Women In Prison Advocacy Network

Women In Prison Advocacy Network (WIPAN)
Founded 2008 (2008)
Type Charitable organization
Focus Advocacy, Mentoring, Prison reform, Criminal Justice
Location
  • Suite 4, Level 6 377–383 Sussex Street Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Area served
New South Wales
Website www.wipan.net.au

The Women in Prison Advocacy Network (abbreviated as WIPAN) is an incorporated not-for-profit charity based in Sydney, Australia. WIPAN is a volunteer-based organisation and focuses on advocacy around issues affecting female prisoners, providing support to women exiting prison through its mentoring program, with the aim to reduce rates of female incarceration and recidivism.[1] The organisation's work involves undertaking research and systemic advocacy around the needs of women prisoners and ex-prisoners at an institutional level, whilst also assisting ex-prisoners at an individual level through its mentoring program, the only such non-government service in New South Wales (NSW).[2][3]

WIPAN was founded in 2008[2] by Kat Armstrong, Carol Berry, Marissa Sandler and Nicki Petrou,[1][4] and is managed by a volunteer Management Committee, (The Board). WIPAN's co-founder Kat Armstrong, was the organisation’s volunteer Director/CEO from early 2008 to Jan 2016.[5] The organisation expanded in 2014, thanks to a grant from the Department of Family and Community Services (NSW) and from early 2016, a new CEO, Mentoring Coordinator and Housing and Family Coordinator were all able to be employed. WIPAN has also received small, one off charity grants[6] and funding grants of the NSW Government,[7] such as the three years of one off funding grants from, the NSW Government, Office of Women, used to establish WIPAN’s mentoring service in 2009.[4]

Activities

In consultation with other community groups, as well as partner peak body organisations such as the New South Wales Council of Social Services (NCOSS),[8] WIPAN undertakes a broad range of research and advocacy activities including the production of resources guides, policy and research papers on issues such as the housing and support needs of women leaving prison[9] and prisoner health.[10][11] In addition the organisation makes submissions to government on policy matters affecting female prisoners and their families such as sentencing,[12] Apprehended Violence Orders (AVO)[13] and prison privatisation.[14]

In 2011, with funding from the Myer Foundation[7] and working with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC),[15] WIPAN produced a self-help guide for women prisoners in NSW.[7] The guide was designed to be distributed to female prisoners before release, and assist them to meet their own financial, housing, health and legal needs once in the community.[16]

In 2012, with funding from the NSW Office for Women,[17] WIPAN produced The Long Road to Freedom: A guide for women to escape the cycle of domestic violence and jail., a guide designed to assist women experiencing domestic violence who are also affected by the criminal justice system.

WIPAN also attends and presents at conferences nationally on issues affecting female prisoners; having been at a participant in the 2009 and 2011 Sisters Inside Conferences on Prisons;[18] and in 2012 at the Complex Needs Conference hosted by the University of Sydney.[19]

Women's Mentoring Program

WIPAN operates a volunteer-based mentoring program for women exiting the NSW criminal justice system which aims to reduce rates of recidivism amongst female inmates by providing women leaving prison with a meaningful support network, and to assist ex-prisoners to build connections with the broader community.[20] The role of the mentor in the program is to assist the mentee to access necessary services, and to build a relationship of mutual trust and respect through regular face-to-face meetings, and the provision of social and emotional support.[21] The program was developed and accredited by NSW TAFE up until 2015, and was responsible for training 50 community volunteers to act as mentors in an initial 18-month pilot program from May 2010 until November 2011.[1][21]

In 2012, after two years of the program 82 per cent of the programs 85 participants had not re-offended, despite 92 percent of participants having served between five and seven prior custodial sentences before entering the program.[2][20][22][23]

Awards and recognition

Since being founded in 2008 WIPAN has received a number of awards in recognition of the work to establish the organisation by Kat Armstrong, as well as for the success of the work conducted by the organisation through its mentoring program. In 2011, The Law and Justice Foundation of NSW's Justice Award was awarded to WIPAN Director Kat Armstrong.[24] In 2012, The Australian Centre For Leadership For Women's Gold Sustaining Women’s Empowerment in Communities and Organisations (SWECO) Award was given to Kat Armstrong for her work in founding WIPAN.[21]

In 2012 WIPAN was awarded by the Australian Government and Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) the 2012 Australian Crime & Violence Prevention Award for outstanding work in crime prevention, and for the success of its women’s mentoring program.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rhiannon, Senator Lee. "Adjournement – Women in Prison Advocacy Network, International Development Assistance". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Horowitz, Kate. "Unique prisoner mentoring organisation denied funds". Alternative Media Group of Australia. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Sustaining Women's Empowerment in Communities and Organisations – 2012 Award Winners". Australia Centre For Leadership For Women. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "SWECO 2012 Award Winners". Australian Centre For Leadership For Women. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  5. ↑ "2012 Australian Crime & Violence Prevention Awards". Australian Institute of Criminology. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Vincent Fairfax Family – Annual Report 2012". Vincent Fairfax Family. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 Westwood, The Hon Helen. "Women in Prison Advocacy Network". NSW Legislative Council. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  8. ↑ "NCOSS Annual Report 2009-10" (PDF). Council of Social Service of New South Wales. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Dreaming of a Safe Home: Consumers and community workers' perspectives on housing and support needs of women leaving prison in NSW" (PDF). WIPAN. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Women, prisons and hepatitis C". Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Women in NSW prisons and hepatitis C: towards a more gendered approach?". HIV Australia. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  12. ↑ Zezovska, Julie. "WIPAN Submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission Review of Sentencing" (PDF). Lawlink. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  13. ↑ Armstrong, Kat. "Submission to People with Cognitive and Mental Health Impairments in the Criminal Justice System, Question Paper 1: Apprehended Violence Orders" (PDF). Lawlink. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  14. ↑ Armstrong, Kat. "Submission made by the Women In Prison Advocacy Network, (WIPAN) into the inquiry of the privatisation of prisons and prison-related services" (PDF). May 1st 2013. Parliament of NSW.
  15. ↑ "Self-help guide for women prisoners". Public Interest Advocacy Centre. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Self-help guide for women prisoners in NSW" (PDF). WIPAN, Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Sydney Myer Fund. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  17. ↑ "The Long Road to Freedom – A guide for women to escape the cycle of domestic violence and jail" (PDF). WIPAN. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Are prisons obsolete? Conference Program" (PDF). Sisters Inside. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Complex Needs Conference Program – 11 December 2012" (PDF). University of Sydney. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  20. 1 2 3 "Newsletter of the Australian Institute of Criminology / Number 11 / December 2012" (PDF). Australian Institute of Criminology. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  21. 1 2 3 "2012 SWECO Winners". Australian Centre For Leadership For Women. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Mentors help break cycle of crime". ABC – The World Today – Radio Interview Transcript. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  23. ↑ Mann, Toby. "Prison mentoring program needs money". The Australian Newspaper. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  24. ↑ "2011 Justice Awards winners announced" (PDF). Law and Justice Foundation of New South Wales. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
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