This presentation outlines the award-winning DoJWA's extensive program of traineeships and apprenticeships throughout Western Australia, reaching even the most remote prisons and work camps around the state. The DoJWA punches above its weight, recently winning gold and bronze at the National Training Awards, beating out the corporate competition such as BHP, Esso and McDonald's. Despite having no commercial contracts, the extensive program of 43 different traineeships and apprenticeships makes a major financial contribution to the state and costings are provided regarding food and services generated by trainees/apprentices in WA prisons.

This presentation outlines the successful Western Australian model, considering how it was established and continues to grow and focuses on outcomes such as engagement, retention and completion rates, looking at subgroups such as female and Indigenous trainees. It also looks at significant wider outcomes such as earnings on post-release employment and social and economic inclusion indicators such as car and/or home ownership, telling the personal stories of current and past trainees.

The presentation also looks at recent research that identifies the reduced risk of reoffending of those who have engaged in a traineeship in prison, quantifying the savings made in reduced prison costs. It shows that having a robust traineeship/apprenticeship program contributes to community safety, is financially sustainable and provides real pathways to equity for incarcerated minorities. As such traineeships are a mighty tool with widespread benefits that should be seriously considered by prison administrators.