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Empower WA

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24.01.2022 Do you have a loved one in prison, on bail, or just struggling with substance use or life in general? Have you recently been released from prison and you're looking at moving towards your goals? We are here to support . We offer post-release counselling support to men as they exit the prison system, whether it be on Parole or at full time. ... We can also support the men in your life who are struggling with addiction issues, anger and other emotional issues, offending behaviour, anxiety, depression. If you or your loved one is ready to change. If they are ready to overcome their suffering and pain, please reach out.

23.01.2022 Another article relating to the release of prisoners in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. I will also add a link in the comments section that takes you to the open letter, the article is talking about. I hope you're all keeping safe.

22.01.2022 With more and more people being sent to prison, we are seeing more parents, partners and loved ones left in the community struggling. We will be trialling support groups for people with a loved one in prison to connect with others sharing a similar experience. Our first group will run in January 2021. If you would like more information please send us a message and once a venue and date is set, we will let you know.

21.01.2022 This This is exactly what prison should be about. Restoring the connection with the community. ... Learning new skills to allow for easier reintegration. Working together to achieve a common goal. I love that the staff and prisoners at Pardelup saw a need within their community and took the initiative to help meet that need. Beautiful. Well done to all involved

20.01.2022 What is the difference between shame and guilt? Shame is when we focus on the self, when our self-talk, our beliefs are telling us "I am bad". Shame is highly correlated to substance use, anger, aggression, depression, eating disorders, bullying and family violence. It is an extremely unhealthy, unhelpful and maladaptive emotion. Guilt on the other hand is a focus on the behaviour, "I did a bad thing". Guilt is inversely correlated with the above unhealthy behaviours. Guil...t is uncomfortable, but it is helpful and adaptive. The journey for many men from childhood includes multiple points of shaming. Telling our young boys to "toughen up" or saying "I'll give you something to cry about" is using shame as a form of punishment when really, what our boys need is empathy, understanding, love and connection. For our men in prison, we then use shaming techniques to keep them in line. Strip searches, lack of autonomy, calling them derogatory and unnecessary names - I mean, why are we called by our surnames in prison? Why are we called "crims"? Why are we focusing on the person and not the behaviour? Shame is not helpful if rehabilitation is the key intention of being in prison. So how do we get past shame? Finding someone you can share your story with, someone who responds with empathy and understanding will remove the shame and allow us to work through it. Shame can't survive when we are shown empathy. If you have a loved on in prison, recently released or released a decade ago that you feel needs some support. Share this page with them. Encourage them to reach out for support. Allow them to share their story and shed their shame.

19.01.2022 I have remained quiet in regards to the Black Lives Matter movement, not because I don't support it, because I do. Not because I don't care, because I really do care. It was because I felt, I didn't have the words to contribute to this cause. Who am I to be commenting on such a cause? Meyne Wyatt made me acknowledge that my silence is actually not ok. He states in the video below, "silence is violence". Woah. Powerful, and so true. There is so much in this monologue that... hit me directly in the heart. It is hard to believe that, as humans, our experiences are so different. Why does he get followed around the shops, but I don't? Why do people feel its ok to call him names, but they wouldn't call me names? I have seen many similar incidents from my time working in the prison system. It doesn't make sense to me. We all need to stand up and be anti-racist. Just not being racist isn't enough anymore. Call out your parents, siblings, cousins, friends and strangers when they are saying something that should not have been said or acting out in ways that is harmful to all of our brothers and sisters. Tell them you aren't willing to accept that behaviour as appropriate anymore. I'm hearing so many people say, but the protests are unnecessary. They are destroying their own communities. Its in the past, leave it there. Mr Wyatt says it so eloquently "it's not about that one time, it's about all those times" #BlackLivesMatter #itstime #standup #antiracism #love #HumanRace

18.01.2022 If you haven't done so already, please head on over and like or follow Criminal Justice Reform Western Australia. Have your voice heard. Share your experience in the hope that it will guide change within the system.

16.01.2022 How do you do stress? With so much going on in the world at the moment, it would be understandable if you were living in a higher state of stress than usual. Stress can be a helpful part of life, it lets us know that there may be something not quite right in a particular situation. It triggers our flight, fight, freeze response which engages the parts of our body that will increase our chances of survival in that moment. It saved our ancestors from those nasty saber tooth ti...gers remember!! However, when we are living constantly in a high state of stress it can lead to exhaustion, burn out and hyper-vigilance. It is like our body doesn't have a chance to rest because it is constantly looking out for danger. This is not a safe, nor comfortable place to live. So what can we do to manage our stress in a healthy, balanced way? First, recognising your symptoms of stress is key to coping with stress. Do you struggle to sleep, get sweaty palms, upset stomach, get fidgety, overly-emotional? Once we are aware of our stress symptoms, we can then utilise out stress management techniques! Things like; yoga, breathing exercises, grounding, seeking help, physical exercise, walking, writing, meditation, drawing, sewing, gardening. What are your symptoms of stress and how do you manage your stress in a healthy way? Feel free to share in the comments what works for you. Happy Friday! May you have a stress-free weekend.

16.01.2022 NSW are preparing to release a number of prisoners considered low-risk to avoid the potentially catastrophic implications that COVID-19 will have on the system if/when it arrives. Now that is a compassionate government, who represents ALL their people! Prisoners, guards, nurses, doctors, trades assistants, admin, education and programs staff and all their family members thank you for keeping them safe during this difficult and uncertain time.

16.01.2022 Did you know that we support the loved ones of men in prison?? We offer counselling support for the wives, partners, parents, siblings, children and any other loved one impacted by having a family member in prison. I am also looking at offering group support programs for the mothers of men in prison, the partners and wives of men in prison and supporting children with get togethers and catch ups to take away the loneliness and stigma that often comes when we lose a loved on...e to the prison system. Please reach out if you are interested.

15.01.2022 A new dedicated drug and alcohol unit has opened at Casuarina Prison. Do you have any family members or friends in the unit? I'd love to hear all about it if you do. I'm so hopeful that this is the first step to a new style of rehabilitation in Western Australia

14.01.2022 This is a fantastic video to understand why the words "if you don't want to go to jail, don't commit a crime" are ignorant and show little compassion and understanding of the underlying reasons why people end up in the prison system! On a positive note, the WA government have passed a bill today that will stop people being sent to prison due to unpaid fines.... I'm not one to be overly political, but well done to all the politicians involved in bringing this piece of legislation into the light. This is a huge step in reducing the number of people currently in prison, it will allow the reunification of families and it will reduce the amount of money tax payers are contributing to the prison system!

14.01.2022 and those who cannot see their children today

14.01.2022 This is a fantastic article about how our current situation, isn't quite like prison, as some people have stated recently. I love this quote from the article from a former inmate "If you feel like this is prison, I encourage you to lean into that feeling right now," he says.... "Put your mattress in your bathroom, put your pillow right up against the toilet, go and get a stranger to move in, and give your keys to someone that you don't know. And they'll come past and let you out when they want." With lots of people struggling at the moment, it is important to be mindful of how powerful our mind can be and how important perspective is. We can see our current situation as feeling like a prison sentence or we can choose to see it from a different perspective. Social distancing and social isolation have been hard for many people. Loss of employment, financial difficulties, uncertainty, anxiety, depression, loneliness, domestic and family violence and much more can all come from what we are currently experiencing as a collective. But there is support available. There are many ways we can manage through COVID-19. Please reach out to support services if you are struggling Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Line 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back service 1300 659 467 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 WA Women's DV Helpline 1800 007 339 WA Men's DV Helpline 1800 000 599 Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing support 1800 512 348

12.01.2022 If you have 20 minutes spare, I would love you to watch this TED Talk from Johann Hari. If you’re depressed. If you’re anxious. You’re not weak. You’re not crazy. You’re not in the main, a machine with broken parts.... You’re a human being with unmet needs, and what you need is very practical help to get those needs met. See more

12.01.2022 America's incarceration rate is one of the highest in the world. 11 Million people are in prisons and jails around the world. 20% of these people are incarcerated in the U.S. Less than 5% of the world’s population is in the United States, but 20% of the world’s incarcerated people are in a U.S prison. Why then are we trying to emulate their prison statistics by following their lead on criminal justice approaches. ... Why are we giving people longer sentences, but not offering support? Why don't we offer mental health support, substance use treatment, teach children coping strategies and life skills all before they come into contact with the CJS? Why have we recently opened two women's prisons and increased the capacity of our largest male prison, when countries around the world are shutting down prisons due to reduced crime rates? I am passionate about reform throughout the criminal justice system - from policing and courts through to prison and parole. It isn't about being "soft" on crime, it is about doing what we can to reduce the amount of people becoming victims. In the words of Maya Angelou "Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better" Lets do better!

11.01.2022 I hope that all our followers are coping as well as they can during these uncertain times. Remember that help is available - please don't hesitate to reach out. Here is a quick EFT tapping exercise that may relieve some stress and anxiety that you are experiencing at the moment. I hope that you find it helpful.

10.01.2022 Beautiful words sent into Criminal Justice Reform Western Australia from the mother of a prisoner

10.01.2022 Prisoners, their families, prison officers and other staff are getting worried. Many prisoners are experiencing anxiety and fear of what will happen to them when COVID-19 enters the system. When people are living in a place of fear, they panic. When people panic, they can make bad choices. I'm sure we have all seen the fights in the shopping centres over toilet paper, hand sanitiser and other items. The difference between people in the community panicking and prisoners pan...icking, is the outcome. Prisoners aren't going to fight over toilet paper, they are going to set fire to things, climb on buildings, destroy buildings. You add over-population to fear, anxiety and panic and you have the potential for riots, suicide, assaults on staff and more. Italy and Columbia have already experienced rioting, escapes and prisoners deaths. I truly hope that I am wrong. I hope that the virus bypasses the WA prison system. I hope that the contingency plans that the Department of Justice developed, are adequate. I hope that WA takes its lead from NSW, NT, USA and many other places around the world, who are releasing low-risk offenders, those close to their release date, those on remand for non-serious, non-violent offences. Not only to keep the prisoners safe, but to keep the officers and other staff and their families safe also.

10.01.2022 Wow! Just wow. This is an absolutely beautiful video about the impact of childhood trauma. This is my goal. A program that allows these men to show themselves a little compassion. To see that they are not alone in their hurt, pain, shame. That there are people in the community who genuinely care for them and want to help them. ... This gives me hope

09.01.2022 Only a few more days to purchase your tickets to our first support group for the loved ones of people in prison. Please reach out if you have any questions. We would love to see you there. There are still plenty of tickets left!!! $10 covers the cost of the venue, tea, coffee and some biscuits. Come and connect with other people in a similar situation as you.

09.01.2022 Head on over and like @criminaljusticereformwa to help bring change to the criminal justice system in Western Australia. If you have any stories of injustice you or a family member have experienced, please head over to their page and send them a message or email. Let's bring change to an archaic system. We know there are better ways now, so let's start doing better!

08.01.2022 What does emPOWER WA do? We support men as they leave the prison system and return to the community. We develop a counselling plan that will best address your individual needs whether you are released to Parole or full-time or even if you were released in the past. We've got you. ... Exciting news!! We have recently added a new service! We are now supporting people from the point of arrest. If you are on bail awaiting court, we can offer you counselling support to address your treatment needs. We are passionate about supporting people that have become involved with the Justice system. Loved ones of people in prison, keep an eye out in 2021, as we will be offering support groups for loved ones in the community!!

06.01.2022 If you have a friend or family member currently in custody, or who has been in custody during COVID-19, please complete this survey that is designed to assess the mental health and wellbeing of incarcerated people and their families during COVID-19. Although it has been fantastic that there has been zero reported cases of COVID-19 in the WA, the strain on the mental health of prisoners and their families is unknown. This survey will hopefully shed some light on how people have managed with the restrictions to prison visiting hours in terms of their mental health and wellbeing. Thank you Deadly Connections Community & Justice Services Inc. for being the voice for those who don't have a voice. You guys are an absolute shining light!

04.01.2022 Feeling very blessed and grateful to have been able to sit and hold space for a beautiful group of parents, partners and loved ones of men in prison this morning. Stories were shared, tear were shed and connections were made. It was magical ... We will be running a support group monthly from now on, if you are interested please keep an eye out for the next event or reach out to us. Thank you to everyone who attended.

04.01.2022 This will be a really interesting. I was lucky enough to work at Wandoo when it housed young Male offenders as a minimum facility. We had some amazing success stories and we had some guys returning because of the lack of support in the community. Support within the prisons is definitely needed; however, offenders in this drug unit will need through-care support once they are back in the community with their old friends, family members and the stress and pressure of 'real lif...e'- work, bills, rent, shopping etc. From my understanding there was a tender application process recently for the post-release support. I'm so hopeful that this unit and the agency who wins the tender are able to change the lives of those who want to change, there is so much potential for this to be amazing https://www.facebook.com/9NewsPerth/videos/256064268869174/

04.01.2022 Sad news coming from Acacia Prison. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the deceased prisoner, the prisoners in the unit and the prison staff and first responders impacted by this man's death.

03.01.2022 To all the men, women and animals who have served or are currently serving our country, Thank You Lest we forget

03.01.2022 One thing I will always be so impressed by, is the amazing art work that I have seen whilst working in the prison system. Finding the ability to paint beautiful, emotional art in a place where you have had so much taken from you, is just inspiring. Art, writing, poetry, song writing, all these creative processes are so therapeutic. If you have a loved one in prison, I encourage you to ask them to tap into their creative side. Paint their emotions, write their songs, tell their stories - not for anyone else, purely for their own healing.

02.01.2022 I think I have a problem - I think I am addicted to TED Talks!! There are some great talks available on so many different topics. Here is another super interesting talk on the ability of our brain to change. Dan Reisal studied the brains of clinically diagnosed Psychopaths in the UK - what he found could mean that less people return to prison...if they get the right kind of rehabilitation! I hope you enjoy it!

01.01.2022 This is an older article - but it highlights the need for alternatives to prison sentences for adults and custody based sentences for children. When someone is sent to prison or juvenile detention, they generally aren't shown the impact of their crime on the victims nor the secondary victims. Yes, the victim may be given the opportunity to write a victim impact statement and for some offenders, this may be enough. But for many, they can disconnect from this in the moment an...d experience little empathy for their victims. There is evidence that indicates that when an offender experiences empathy for their victim, they are less likely to commit that crime in the future. Alternative approaches, such as Restorative Justice allow offenders to bare witness to victims of their crime. Victims are given a voice and allowed the opportunity to share their experience directly in front of the offender, in a safe and healing space. This can be a truly healing experience for both victim and offender. RJ circles were running in some WA prisons, until mid-2019 when the volunteers running them were stopped from entering the prisons, the same time that emPOWER WA staff were stopped. We are yet to have our security cleared to enter the prisons, but we are working on it!