The Women in Community Program has reached an important milestone with our first woman now commencing Community Life. This marks the shift from planning into practice as the program begins delivering support in real time and women start building safer, more stable lives in the community.
Program design began in 2025, with the pre-release phase launching in January 2026 with our first referral. Reaching this point reflects a significant amount of co-design, planning and groundwork. It means women are being supported through a thoughtful model rather than a rushed response. For women, this matters because support is shaped around their needs, strengths, and goals. For the wider community, it means a new pathway is now in place to support women leaving prison in ways that can improve long-term outcomes and reduce repeated justice system involvement.
Alongside this milestone, we welcomed four additional Women’s Advocates to strengthen our 24/7 support model. This helps ensure women have access to consistent, responsive and relationship-based support at all times, which is especially important in the early stages of settling into community life. We have also introduced a six-day induction and training program to help prepare new Advocates to work in line with the program’s principles and approach. This supports greater trust, safety and continuity for the women we work alongside.
One of the clearest lessons so far is that the program needs to stay flexible and responsive. Women’s needs can change quickly as they move from prison into community life, and our support must adapt while staying grounded in person-centred, gender-responsive, and continuous improvement practice. This flexibility helps us to respond to real circumstances rather than a fixed template. It also gives women support that is more likely to build stability and support positive change over time.
Employment remains a central part of the Women in Community Program. It supports confidence, purpose, independence and long-term stability. We work alongside ethical employers who understand the value of giving women with complex histories a fair chance to rebuild their lives. For women, employment can mean income, routine, self-belief and a stronger identity beyond incarceration. For the community, it means women are more likely to contribute socially and economically, while reducing the risks linked to unemployment, isolation and instability.
We invite potential employers to collaborate with the Women in Community Program and help create pathways to meaningful, stable employment for women transitioning from prison. By partnering with us, employers can support women to build confidence, develop skills and contribute positively in the workplace and wider community.
If you would like to discuss potential opportunities, please contact our Employment Advocate Lisa Rondbjerg at lrondbjerg@embracepp.org or on 0413 600 266.
