Wanyaari’s Wadamba prison-to-work program helps inmates find employment post-release

Jake Bates-Gilby was determined to improve his life when he moved from Mildura to Geelong after being released from prison.

Jake Bates-Gilby was determined to improve his life when he moved to Geelong after he was released from prison. Picture: Mark Wilson.

Jake Bates-Gilby was determined to improve his life when he moved from Mildura to Geelong after being released from prison.

The now-30-year-old spent three months incarcerated for aggravated burglary in 2022.

Mr Bates-Gilby was part of Wanyaari’s Wadamba Prison-to-Work Program, which helps support Aboriginal inmates find work once released.

He said the program helped to reassure him there was light at the end of the tunnel, post-release.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do when I got out so it helped to ease my mind,” Mr Bates-Gilby said.

The Barkindji man met with support workers from the program who helped build his resume and find work opportunities that suited his skillset and employment history in the construction industry.

Jake Bates-Gilby found work in the civil construction industry once he was released from prison. Picture: Mark Wilson

“I told them which direction I wanted to go in and they helped me land a job,” he said.

In July 2022, Mr Bates-Gilby made the decision to leave behind his family and friends in Mildura, where he is originally from, and move to Geelong.

“I was getting into trouble with the people I knew and it was better for me to get out of there, start fresh and not have those influences around me,” he said.

“It was hard at the start not knowing many people but I’m settled here now and I love it.”

Mr Bates-Gilby, who now lives in Newtown, works in civil construction and said his future was looking brighter.

“My future is looking very promising if I just keep doing what I’m doing,” he said.

Wanyaari chief executive Ricky Kildea said the program, established in 2020, has helped about 40 Aboriginal men and women find work post-release.

“We start working with (the inmates) when they are incarcerated and we develop an employment pathway for them … that is tailored to their needs, qualifications and skills,” he said.

“We aim to find them meaningful employment.

“We’re not just placing them into vacancies, we want to help them find a role they have a passion for and want to build a career in.”

Mr Kildea said the program was “unfortunately” necessary for the Indigenous community.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people account for a third of all prisoners, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

“The over representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system is something we are trying to address,” Mr Kildea said.

“Our mob that go inside can sometimes get stuck in this cycle and that can be really challenging to break.”

The program focuses on three pillars – professional, personal, and cultural.

Mr Kildea said it was powerful to see ex-prisoners change their lives.

“It’s really rewarding to see them change their life path and get a second chance,” he said.

Originally published as Wanyaari’s Wadamba prison-to-work program helps inmates find employment post-release