Advancing Corrections Journal - Edition #11 - Envisioning Corrections in 2030 - Where Should the Evidence Take Us (ACJ11-A004)

Article 4: The Collaborative Design and Development of a Violence Prevention Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Men: What we learned to guide corrections to 2030 (ACJ11-A004)

Abstract

This paper presents some of the understandings which emerged while developing a Violence Prevention Program for Aboriginal men in prison. The program was designed in collaboration with members of the Aboriginal Services Unit of the South Australian Department for Correctional Services. The paper includes discussions of the limitations of the Risk-Need-Responsivity model and Good Lives Model in relation to working with this population, and the importance of recognizing the role of trauma. In addition, it describes the Aboriginal concept of kanyini, a term from the Luritja and Pitjantjatjara languages, defined as “holding” by Ryan (2011) and “love with responsibility” by Smitsman, Martens and Laszlo (2019, citing Bob Randall). It should be recognized that there are many Aboriginal nations in Australia. While kanyini comes from a particular language group, it has equivalent forms across a range of Western Desert dialects (Pleshet, 2018). Trade between Aboriginal nations meant that ideas, too, moved between nations. Thus, many Aboriginal nations, particularly those near the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands (in the north west of South Australia) have similar concepts. The paper discusses how this concept can be used to recast some common components of violence prevention programs for application in ways more appropriate for Aboriginal clients.

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Authors

Shawn Sowerbutts

Psychologist, Senior Programs Officer, Department for Correctional Services South Australia, Australia

Shawn Sowerbutts is a Psychologist currently working as the Senior Programs Officer within the Program Services Unit, Department for Correctional Services in South Australia. His primary role is to develop, implement, and support the Department’s criminogenic rehabilitation programs. Shawn has over two decades of experience in working with forensic clients. Prior to his current role he worked as a group facilitator in programs for people who had committed sexual offenses and violent offenses.

Mr Gene Mercer

Team Leader, Program Services Unit, Department for Correctional Services South Australia

Gene Mercer is the Team Leader, Program Services Unit within the Department for Correctional Services in South Australia (DCS SA). He oversees a small team of researchers within the Offender Rehabilitation Services whose primary role is to develop, implement, support and evaluate the efficacy of the Department’s criminogenic rehabilitation programs. The Program Services Unit also conducts evaluation and/or research on a range of programs/projects throughout the Department and also provides consultation and support to other directorates. Gene was awarded a Bachelor in Behavioural Science, with majors in Psychology and Criminology, in 2012 and has previous experience across several roles within DCS SA, the child protection sector and worker’s compensation.

Henry Pharo

Clinical Psychologist, Director of Offender Rehabilitation Services, Department for Correctional Services South Australia, Australia

Henry Pharo is a Clinical Psychologist currently working as the Director of Offender Rehabilitation Services within the Department for Correctional Services in South Australia. In his role he has oversight of the teams delivering the department’s rehabilitation programs, and education services. Henry completed his PhD and training as a Clinical Psychologist through the University of Otago, New Zealand. He has previously worked as a Psychologist or the New Zealand Corrections Department. Henry has a passion for research and an interest in expanding his involvement in research within the forensic environment. During his time with the South Australian Department for Correctional Services he has been involved in several projects to improve current practices for the assessment, treatment, and management of offenders in line with an evidence-based approach.

Vickie Dodd

Manager, Department for Correctional Services South Australia, Australia

Vickie Dodd is an Aboriginal woman who identifies with the Kaurna, Narrunga and Ngarrindjeri First Nations people within South Australia. She is also the Manager Aboriginal Programs, Aboriginal Services Directorate with the Department for Correctional Services in South Australia. Vickie has over 20 years’ experience working predominantly with and for her people in both the non-government and government sectors. Some of those sectors and organisations relate to providing services to Aboriginal people needing Alcohol and Drug services, Aboriginal Aged Care support, Child Protection issues, Stolen Generations members and Aboriginal Health with a primary focus on increasing Aboriginal employment rates and workforce development. Vickie’s current role is to manage a team of program officers to design, develop and deliver programs to Aboriginal prisoners and offenders. Although the correctional services environment is new to Vickie, she has embraced the importance of rehabilitation and Aboriginal preparatory and wellness programs as it relates to supporting Aboriginal people within the correctional services system and their integration back into their own communities.

Joanne Leonello

Manager, Department for Correctional Services South Australia, Australia

Joanne Leonello is an Aboriginal woman who identifies with the Barngarla First Nations people within South Australia. She currently works in the Aboriginal Services Directorate at the Department for Correctional Services, as the Manager, Aboriginal Projects and Staff Support. She has been with Correctional Services for the last five years in management roles, predominantly working with internal staff, including Aboriginal staff, other state government agencies, and Aboriginal prisoners (both men and women). In particular, she is always motivated and inspired by the Aboriginal staff she works with, in providing support and guidance to them in their job roles. For over twenty years Joanne has worked with various state and federal government agencies in South Australia, in both mainstream and Aboriginal Affairs. Working with, and for her Aboriginal community, is her passion. Her previous working experience in project and policy areas, particularly her work in policy with the Office for Women (where she worked closely with Aboriginal women from across South Australia on various community issues), has provided a wealth of knowledge and experience, that lends to her current work within Corrections.

Advancing Corrections Journal - Edition #11 - Envisioning Corrections in 2030 - Where Should the Evidence Take Us (ACJ11-A004)

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