NYFL PRISON EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SMOOTHS TRANSITION TO RELEASE

Dean Williams. Credit: Supplied, NYFL.

An Aboriginal man has become the first inmate from Roebourne Regional Prison to work as part of the Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation Limited’s (NYFL’s) new prison employment program.

NYFL has collaborated with the Department of Corrective Services to allow eligible prisoners to work during the day and return to the prison in the evening.

Dean Williams worked for NYFL as a caretaker at the Cossack townsite during the final six months of his sentence at Roebourne Regional Prison.

Mr Williams was released seven weeks ago, and has since gained employment on the Burrup Peninsula.

He said his time in the NYFL Prison Employment Program made for an easy transition post-release.

“Just seeing what the other guys I was with in prison, when they were getting released, the week or two prior, the anxiety and the stress, it was pretty daunting,” he said.

“I was really really lucky and fortunate to have that opportunity to step out before and have a bit of finances behind me.”

Listen to the full interview with Dean Williams: