that are working to keep children out of the criminal legal system. This year’s theme focused on place-based, community-driven approaches to address overrepresentation of marginalised groups.

CRC was proud to contribute to the conference program, with our team delivering a presentation on the Pathways Program, showcasing the successes, outcomes and benefits of our model.

The presentation highlighted the impact of the program in supporting young people to build positive futures, strengthen connections to their communities, and reduce barriers to successful transitions. It was a fantastic opportunity to share our learnings and demonstrate the value of a youth-centred, strengths-based approach that continues to deliver meaningful results for the young people we support.

06/10/2026

Art by Ashley McGoldrick. Find this and more in Issue 23 of Paper Chained.

Explore art, poetry, writing and self-advocacy by incarcerated artists.

Read articles and find all past issues of Paper Chained at https://www.paperchained.com/

05/10/2026

Recently the Minns Labor Government released a statement that they will create nearly 1,000 extra beds within the NSW prison system.[1] Increasing prison capacity is further reliance on an ineffective system.

This follows the government's stricter bail laws that seek to increase the number of people refused bail and instead being held in custody on remand. More people on remand means more people in prison who may or may not eventually be released without being given a sentence, or who end up serving a much longer time on remand than the eventual sentence term.

Incarceration increases rather than reduces the likelihood of future incarceration, and cycling through the system prevents people from reintegrating into the community and developing genuine pathways away from the criminal legal system. The social determinants of justice show the drivers of incarceration are structural; racism, discrimination, poverty and lack of access to economic and social supports being factors that increase the likelihood of incarceration.[2] Within our prison system there is an overrepresentation of First Nations people, people with mental illness and cognitive disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness.

The motivation behind this decision to increase prison capacity is stated to be in reaction to domestic violence. However, incarceration does not prevent violence or reduce future instances of violence. An audit report into NSW prison system earlier this year found that that there were only four “generic” prison programs for people on remand, and none explicitly stated to be directed towards domestic and family violence. This report also found that "in practice" people leaving prison rarely received structured plans for their reintegration into community, and people on remand are not provided case management support.[3]

Despite the government's release clearly stating that "prevention, early intervention, victim support and behaviour change programs" play a "critical role" in addressing domestic violence, the decision to sink greater monetary investment into the current flawed prison system does not address any of these. Successful programs that address domestic and family violence exist in the community, but they require greater investment to expand and meet the needs of people across NSW.

Sources:
[1] Minns Labor Government boosts prison capacity, as tougher bail laws keep more alleged offenders in custody | NSW Government
[2] McCausland, R. and Baldry, E. (2023) “Who does Australia Lock Up? The Social Determinants of Justice”, International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 12(3), pp. 37-53. doi: 10.5204/ijcjsd.2504.
[3] Audit Office of NSW, 'Support for First Nations peoples in custody and post-release to reduce reoffending', 12 March 2026, https://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/our-work/reports/support-for-first-nations-peoples-in-custody-and-post-release-to-reduce-reoffending