Elise Archer,Minister for Corrections
As I said in Parliament today, I greatly value the various partnerships we have with community based organisations both inside and outside the prison system, specifically and including Holyoake, and I again thank them for the valuable contribution they make to our prison service in the delivery of various programs.
One of the rooms that was damaged by heavy rain in June this year was utilised for prisoner programs, including a program delivered by Holyoake, which I am advised has not been able to operate since that time.
The Tasmania Prison Service has today confirmed that the program with Holyoake will recommence in early October.
As I stated in Parliament today, from 30 June 2020 to 1 July 2021, 23 had enrolled in the program with 22 completing the Holyoake Gottawanna Program.
It is important to note that this is only one of a number of rehabilitation and alcohol and other drug (AOD) intervention programs offered within the prison.
In addition to programs delivered by community based organisations, the Tasmania Prison Service (TPS) offers numerous alcohol and other drug interventions internally within the prison, run by dedicated TPS staff.
Various group programs are being delivered which are solely focused on or have a portion focused on AOD intervention, including a resilience program, EQUIPS addictions program and a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) program in the women's prison. On top of this, there is also one on one counselling which is offered to those who need it, and a new program called 'the making choices program' is also due to commence this October.
