An expo aimed at connecting prisoners with industry employers is just one of the many tools used to get employers into thinking about prison, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Justice.

Located about 175km from Perth in the College Grove area of Bunbury, the Bunbury Regional Prison is a multi-security male prison and the largest regional prison in Western Australia.

In July 2023 there were 502 prisoners housed in the standard accommodation at the prison.

The Reconnect Expo on November 1, held in the pre-release unit, invites employers into the prison to connect and share information with pre-release prisoners about various industries and potential employment opportunities.

Department of Justice assistant director of prisoner employment programs and transitional services Larry Smith said the industries who attend the expo generally depend on the area and skill shortages within the region, but include generic industries, such as hospitality, metal trades and civil construction.

Mr Smith said the expo helps to show prisoners what opportunities are available in the workforce, and it helps prisoners to showcase to potential employers the skills they have developed during their time in prison.

He said a lot of people think prisoners are just locked up, and aren’t aware of the opportunities they have had to develop their skills while in prison.

According to the Department of Justice, prisoners are provided with education and training programs run by the department, while also working with 40 registered training organisations across Western Australia to address the shortages in the labour market, specific to each region.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported in the June quarter of 2024 that there were more than 17,000 prisoners released Australian wide.

Accordwest manager of reintegration and rehabilitation Merinda Roberston said employment was one of the many integral components contributing to successful reintegration.

She said being connected to employment or employment opportunities prior to release could make the transition out of prison less daunting.

She said employment could help minimise the risk of reoffending, and also supported returning citizens with financial stability and sense of purpose.

“It also supports a person’s sense of self, their identity, and their contribution to the community,” she said. 

Research from 2020 focusing on the experiences of prisoners in the ACT suggested prisoners experience a range of challenges in gaining employment.

University of Western Australia School of Population and Global Health adjunct research fellow Jane Anderson said the stigmatisation surrounding employees with criminal records was one of the challenges faced by prisoners when seeking employment.

She said returning citizens were not only impacted by the way employers stigmatise applicants with criminal records, but how they themselves anticipate this stigmatisation.

“The way they think and feel about themselves – mostly negatively – is a barrier to their capacity to seek employment,” she said.

Dr Anderson said the Reconnect Expo focuses on taking a person-centred approach and helps address the challenges faced by prisoners surrounding this stigma.

“The event weakens the barrier of stigma while assisting individuals and service providers to re-set relationships of trust and respect needed for facilitating employment pathways,” she said.

Mr Smith said an added benefit to the expo is that it gave the prisoners the opportunity to get to know employers prior to applying for jobs, alleviating some of the pressure.

“It’s good for the prisoners also because they know the employers know they’ve got a record, so they don’t have to keep looking over their shoulders thinking they’re going to find out,” he said.

“They know exactly they’re coming from prison”.

Ms Anderson said encouraging and further developing events like the Reconnect Expo would be beneficial for Western Australia.

“Such expos mutually benefit the prison and wider community and the potential prospects of prisoners and future employers,” she said.