Tessera

Vacro's BlueSky is taking a short hiatus. In the meantime, you can continue to follow our advocacy, news and updates on LinkedIn, Facebook and via our website. www.vacro.org.au www.linkedin.com www.facebook.com/vacroau/

Vacro

Vacro supports people in contact with the criminal justice system and their families to create new beginnings and stronger communities.

vacro.org.au

More First Nations people died in prison this year than in any within the decade scrutinised by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody; the highest number of Indigenous deaths in custody since monitoring began in 1979/80. Its recommendations have still not been implemented.

‘Increasing failure’: First Nations deaths in custody at record levels

More than three decades after the royal commission, calls are growing for the government to finally implement its recommendations, to stop the rising number of preventable deaths.

thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Our Second Chance Cycles program reopens tomorrow for 2026! Second Chance Cycles operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10AM and 4PM (closed for lunch between 1 - 2 PM) and is located in the underground carpark opposite the public housing towers on Harmsworth Street in Collingwood.

Oceania's pre-trial/remand detention population has grown by 313% since 2000. The latest World Pre-trial/Remand Imprisonment List attributes this to "the more than quadrupling of the numbers in Australia and the nearly six-fold increase in New Zealand.” www.prisonstudies.org/news/more-th...

Huge thanks to Waverley Woodworkers for gifting 68 beautiful handmade wooden toys to us, and in turn to children with a parent in custody. Check out their club and the wonderful things they get up to: mensshed.org/sheds/waverl...

Led by @flindersuniversity.bsky.social and partnering with expert reintegration services across the country including Vacro, the reintegration Centre of Excellence will adopt a strengths-based, First Nations-led and industry-engaged approach to supporting long-term social reintegration.

Flinders awarded ARC funding to lead national effort on prisoner reintegration

Nearly half of the 67,000 people released from prison each year return within two years, and the national correctional budget is projected to exceed $7 billion […]

news.flinders.edu.au

The Northern Territory government has blocked the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention from visiting its prisons and watch houses, which were recently described as "inhumane" in an ombudsman's report. Australia is the only country other than Rwanda to have had a UN visit terminated.

'Frightening': UN human rights team blocked from NT prisons and youth detention centres

A United Nations working group has been barred from accessing youth prisons, detention centres, and watch houses in the NT.

sbs.com.au

Second Chance Cycles will close for Christmas from Tuesday 23 December 2025 and will reopen on Tuesday 6 January 2026. We thank all our participants, partners, supporters, mechanics, cyclists, and community members for donating, repairing, and riding our Second Chance Cycles away all year!

Aboriginal people were 15 times more likely to be searched by Victoria Police officers than white people, but the 'hit rate' at which prohibited items were found was the same. People perceived as African - who were much less likely to be carrying contraband - were 9 times more likely to be searched

Victoria Police banned racial profiling a decade ago. Has it made a difference?

Researchers said that in 2024, Aboriginal people were 15 times more likely to be searched by Victoria Police than white people.

sbs.com.au

Last week we had the opportunity to hear from @monashuniversity.bsky.social PhD candidate Miaomiao He who presented on the profound implications for children of witnessing parental arrest, including emotional distress, trauma symptoms, developmental delays, and disrupted family systems.

Our final All Staff Day for 2025 at the Koorie Heritage Trust was a valuable day of connection and learning. On these days we bring together staff from all across the state. As one regional staff member reflected, it's "nice to be reminded of the great 'the whole team matters' attitude Vacro has."

Impossible, or utterly predictable? No one can plead ignorance: everyone knew this would happen. Everyone knows that you cannot tighten bail laws without a structural commitment to reduce remand overall. This is what happens when you ignore evidence and expert advice:

Prisons boss lays bare ‘impossible situation’ of overcrowding caused by bail reforms

A magistrate ordered prison bosses and police to court to explain why an Indigenous woman had missed two hearings.

theage.com.au

Profiteering contracts between prisons and private food corporations are commonplace across the US prison system, and they are starting to creep into ours. From inside a prison in Florida, read one man's story about paying for his own poor health (via @prismreports.org)

The trap of Florida’s prison food

For-profit deals between prisons and private fast food companies force incarcerated people to pay for their own poor health

prismreports.org

The WA Coroner said Unit 18 should be closed "as a matter of urgency."

Cleveland Dodd died in youth detention. Justice system 'deficiencies' are to blame

The WA Coroner issued a range of recommendations, among them was the closure of the notorious youth detention facility, Unit 18.

sbs.com.au

As proud contributors to the Victorian Electoral Commission's democracy ambassadors program, we love being part of this growth in enfranchisement across the prison system. As Kiki says here, "When people feel counted, they act like citizens. When they act like citizens, communities become safer."

Kiki was told she couldn't vote in prison, now she's debunking that myth

There are a lot of misconceptions about voting, particularly among marginalised groups. But these "democracy ambassadors" are working hard to ensure everyone knows their rights.

abc.net.au

"Prison might be part of her story — but it is never the whole story." This Keeps Women Out of Prison shares findings from the first 18 months of the Women and Girls Emergency Centre’s From Now program, which supports women as they transition from prison back into community in NSW. Read it here:

wagec.org.au

The December issue of @Paper Chained is out now, full of art, writing, reviews, interviews and more, directly by, from, and for people impacted by the justice system. Read and download the issue for free here: www.paperchained.com/post/issue-2...

"A NSW police internal review in 2024 found that officers attending mental health incidents are often 'an escalating factor' and it would be better if experts were deployed instead."

In their darkest moments, too many Australians are being met with lethal force instead of love and care | Lorena Allam

Police are often not equipped to deal with mental health callouts. Alternative first responders are better placed to de-escalate tension and reduce harm

theguardian.com

New research: in collaboration with the Australian Welfare and Work Lab at @unimelb.bsky.social, this study takes an in-depth look at Vacro’s holistic and relational approach to employment support for people exiting Victoria’s men’s prisons. Read it here:

Research

Our work is based on evidence, informed by best practice, and responds to the needs of the people we serve.

vacro.org.au

For the next four years we’ll be advocating for changes that help people caught in the justice system strengthen their connection to their families and communities, get access to the resources they need, and live lives that have purpose and meaning in places they belong.

Our ED of Programs Franceyne was a guest on @3crmelbourne.bsky.social's Brainwaves program yesterday. She explored how Vacro supports mental health as a crucial part of the reintegration journey, given the criminalisation of mental illness and barriers to mental health support in prison:

Franceyne from Vacro

Today on Brainwaves, we’re joined by Franceyne from Vacro to discuss mental health and imprisonment, including the criminalisation of mental health, support in prison, and the reintegration journey fo...

3cr.org.au

Listen to this beautiful song written many years ago by a woman who spent time incarcerated and in secure care. An ode to the reintegration journey: one filled with forgiveness, transformation, and renewal.

Check out the new six-part docuseries from @prisoninsider.bsky.social telling the stories of families affected by the incarceration of a loved one in six countries: Connecting Stories Beyond Bars empowers and amplifies the voices of these families as advocates for change.

Connecting Stories Beyond Bars - YouTube

[FR/ES/PT/EN] Quel impact a l'incarcération d'un.e proche ? 🎥 Lier les récits au-delà des barreaux - l'impact invisible de la prison sur les proches est une ...

youtube.com

"Children who are healthy, housed, educated, connected to family and their culture, don't engage in serious reoffending," Dr Zorbas said.

Doctors warn mental health reforms needed to keep children out of prison

As incarceration rates continue to soar in the Northern Territory, experts say mental health reform in the justice system is crucial for improving community safety in the long term.

abc.net.au

As the Victorian Government vows to put more teens in jail for longer stints, two government agencies warn the system is already struggling to cope with youth offenders, leaving kids cut off from programs proven to help break the cycle of reoffending.

A teen promised his victim he’d go back to school. New laws mean he’ll go to jail instead

Those on the front line of Melbourne’s youth crime crisis say bringing teenage criminals face to face with their victims and targeting gang hotspots are more likely to stop reoffending than locking yo...

theage.com.au

The Victorian Ombudsman’s investigation into an alleged use of force incident at Ravenhall Correctional Centre - a private prison operated by GEO Group - has uncovered significant gaps in processes of self-scrutiny by private prisons.

'That’s assault mate’: Investigation into alleged misconduct in a private prison and how it was handled | Victorian Ombudsman

The Victorian Ombudsman’s report 'That’s assault mate’: Investigation into alleged misconduct in a private prison and how it was handled

ombudsman.vic.gov.au

Vacro Board Member and @humanrightshrlc.bsky.social associate legal director @moniquehurley.bsky.social called on the government to urgently invest in support services over political point-scoring “in an alarming race to the bottom”.

‘Shame on the premier’: Plan for children to face life sentences draws wave of condemnation

Premier Jacinta Allan revealed the complex legislation was still being drafted, with a bill to be introduced to parliament by the end of this year.

theage.com.au

"Those of us closely involved in the criminal justice system...see how the right support can help a troubled young kid get training, get a job, and change the trajectory of their life." Hear, hear 👏

I understand crime in Melbourne. ‘Adult time’ laws will only harm your friends and family

I’m the director of what is probably the largest criminal law firm in Victoria. Yes, youth crime is a staggering problem, but the Allan government’s new jail laws will make us less safe.

theage.com.au

Vacro was a proud contributor to the first Prison Law Handbook, launched by Fitzroy Legal Service today. The Handbook is a comprehensive resource built to give people in prison and their families up to date legal information and a clear picture of their rights.