CTC2023 - PID045 - Samantha Elley & Hannah Fester

How the power of a ‘Sludge-a-thon’ helped Corrective Services NSW develop user-focused solutions to transform inmates’ digital experience

Authors

Samantha Elley

Senior Project Officer, Corrective Services New South Wales

Samantha has extensive experience within the criminal justice and social services systems including front line support, project management and more recently technology within a correctional centre environment.
Whilst completing a Social Services Degree and Master’s in Human Services, Samantha worked in the non-government sector Drug and Alcohol services, after completing her studies Samantha entered the government sector Corrective Services NSW in a front-line correctional centre role. In 2017 Samantha moved into project management where for the past 5 years she has assisted on multiple initiatives under large scale reforms and restructures including the NSW Government’s Strategy to Reduce Reoffending Program and the Premier’s Priority to Reduce Recidivism. Samantha currently manages a team that is responsible for transforming prisoner rehabilitation through digital technology. Samantha is passionate about improving the lives of people in custody and believes technology is an integral part of this.

Hannah Fester

Senior Communications Officer, Corrective Services New South Wales

Hannah is the Senior Communications Officer in the Reducing Reoffending Program Management Office at Corrective Services NSW. She has extensive experience in communications, both in the private and public sectors across a range of disciplines, including public relations, internal communications, media, social media, and crisis communications. Hannah worked for a global public relations agency after completing her degree in Communications, before moving to a tech start-up. Following this, she moved across to the NSW Government, which was her first foray into the public service. She worked in the media unit at Transport for NSW for four years before making her transition to Corrective Services NSW in 2021. Hannah is responsible for the communication activities for multiple initiatives at Corrective Services NSW that aim to increase intervention opportunities for people in custody, create a prison environment that supports rehabilitation, and transform rehabilitation through digital technology. When Hannah isn’t working at Corrective Services NSW, she is putting her enthusiasm for communication into writing to people in custody in the USA as a personal passion project.

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