Introduction
The Department of Attorney-General and Justice, Correctional Services runs a paid prisoner employment program that allows large and small local businesses to employ prisoners outside of correctional facilities.
Businesses who take part have access to a reliable workforce.
This program is also called Sentenced to a Job.
Some money paid to prisoners goes towards board and lodging for their cell.
Victims of Crime Northern Territory are paid 5% and any fines the prisoner owes is taken from their wage. The rest of the money is held in trust for them after they are released, or can be paid to their family.
The Department of Attorney-General and Justice has partnered with the Batchelor Institute (BI) to provide accredited vocational, education and training (VET) for prisoners.
Prisoners are trained in workshops inside Northern Territory (NT) prisons.
Qualified and experienced supervisors train prisoners to be work-ready in a range of industries.
Industries prisoners are trained in
Prisoners are trained in various areas, including the following:
- catering and hospitality
- customer service
- woodworking
- horticulture
- chainsaw
- driver licence, forklift licence, bus driving
- scaffolding
- construction
- skid steer
- civil construction equipment
- small engine
- welding and general metal fabrication
- first aid, industry white card and occupational health and safety.
Ongoing support is also provided to all employers involved in the program.
Government employment grants are also available for eligible businesses across the NT.
Read more on business funding assistance.
How the program works
The Sentenced to a Job program includes the following steps:
Step1. Prisoners must pass a rigorous assessment process to enter the paid employment program. Convicted murderers and sex offenders are not eligible for the program. Read more about prisoner eligibility.
Step 2. Businesses that apply are assessed to make sure they provide meaningful and sustainable employment, with current work health and safety standards. They will also have to undergo a free site inspection by the Department of Correctional Services.
Step 3. Prisoners are registered with a job service agency. The agency links prisoners to services such as Centrelink, bus tickets, provision of personal protective equipment, post release accommodation and transport.
Step 4. Businesses are also linked to the job service agency to help with access to wage subsidies, training and skill development funds, provision of personal protective equipment and mentoring support.
Step 5. Prisoners are then employed by your business for a trial period. You can then assess whether the prisoner is suited to your workplace.
Step 6. During the trial, a department employment officer will contact you to make sure your administrative and operational needs are being managed. This also gives you a chance to provide feedback and identify any concerns and remedies. Ongoing support is then provided to all employers involved in the program.
Benefits for businesses
There are many benefits of the program for your business and the community. These are listed below.
Address skill shortage
You can tap into a pool of locally trained prisoners with known employment and personal histories. This information allows you to select suitable workers.
Reliable workers
Prisoners turn up each day, meaning productivity is not affected.
Social responsibility
Employing a prisoner can contribute towards your practice of corporate social responsibility and change a prisoner’s life.
Benefits for prisoners
The program benefits prisoners in the following ways:
- provides an opportunity to integrate and adjust to community life prior to release
- promotes positive workplace behaviour
- boosts self-esteem
- supports prisoners to continue in employment once they are released from prison
- renews community ties and develops new social relationships
- helps prisoners to take responsibility for their behaviour
- helps prisoners to financially support their family and dependents
- helps prisoners to manage personal debt, including payment of fines and infringements.
Eligibility for prisoners to enter the program
Prisoners must meet the following criteria:
- have achieved the lowest security rating
- be serving a sentence and not on remand
- have received positive reports in relation to work ethic and attitude
- have displayed a history of compliance with institutional rules
- be assessed as work ready.
Prisoner wages
Prisoner salaries and employment conditions must be aligned, as a minimum, with the relevant award. Prisoners cannot operate as a company and are to be employed under the PAYE tax system.
Business funding assistance
Wage Connect
| Funds | Eligibility | Timeframe | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to $5,900 for each full time job placement for 26 weeks | Job seekers with little or no recent work experience | The subsidy will be paid for at least 26 weeks but may be longer in some circumstances |
Local job service provider phone: 13 17 15 |
Indigenous wage subsidy
| Funds | Eligibility | Timeframe | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Subsidy paid for new employee who has been in the job for 13 weeks and then 26 weeks. Up to $4,400 for ongoing full time positions of 35 hours per week or more. Up to $2,200 for ongoing part time positions of 15 hours or more. An additional retention bonus may be available of $1,100 for full time or $500 for part time where an employee remains longer. Employers can also claim reimbursement of up to $550 in career development assistance. | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander registered with Centrelink | 13 and 26 weeks |
E: waadmin@deewr.gov.au |
Australian Apprenticeship Mentoring Program
| Funds | Eligibility | Timeframe | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual funding applications | Australian apprentice employed under a training contract. | Particularly in the first 12 months of employment | E: mentoringpackages@deewr.gov.au W: www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au |
How to apply for Sentenced to a Job
To find out more call the Northern Territory Correctional Industries and Employment enquiry line on 1300 682 400.