Reconnection, Employment and Learning (REAL) Program
The Australian Government has committed $76.2 million over 5 years to a new voluntary program to improve how First Nations people transition out of the justice system and into employment, education and training.
The REAL Program will be available to First Nations people, aged 15 years and older, who have been incarcerated, with a known release date, or who are on remand. Support will commence up to 6 months before release and continue for up to 12 months post release.
Rolling out in two phases, Phase 1 of the REAL Program will initially begin in a cross-section of facilities across states and territories from 1 July 2025. Phase 2 will be informed by leveraging learnings from Phase 1 and drawing on further consultations in 2025. Full-scale delivery of the REAL Program will occur in Phase 2 with the aim to cover the remaining locations nationally (youth and adult facilities) from 1 July 2026. Organisations will be selected to deliver the program through competitive grant processes.
REAL Program discussion paper
The REAL Program discussion paper provides a summary of the Stage 1 stakeholder consultations from 2023. We heard from First Nations people with lived experience of the justice system, First Nations groups, justice reform advocates, community organisations and service providers from across the country on how employment supports can be improved for First Nations people who have been incarcerated. Stage 1 consultations informed the high-level design of the REAL Program. During Stage 2 consultations, the department would like to hear from you to help inform the detailed design and implementation of the program. The discussion paper includes questions to help guide your feedback.
The department wants to hear from interested parties, including:
First Nations people with lived experience of the justice system
First Nations communities
First Nations organisations and representatives
Employment Services Peaks and providers
State and Territory corrections and youth justice agencies.
Interested stakeholders are invited to provide feedback by COB Thursday, 31 October 2024 (extended until COB, Friday 8 November, 2024).
Submission
Submissions can be sent to FirstNations_EPPsecretariat@dewr.gov.au or posted to:
REAL Program Consultation
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
GPO Box 9828
LOC: 14M4 Canberra ACT 2601
