The Port Lincoln Yacht Club provided a  glorious backdrop for the forum, which was attended by approximately 80 people from various areas of the local community including council, local businesses, education and training organisations, accommodation and housing providers, Aboriginal organisations, and sporting and service clubs.

Strengthening collaboration with external stakeholders, partners and the community (particularly in regional areas) was a key idea explored at the Shaping Corrections Planning Day in April 2016.

The Port Lincoln event follows a successful Shaping Corrections community forum held in Port Augusta in November last year and Murray Bridge in May.

The forum was an opportunity to promote the work of DCS, engage the local community in collaborative efforts to reduce reoffending and also identify opportunities for expanding industries / prisoner and offenders' employment opportunities in the local area.

Attendees then had the opportunity to wander around and check out the various stalls and chat to DCS staff. Areas of DCS represented on the stalls included:

• 10 by 20
• Community Corrections (Home Detention, IHSSP, Programs, Alternative to Custody, Counselling)
• RepaySA
• Education – VTEC
• Rehabilitation Programs
• The White Ribbon Accreditation Program
• DCS Victims Services
• DCS Volunteers Unit
• Aboriginal Services Unit
• Operations Security Unit
• Recruitment – TCO

Port Lincoln Prison industries had some of their fantastic hydroponic produce on display including lettuce, spring onions, broccoli and cabbage. The prison has a wide range of industries and currently offers employment and vocational training opportunities in the area including Horticulture, Metal / Engineering Manufacture Agriculture, Livestock, Cereal, Joinery/Assembly and Community Services (Tunarama, Port Lincoln Show).

Prison Industries from Mobilong, Cadell, Port Augusta and the Adelaide Pre-release Centre/Adelaide Women's Prison were also represented.  Some of the items on display included:
Port Augusta – woodwork, wool bailer, pizza ovens
Cadell – oranges, apples, milk and olive oil
AWP/APC – clothing, canvas smocks, textiles
Mobilong – HEGS pegs and a photographic display of products made

A delicious array of food including local seafood was served courtesy of the Port Lincoln Prison kitchen. The afternoon provided the opportunity for round table discussions lead by local leaders and central office staff. Each table had approximately 45 minutes to discuss the following questions:

• How can the local community partner with DCS to achieve better outcomes?
• What can we do together to reduce re-offending and have a safer community?

All in all it was a fantastic day with many great connections with the local community made.

Contact: DCS media

Phone:

Email: dcs@sa.gov.au