In 2018, UnitingCare West secured a Department of Communities Disability Services Capacity Building Grant to look at the experience of Aboriginal People attempting to access NDIS services whilst in prison. The findings of this project were presented at last year’s Reintegration Puzzle Conference. A number of disability service organisations received similar Capacity Building Grants and have used these to focus on the justice system through a disability lens. As a result, a significant body of knowledge has been developed around the experience and needs of a person with a disability interacting with the justice system, from arrest to reintegration post prison.
Our organisations have collated and shared what we have each learnt. We have put our projects together and mapped out where we need to learn more. We have developed a roadmap with recommendations on how the justice system might be improved to increase positive outcomes for people in their care who have a disability.
The complex dynamics created by cross-jurisdictional government relations, differing culture and risk appetite, the Department of Justice post WA Machinery of Government amalgamation and an agile and adapting NDIS has created a time of great uncertainty for people with disability who interface the WA justice system. It also creates an opportunity for co-design, innovation and better outcomes for people with disability.
Presenters
Jennifer is a tertiary qualified counsellor with many years experience working with men in the areas of family and domestic violence, sexual offending and reintegration.
Jennifer Snell is a tertiary qualified counsellor with 17 years experience working primarily with men in the areas of family and domestic violence, sexual offending and reintegration. She has managed teams of counsellors, homelessness accommodation programs, tenancy services and reintegration services and is currently Principal Practice Lead of Service Quality Governance at Uniting WA. Jennifer oversaw a recent Disability Capacity Building grant from the Department of Communities WA that looked at the challenges for Aboriginal people within the custodial setting accessing the NDIS. The findings of this project were shared at last year’s Reintegration Puzzle Conference.
