Recycle4Change Geelong centre offers employment to ex-cons, others impacted by justice system

A young woman who had a tough childhood, which included a loved one in jail, has revealed how a Bell Park recycling centre is helping people who’ve been involved with the prison system.

April Croft works at Recycle4Change which employs people who have been impacted by the justice system, and says it’s changed her life. Picture: Alison Wynd

A Bell Park recycling centre opened this month is giving hope to people like April Croft, who says it’s changed her life.

Recycle4Change (R4C) opened November 1 and operates the state government’s Container Deposit Scheme.

R4C is the sister enterprise of Melbourne’s Fruit2Work– both operate under Chance Creators Group and provide transitional employment for people impacted by the justice system, like Norlane’s Ms Croft.

Ms Croft’s parents are active drug users, and have been her entire life.

When she was in kindergarten, Ms Croft’s father was imprisoned.

April Croft said her older sister had been a great leader for her, and was “very proud” of her R4C work. Picture: Alison Wynd

She said there were times growing up when she couldn’t go to school because she was looking after her parents.

“It was very tough,” the 20-year-old said.

“I didn’t really know what I was doing – I was a young child, I was scared, I didn’t know what was going on.”

Ms Croft said because of her home situation she didn’t finish high school, leaving when she was 16 due to mental health issues.

She said her older sister had been a “great leader”, finishing high school and setting an example for her.

Ms Croft said she’d been job hunting for about eight months before R4C was suggested to her.

“It’s changed my life a lot,” Ms Croft said.

“(R4C) is giving people a chance, people who may have lost hope in finding a job, or they may look different or act different.

“Most people would turn them away, but here, we don’t.”

R4C chief chance creator and director Rob Brown said Chance Creators Group had a proven track record of reducing recidivism rates.

Mr Brown said the current recidivism rate for Victoria was 47 per cent within two years of release, while Geelong’s was 54 per cent.

He said in the seven years Fruit2Work had been running, zero staff had reoffended.

“Assuming we can replicate that model at the recycling centre in Geelong – which we will do – you would expect to get roughly the same result,” Mr Brown said.

“People who have been impacted by the justice system are (some) of the most marginalised in society, because of stigma.

“To exit the system, find a job, get your kids back in your life, manage childcare, find somewhere to live – I have no idea how people do that.

“It seems like almost an impossible task.”

Mr Brown said being able to offer ex-offenders employment could change the course of their life.

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokeswoman said people who left prison with training, skills, education and employment support were more likely to successfully reintegrate into the community and were less likely to reoffend.

“Corrections Victoria provides people in prison with programs to achieve this and support them to lead safe and productive lives when they return to the community,” she said.

Ms Croft said anyone looking for a job, or who felt out of place, should look into R4C.

“It’s just a really lovely place to be,” she said.

Originally published as Recycle4Change Geelong centre offers employment to ex-cons, others impacted by justice system