Wikipedia

Women's Justice Network

Women's Justice Network (WJN), formerly known as the Women in Prison Advocacy Network (WIPAN), is an incorporated not-for-profit charity based in Sydney, Australia, focused on advocacy around issues affecting female prisoners.

Women's Justice Network
Founded2008 (2008)
TypeCharitable organization
FocusAdvocacy, Mentoring, Prison reform, Criminal Justice
Location
  • Suite 4, Level 6 377–383 Sussex Street Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Area served
New South Wales
Websitewww.womensjusticenetwork.org.au

History

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WIPAN was founded in 2008[1] by Kat Armstrong, Carol Berry, Marissa Sandler and Nicki Petrou,[2][3] and is managed by a volunteer Management Committee, (The Board). WIPAN's co-founder Kat Armstrong was the organisation’s volunteer Director/CEO from early 2008 to January 2016.[4]

The organisation expanded in 2014, thanks to a grant from the Department of Family and Community Services (NSW), and from early 2016, a new CEO, mentoring coordinator and housing and family coordinator were all able to be employed. WIPAN has also received small, one off charity grants[5] and funding grants of the NSW Government,[6] such as the three years of one-off funding grants from, the NSW Government, Office of Women, used to establish WIPAN's mentoring service in 2009.[3]

WIPAN maintained that 84 per cent of women sent to prison in 2017 had committed non-violent offences.[7]

In 2017, WIPAN rebranded with the trading name WJN and retained WIPAN as its legal name.[8]

Description and aims

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It is a volunteer-based organisation and focuses on advocacy around issues affecting female prisoners, providing support to women exiting prison through its mentoring program, with the aim to reduce rates of female incarceration and recidivism.[2]

The organisation's work involves undertaking research and systemic advocacy around the needs of women prisoners and ex-prisoners at an institutional level, whilst also assisting ex-prisoners at an individual level through its mentoring program, the only such non-government service in New South Wales (NSW).[1][9]

Activities

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In consultation with other community groups, as well as partner peak body organisations such as the New South Wales Council of Social Services (NCOSS),[10] WIPAN undertakes a broad range of research and advocacy activities including the production of resources guides, policy and research papers on issues such as the housing and support needs of women leaving prison[11] and prisoner health.[12][13] The organisation makes submissions to government on policy matters affecting female prisoners and their families such as sentencing,[14] Apprehended Violence Orders (AVO)[15] and prison privatisation.[16]

In 2011, with funding from the Myer Foundation[6] and working with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC),[17] WIPAN produced a self-help guide for women prisoners in NSW.[6][18] The guide was designed to be distributed to female prisoners before release, and assist them to meet their own financial, housing, health, and legal needs, once in the community.[19]

In 2012, with funding from the NSW Office for Women,[20] WIPAN produced The Long Road to Freedom: A guide for women to escape the cycle of domestic violence and jail, a guide designed to assist women experiencing domestic violence who are also affected by the criminal justice system.[21]

WIPAN attends and presents at conferences nationally on issues affecting female prisoners; participating in the 2009 and 2011 Sisters Inside Conferences on Prisons;[22] and in 2012 at the Complex Needs Conference hosted by the University of Sydney.[23]

Women's Mentoring Program

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WIPAN operates a volunteer-based mentoring program for women exiting the NSW criminal justice system which aims to reduce rates of recidivism amongst female inmates by providing women leaving prison with a meaningful support network, and to assist ex-prisoners to build connections with the broader community.[24] The role of the mentor in the program is to assist the mentee to access necessary services, and to build a relationship of mutual trust and respect through regular face-to-face meetings, and the provision of social and emotional support.[25] The program was developed and accredited by NSW TAFE up until 2015, and was responsible for training 50 community volunteers to act as mentors in an initial 18-month pilot program from May 2010 until November 2011.[2][25]

In 2012, after two years of the program 82 percent of the programs 85 participants had not re-offended, despite 92 percent of participants having served between five and seven prior custodial sentences before entering the program.[1][24][26][27]

Awards and recognition

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  • In 2012, The Australian Centre For Leadership For Women's Gold Sustaining Women’s Empowerment in Communities and Organisations (SWECO) Award was given to Kat Armstrong for her work in founding WIPAN.[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Horowitz, Kate. "Unique prisoner mentoring organisation denied funds". Alternative Media Group of Australia. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Rhiannon, Senator Lee. "Adjournement – Women in Prison Advocacy Network, International Development Assistance". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b "SWECO 2012 Award Winners". Australian Centre For Leadership For Women. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  4. ^ "2012 Australian Crime & Violence Prevention Awards". Australian Institute of Criminology. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Vincent Fairfax Family – Annual Report 2012". Vincent Fairfax Family. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Westwood, The Hon Helen. "Women in Prison Advocacy Network". NSW Legislative Council. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  7. ^ Why doesn't prison work for women? BBC
  8. ^ "Our history". Women's Justice Network. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Sustaining Women's Empowerment in Communities and Organisations – 2012 Award Winners". Australia Centre For Leadership For Women. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  10. ^ "NCOSS Annual Report 2009-10" (PDF). Council of Social Service of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  11. ^ "Dreaming of a Safe Home: Consumers and community workers' perspectives on housing and support needs of women leaving prison in NSW" (PDF). WIPAN. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  12. ^ "Women, prisons and hepatitis C". Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  13. ^ "Women in NSW prisons and hepatitis C: towards a more gendered approach?". HIV Australia. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  14. ^ Zezovska, Julie. "WIPAN Submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission Review of Sentencing" (PDF). Lawlink. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  15. ^ Armstrong, Kat. "Submission to People with Cognitive and Mental Health Impairments in the Criminal Justice System, Question Paper 1: Apprehended Violence Orders" (PDF). Lawlink. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  16. ^ Armstrong, Kat. "Submission made by the Women In Prison Advocacy Network, (WIPAN) into the inquiry of the privatisation of prisons and prison-related services" (PDF). May 1st 2013. Parliament of NSW.
  17. ^ "Self-help guide for women prisoners". Public Interest Advocacy Centre. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  18. ^ self-help guide
  19. ^ "Self-help guide for women prisoners in NSW" (PDF). WIPAN, Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Sydney Myer Fund. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  20. ^ "The Long Road to Freedom – A guide for women to escape the cycle of domestic violence and jail" (PDF). WIPAN. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  21. ^ The Long Road to Freedom: A guide for women to escape the cycle of domestic violence and jail.
  22. ^ "Are prisons obsolete? Conference Program" (PDF). Sisters Inside. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  23. ^ "Complex Needs Conference Program – 11 December 2012" (PDF). University of Sydney. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  24. ^ a b c "Newsletter of the Australian Institute of Criminology / Number 11 / December 2012" (PDF). Australian Institute of Criminology. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  25. ^ a b c "2012 SWECO Winners". Australian Centre For Leadership For Women. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  26. ^ "Mentors help break cycle of crime". ABC – The World Today – Radio Interview Transcript. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  27. ^ Mann, Toby. "Prison mentoring program needs money". The Australian Newspaper. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  28. ^ "2011 Justice Awards winners announced" (PDF). Law and Justice Foundation of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
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