The Victorian Government has commissioned an independent review into the culture of Victoria’s prison system which aims to ensure the prison system promotes rehabilitation, reduces recidivism, and caters to the needs of all prisoners to ensure the system improves community safety.

FCVic, in preparing its submission to the review, consulted extensively with our Prisons Network, a community of practice for financial counsellors servicing correctional facilities across Victoria, and drew from their casework experience.

The submission focuses on specific areas of concern in relation to safety in custody for vulnerable cohorts, and makes two recommendations:

• That all Victorian correctional facilities, including remand centres, provide all prisoners with access to financial counselling as an integral service from the commencement of their incarceration.
• That financial literacy and life skills programs run by financial counsellors are implemented at all Victorian prisons with options for remote delivery to accommodate public health directions.