NCJ Number
194155
Date Published
October 2001
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the efforts of the New South Wales Probation and Parole Service (Australia) in working with Aboriginal communities in rural and remote areas.
Abstract
In 1996 a local Aboriginal man in New South Wales committed himself to stopping his violent behavior. This involved his voluntarily establishing a group for Indigenous men who had this same goal. The group became so effective that the New South Wales Probation and Parole Office began referring Aboriginal men to it. It was clear that the founder of the group, who had a full-time job, could not handle the increasing demand for the program he had started. In a spirit of cooperation, three public-sector managers examined the basics of the men's group; and with the founder's enthusiastic support, a pilot project was developed, based around the men's program, called "Rekindling the Spirit." The factors that have made the program successful include cooperation and collaboration across various agencies who desire common outcomes; entrusting service delivery and direction to Indigenous leadership; transferring resources from the public to the community sector; and identifying the needs of the client group. This program is an example of how effective services to Aboriginal offenders must either originate with or solicit the input and cooperation of the communities and clients they serve. This is particularly important with Aboriginal communities, which have evolved under distinctive cultural values, beliefs, therapeutic processes, and social and psychological needs. 12 references and appended program progress report (September 2001), the history and nature of the program, and data on client characteristics and evaluation for 1999/2000