Level 1, 116 Hardware St, Melbourne

Information for people leaving prison

Getting Started: a guide to getting out

Since 2002, people leaving Victoria's prisons have referred to VACRO's Getting Out book as a practical reference for making the leap from custody to the community. Freedom presents many day-to-day challenges for ex-prisoners, such as finding accommodation and employment, adjusting to changes within the family, facing old friends, dealing with various government agencies and organising health care.

In 2010, with funding from Corrections Victoria, VACRO has been able to update the resource. The information is now presented in ten A6 sized Booklets and five Info Sheets. Corrections will be printing and distributing the material starting in early 2011 and VACRO will have a limited supply. For more details or to find out how to get a copy, contact VACRO on 9605 1900 or email info@vacro.org.au.

Getting Started Booklets

*1. The First Week Out*	*2. Housing*
*3. Identification*	*4. Alcohol and Other Drugs*
*5. Centrelink*	*6. Community Corrections*
*7. Employment*	*8. Returning to Family*
*9. Women's Transition*	*10. Indigenous*

Getting Started Info Sheets:

A Money Matters
B Emergency Relief
C Support
D Rights and Legal Issues
E Health

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Khởi đầu (Getting Started - translated into Vietnamese)

Khởi đầu là chỉ dẫn dành cho những người ra tù.

_________________________________________________________________

Getting Out: and how to survive it (2002 - 2006)

'Getting Out and How to Survive It' was first published by VACRO in 2002 and proved to be a valuable resource for prisoners, their families and all those associated with the corrections system. The book was republished and updated three times, the last time being 2006. New South Wales has produced its own information booklet for ex-prisoners, based on the VACRO publication. Western Australia and Queensland are also following VACRO’s lead in this area and are presently in the process of developing guides for prisoners and ex-prisoners in those states.

The Getting Out Book was distributed to prisoners held in all correctional facilities in Victoria in the lead up to their release. The Getting Out Book has been well received among prisoners and the broader community. It has been useful for prisoners but has also played a very effective role in raising awareness about important issues associated with release from prison and reintegration back into the community. All Victorian prisons held copies of the Getting Out Book, DVDs and videos and used these as a part of their Transitional Assistance Program (TAP), which all prisoners participate in within the last three months of their sentence.

Getting Out Online in PDF Format

Getting Out is also the name of short film produced by VACRO. You can watch the film here or request a copy from VACRO's reception email info@vacro.org.au or call (03) 9605 1900 for more information.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date This Page Last Updated: 26/11/2011 04:35:56 PM