How we help Returning to community ReConnect ReConnect proactively supports men to successfully settle back into their communities after being released from prison. It's a voluntary program that provides assertive outreach and practical assistance to ease the pressures of returning home. Our in-prison program, ReLink, provides a safe space for people to hope and plan for a better future for themselves and their families. ReConnect provides the support needed for those plans to take shape. Our ReConnect program is available to eligible sentenced men who work one-on-one with a post-release case manager to have the opportunity to move towards their best life. For people seeking information about Reconnect for women, please contact Drummond Street Services. “We have the potential to empower individuals to live better, more fulfilling lives, which can grow the strength of their family, and the overall fabric of the community. In ReConnect, some of the most rewarding work is supporting fathers to regain control of their own lives so they can build better relationships with their children.” – Finn, ReConnect case manager. How ReConnect works Returning home from prison can present people with new and different challenges. ReConnect provides individualised, flexible and intensive support to people leaving men's prisons with high and complex transitional needs through three streams: Brief reintegration stream: One to three months of post-release support. Focused on participants with more immediate transition needs that can be addressed through brief, targeted interventions. Extended reintegration stream: Up to six months of post-release support for participants with more complex needs. Intensive reintegration stream: Up to nine months of post-release support. Focused on participants with more entrenched and complex needs, as well as those who are tenants of Corrections Victoria Supported Housing Program (CVSHP) properties. Participants will work with their case managers to determine which stream of support best suits their needs. This support starts before a person leaves prison. ReConnect uses a throughcare approach – understanding that successful transition support begins in custody and continues into the community. Participants start ReConnect eight weeks prior to release and meet their ReConnect case manager before leaving prison. Their support package commences from their day of release. Vacro’s role Our approach to delivering ReConnect is driven by each participant’s individual transitional needs, their preferred approach, the circumstances in their community, and their relationship with their case manager. Everyone’s needs are different, and our support reflects this. Our support ranges from advocating for participants' needs to other private and community service organisations to supporting participants to access these services and meet their day-to-day needs. Our case managers might also provide coaching support to participants to live a values-driven life and to be a sounding board to talk through challenges that arise. Our case managers bring with them an excellent knowledge of the Justice and Community Service Systems, and how to navigate them. They also have strong inter- and intrapersonal skills to support participants to address their entrenched behaviours, in a variety of challenging spaces, while at the same time demonstrating empathy, active listening, and non-judgmental acceptance. ReConnect is a critical step in Corrections Victoria’s Reintegration Pathway towards life after prison. It’s delivered by geographical region, to highlight the importance of regional support, and to maximise people’s connections with their local support services. Vacro delivers ReConnect in three areas of Victoria: Barwon South West: covering Geelong and surrounds, Colac, Warrnambool and Portland, Grampians: covering Horsham, Ararat, Ballarat and Bacchus Marsh, and Loddon Mallee: covering Bendigo, Kerang, Echuca, Robinvale, Swan Hill, and Mildura. We work with other community organisations to deliver ReConnect across Victoria. Corrections Victoria’s post-release services page provides information about accessing ReConnect in other areas of Victoria. You’re welcome to contact us if you’re not sure of the support available in your area. More information Why ReConnect Transition support is a lifeline for people in the challenging time immediately after release from prison. Eligibility People are eligible if they are: Sentenced to more than three months in prison, Assessed as High Risk, Assessed as High Need (as per Corrections Victoria's Reintegration Assessment). Aboriginal people are eligible if they are: Sentenced to more than three months in prison, Assessed as High Risk, AND, Assessed as Moderate or High Need (as per Corrections Victoria's Reintegration Assessment). Referrals Referrals to ReConnect are made by prison-based Assessment and Transition Coordinators (ATCs) to Vacro. ReConnect Brochure Resources Corrections Victoria Reintegration Pathway Support ReConnect is funded by the Department of Justice and Community Safety — Corrections Victoria. Manage Cookie Preferences