paul mallett strongly advocates for a modern, well funded, evidence based rehabilitation system for the Tasmanian prison system. paul believes this will require a whole of government and public commitment to rehabilitation as the core goal, not just containment and punishment. paul calls for:

• Dedicated funding. Expand budget for education, vocational training, addiction treatment and mental health programs. Fund more culturally appropriate services — e.g. Aboriginal-led reintegration programs.
• Facilities upgrade. Space for classrooms, workshops, counselling rooms. Purpose-designed low security reintegration units.
• Workforce Expansion.  Not just more correctional officers, but qualified education officers, vocational trainers, psychologists, social workers, mentors.
• Strong partnerships. TasTAFE partnerships for on-site qualifications. Local employers to create pathways for ex-prisoners. Housing and community services to support release.
• Throughcare. Robust post-release support — supervised housing, wraparound mental health, job help. Link prisoners to community providers before release, not after.

paul calls for this because Tasmania has rising incarceration rates — especially for remand and repeat offending. paul understands that many prisoners have complex needs — mental ill-health, addiction, trauma, and often low literacy and numeracy. Without real rehabilitation, people often re-offend, costing the system far more than a one-off prison term. Quality rehabilitation breaks the cycle — it’s cheaper, safer, and better for communities.

Approach

A modern, evidence-based rehabilitation system isn’t just about token education or short programs. It includes:

• Therapeutic programs — addressing root causes: addiction, trauma, anger, violence.
• Education & training — literacy, digital skills, TAFE pathways, practical trade skills.
• Work readiness — job placement, employer partnerships, real work experience inside and outside prison.
• Individual case management — tailored plans, continuity from custody to community.
• Family and  community connections — maintaining positive ties, parenting support, restorative justice.
• Throughcare — strong post-release support (housing, mental health, job support).

Funding

Quality rehabilitation costs more upfront than doing nothing — but pays back by reducing re-offending, police time, court costs, prison beds, and social harm. It is likely that a high-quality program might cost $5,000–$15,000 per prisoner per year, depending on intensity. By contrast, it costs $110,000–$140,000 per prisoner per year just to keep someone incarcerated in Tasmania. So reducing even one repeat sentence saves a huge sum.

Po: Could the goal of reducing recidivism be the focus of Social Impact Bond program provision (see separate post).

Inspiration

• As a Community Program’s manager at Australian Red Cross (ARC) in 2024, paul lead a small team delivering the Volunteering for Change program in Southern Tasmania. Under the program, prisoners received first aid, mental health first aid, and cultural training. After graduating, prisoners identified projects that served to improve their community within the prison. Sadly, ARC stepped away from delivery of that specific program in mid 2024.
• Norway: A gold-standard model — prisons are designed like campuses. Every prisoner works or studies daily. Staff are trained as mentors, not just guards. Re-offending rates are among the lowest in the world.
• New Zealand: Expanded Māori-led rehab and reintegration services. Strong cultural and family reconnection reduces re-offending.
• Victoria: Barwon and Ravenhall prisons have on-site TAFEs, employer partners, and ‘step down’ transition units.