0604/13

What’s our view on supplying innovation here at Acacia?

After a great deal of planning,

troubleshooting, negotiating

and trial, we were delighted to

see the new Canteen Pick and

Pack Scanning Process open to a

resounding success.

“It is only team work that has

made this possible,” explained Ron

Race, Manager Food Services and

Supply Chain. “Everyone on the

team had an influence in how this

came together and I’m delighted

that it has been so well received.”

The new system combines

innovative new software with clear

and reliable processes to scan each

item, bag it and produce a label

clearly outlining the ID number of

the prisoner, his order, the contents

of the bag and any items missing

that have been refunded.

“The benefits are multiple.

From a security point of view there

are significantly fewer prisoner

movements. The prisoners

themselves have full confidence

that they are receiving exactly what

they ordered and that they will have

been refunded for any items out of

stock – it is all automated so they

know it has happened,” Mr Race

explained.

“This whole concept is about

normalisation. The team put a lot

of work into making this possible.

They had to relocate to an entirely

new area and introduce a whole

new concept, all the while being

surrounded by construction work.

The work they have done has been

exceptional,” said Mr Race.

With cooperation, collective problem solving and the embodiment the true meaning of team work, Acacia Prison’s Supply Chain Team have created a new system for delivering prisoner purchases that exceeds all expectation.

It’s in the bag

Each week the 1000-strong

prisoner population put in their

shopping orders to the stores via the

electronic kiosk in each residential

unit. Until the beginning of the

year these orders were then picked,

packed and collected from the

stores by prisoners under escort.

The new expansion brings with

it challenges that require a re-think:

an increase in muster to 1400; the

loss of the area used for packing

and picking; and an increase in

security concerns resulting from

the number of movements required

escorting all prisoners to collect their

purchases.

The Supply Chain Team

together with the support of

Industries Manager Alan Houston

who, together with his department,

designed and built a unique trailer

to facilitate effective delivery to the

blocks, and IT Officer Phil Bennett

who worked tirelessly to develop

effective software found a viable

solution that would address these

challenges and create a system that

was even more efficient and reliable

than before.

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2013. The landscape of the prison changes literally on a daily basis as the expansion unfolds.

The process has gathered a real momentum and the

challenges of sustaining service delivery when faced with potential

disruption to the regime has been, and continues to be, a real

focus for us all. Steve Smith and his team have done a sterling job

in liaising with relevant building stakeholders ensuring that the

security and safety of staff and prisoners is given priority.

This newsletter again evidences the fantastic work that staff

have engaged in recently, and they do so, clearly demonstrating

their commitment and understanding of our Serco Governing

Principles. Our focus on sustaining performance whilst in the

middle of major change processes has been achieved and again is

a credit to all staff. Discussions with DCS regarding a new suite of

PLFs are close to being finalised and I look forward to the trial of

them that is currently underway.

I am now in a position to inform you that the Inspector for

Custodial Services has informed me that the scheduled inspection

of Acacia will take place in November 2013. We have begun

preparations for this important event and Daniel Thon in our

Assurance Department is leading the project group to ensure that

we are prepared.

Our achievements during this period have been due to the

engagement of staff who want to make a difference to the

prisoners they work with, something which I see in evidence every

day here at Acacia. I am conscious that our success is enhanced

not only by the quality of my staff but also by the input of our

stakeholder partnerships. Thank you all, and I hope you enjoy our

latest news and updates. Paul McMullan | Director

“I have been working closely with Assistant

Director Secure Operations Karen Woodiwiss and

Assistant Director Residential Chris Lewry to progress

the Anti-Bullying Strategy within the prison and

ensure that is it managed according to the specifics of

the Acacia Prison environment. Their input has been

fundamental to the momentum that we are now

experiencing in this area,” Mr Stanley said.

The Anti-Bullying Strategy (a core component

of the Safer Custody Strategy) draws upon the

essential skills of Prison Officers to observe

and recognise changes in behaviours of the

prisoners in their care. It has provided them with the

toolkit they need to continue to make a significant

difference to the prison’s ability to stamp out bullying.

“We have a fantastic Peer Support Team made up

of prisoners and guided by myself and non-custodial

officers Larsen Burgoyne and Kerry Lennon – who do a

fantastic job in this area,” explained Mr Stanley.

Prisoners from the Peer Support Team attend new

inductions, presenting to new prisoners on self-harm,

anti-bullying and they operate the formal structure

within the prison to deal with any concerns.

Bullying is a community challenge. It extends

beyond the prison walls. The work we do at Acacia is

designed not only to support prisoners and their

families whilst they are with us, but also to give them

the tools and awareness they need to identify bullying

and victim behaviours within their communities upon

release.

The process for reporting suspected bullying is

very straightforward.

1. If you have suspicions or concerns of any sort it is

essential that you report this. You do not have to

have collected evidence; a sense of ‘something

not quite right’ is enough.

2. Go to the Home page on the Intranet

3. Follow the quick link to Forms and Templates

4. Select 2.14 Annex B (Violent Incident, Victim Support Form)

5. Fill this in and send it to Safer Custody Manager

Shane Stanley

Mr Stanley will then review this and start the

process of observation and reporting over a 28-day

period. Prisoners are fully involved throughout this

observation period to ensure that they have the

opportunity to learn, respond and retain responsibility

for their actions in line with the Responsible Prisoner

Model. After this period the prisoner either has a

closed file (if concerns have been successfully resolved)

or progresses to a loss of privileges as a direct

consequence of negative behaviours.

Victims are fully supported throughout this

process with work undertaken to ensure their safety,

restore their confidence and keep them fully informed

as to the progress and outcomes of any formal

proceedings. Support is given through the Peer

Support Team, referral to medical or psychological

professionals (if necessary) or through enrolment on

specialist programmes that address assertion and

coping skills.

The subject of bullying will be dealt with in more

depth in future issues.

Mr Bell has a long history of leadership and

management training and experience and our

excitement at having him on our staff is matched

only by his own.

“I believe very much in public service and

despite the fact that Serco is a private company,

the work they do is 100% a public service – and

they do it extremely well. One day these guys will

be shopping next to us in Coles and the work we

do with them now will make all the difference to

how they behave then. I love this job and the

team are fantastic – it is everything I hoped it

would be,” said Mr Bell.

Since starting in the role on February 11th,

Mr Bell has already motivated his team to pull

together and think about what resources and

training they need to best perform their roles

within the prison. Team members have been

coming forward daily with new lists and

suggestions and the synergy already existing

between the department, education, industries,

the kitchen and facilities management is

continuing to blossom.

“I would like to build better links with

Resettlement, Sentence Management and

Programmes,” Mr Bell said. “I believe there is a lot

we can do to support staff in those areas and I’m

looking forward to hearing what suggestions they

may have too.”

“I am able to go in and lay out exactly what

we need in terms of the fit-out to meet the

growing needs of staff and prisoners. The model

of education has changed dramatically over the

years and we need a facility that will enable us to

meet these changing needs,” he explained.

“I am also very excited that Wandoo

Reintegration Facility is now up and running.

We’re looking forward to building partnerships

with their education teams and sharing best

practice across both sites. This is a very exciting

time for our department.”

Corruption occurs when a person in a position of authority or trust abuses that position for their own or another person’s benefit or gain. In Acacia this could be defined as the misuse of an individuals position or role to plan or commit a criminal act. It could equally be defined as the deliberate failure to act upon a situation that is known to be unacceptable.

Examples include: actual or attempted trafficking of

prohibited/restricted items such as drugs, mobile telephones and

food items; aiding escape; accepting or seeking bribes; blackmail;

accepting/taking or seeking money or other favours in exchange

for moving or improving a prisoners regime level; theft of

prisoners’ money; and inappropriate staff behaviour.

Our level of professionalism is non-negotiable. It is our

obligation to ensure that we carry out our duties loyally,

conscientiously, honestly and with integrity, and that we take

responsibility and are accountable for our actions, treating

everyone with decency and respect at all times.

The impact of a member of staff, colleague or friend being

identified as corrupt is very difficult to quantify on both a personal

and professional level. To some it feels straight-forward, resulting

in a ‘they reap what they sew’ response. For others it can be more

complicated with the attitude of ‘everyone does it’ beginning to

creep in as self-justification.

Recent experience shows that staff corruption puts the safety

of everyone at risk. Establishing unacceptable relationships with

prisoners, trafficking items into the prison, becoming involved with

criminal activity – all of these actions put the safety of staff and

visitors to Acacia Prison at risk.

We all experience grooming at key moments in our lives. As

children we adapted our behaviour on a regular basis to fit within

agreed parameters. Although a form of grooming, this is accepted

as it forms an agreed set of behaviours between both parties. In a

prison environment grooming can occur without staff knowledge,

and therefore without acceptance from both parties.

Prisoners will ‘Groom’ staff without their knowledge to the

point where that member of staff will carry out an action that is in

breach of the Prisons Rules. From this point the balance of power

between prisoner and staff changes.

It is essential to remain alert. If you have any concerns contact

Karen Woodiwiss immediately.

“Yes you can have a biscuit, but you have to have some fruit first,” said a father to his 3-year old son. Not the type of comment you would normally notice except that this father was wearing Acacia green, and his son was on a visit to the prison. The child has always lived with his mum. He normally goes to her for everything, but today he asked his dad – and his dad knew what to do.

The Toddler Time Programme at Acacia Prison is specially designed to give

incarcerated fathers access to essential parenting information and support,

giving them the skills to respond to their children confidently and

knowledgeably.

Toddler Time special visit sessions run for 1.5hrs during which the dads are

‘in charge’. They plan activities for their children, set up the room, get out the

toys, sit on the floor and play. And at the end, it is the dads who tidy up and

put away. As their children get hungry it is up to the dads to manage the

morning tea, cleaning up and spills and overseeing the food choices their

children make. Some dads are maintaining already close bonds, while others

are creating bonds with children born after dad went to prison.

The mums and other carers sit to the side reading magazines, doing

puzzles, having a cup of tea and relaxing, but always close by should the

children want them. They are watching the way their partners interact and

getting a sense of how things will be when they are released and able to return

to the family home.

Initiatives like Toddler Time strengthen the bond of families separated by

incarceration and help to prevent crime in future generations. They give fathers

the skills and knowledge they need to be active and effective parents. The

children (and mothers) learn who dad is as a father and how he plays. They

learn what to expect when dad is in charge so that when he returns

home they have strengthened their relationships. The fathers in turn,

learn how to be a positive influence in the lives of their children, and how to

best support the mothers. They learn the reality of being a dad and they are

supported and encouraged to fulfil that role well and with confidence.

Based on the successes and feedback from last year, Resettlement

Manager Elaine Toovey, Resettlement Officer and Toddler Time facilitator

Paula Gardner and Provisional Psychologist Candice Metlitzky have

implemented some changes to the structure of the programme this year to

increase the positive impact still further.

“We have moved towards a set 12-week programme that will run 4 times

this year. Previously dads could come and go from the programme but this

meant that the dynamic of the group changed each time. The new structure

will keep the same group of dads throughout – building cohesion within the

group and maintaining continuity,” Ms Gardner explained.

Other changes to the programme include a reduction in the number of

craft based sessions and in increase in the number of parenting and

developmental education sessions for the dads. Throughout the

12-weeks the incarcerated fathers will learn about: child development,

age appropriate play, early literacy, brain development, food and

healthy lifestyle choices, positive parenting, how violence and drugs

effect children and what they can do to help their children recover and

reverse some of the negative impacts this may have had on their lives.

Visiting speakers from Kids Safe WA and Swim Safe will teach the

fathers practical skills such as securing a child safety car seat and water safety.

Internal facilitators deliver first aid training from Royal Life Saving.

Places on the programme are limited. To be considered applicants must

first meet all security and behaviour levels expected of them. These include:

no prison charges, no drug use, good behaviour and regular attendance at

work and/or education. They must also have a child between the ages of

9-months and 3-years.

The purpose of their journey? To see for themselves

the work of prisoners from the Acacia Dreaming project,

run by Art Education Facilitator Tony Carland and award

winning community artist Tessa McOnie.

The impact of the work was immediate - twenty

paintings varying from traditional, to figurative, to a blend

of both old and modern styles. Ranging in size (the

smallest measuring 600 x 400 cm, the largest filling a wall

at 1700 x 1500 cm) prices ranged from $100 up to

$5,000 with only two listed as not for sale.

Some of the artists represented on the night had

never lifted a paintbrush prior to entering the prison. The

quality of their work on display was testament to their

journey – a journey that had provided them with new

opportunities for the future.

The evening began with a Welcome to Country

conducted by Noongar elder Cedric Jacobs. He was

followed by Justice and Corrections Deputy Managing

Director & Operations Director Andy Beck speaking on

behalf of CEO David Campbell.

Mr Beck spoke of the power of art to take the

individual away to a different place, acting as a window to

another world. He reflected on the value of this to the

prisoners involved in the project and the powerful

connections to the land we see around us every day. Mr

Beck talked about how art helps to break down the barriers

between prisoners and the community, something

evidenced on the night by the 75+ attendees present in

the room as he spoke.

The atmosphere was buzzing, the food (catered by

Amici Catering ) was delicious and plentiful but it was the

art that held the spotlight.

One visitor travelled down from Lancelin purely to see

the work and, having stayed close to the end, set off to go

back home. A 250km round trip – was it worth it? “With

things like this you have to make the effort. I’m very glad I

came.”

The exhibition remained open to the public for two full

weeks but, by the end of opening night, only 11 paintings

remained unsold.

March 1st was a warm Friday night ahead of a long weekend. Serco staff, external stakeholders, family, friends, representatives from Noongar Radio and members of the general public made their way to the Showcase Gallery at Central .

“As an employer, the value of

retention cannot be overestimated and

by understanding the needs of the

Aboriginal community, we can best

support our Aboriginal employees and

thus retain our workforce,” said Brierty

Indigenous Engagement Manager Mr

Paul.

Acacia, in collaboration with the

Civil Contractors Federation, regularly

invites employers into the prison to

present and educate about

employment opportunities available

post release. Civil construction and

mining company Brierty, is an active

participant for these presentations and

has been delighted with the results

from employment of former prisoners.

“The guys come to work and do a

great job – not just a good job, a great

job. They have proven to me that there

are people at Acacia who want to make

life-changing decisions,” Mr Paul said.

Established in 1981, Brierty have

built a reputation as a safe and

productive contractor providing

performance excellence. They are a

company that believes in the value of

their people and strive to look after all

of their employees, supporting them,

guiding them and, as a result, retaining

them.

“What really impressed me with

Acacia was the support and

encouragement given by the staff.

Acacia is a great learning ground –

from the physical environment, the

grounds, all the way down to the

interactions between staff and

prisoners - all of it is respectful and

positive and this changes behaviour

and attitude,” Mr Paul explained.

Prisoners interested in working for

Brierty post-release must first complete

10 of 25 Cert II units in Civil

Construction taught at the prison by

Outcare. This will provide them with

enough of an understanding to get

started, with the rest of training

happening on the job.

Here’s to this year

So when does PCO compromise get serious?

Toddler Timeis turningreal men

intoDads

Success is more than just a dream

Engineering a powerful route to resettlement for inmates

“We had the idea to ask the prison and they just said

yes! It was incredible!”

acacia@serco-ap.com.au

The results of the Viewpoint

Survey were released in January

and highlighted that

engagement had gone down by

2-points on the previous year.

Having delved deeper into these

results we have been able to

identify the general areas where

staff are feeling less engaged, or

less willing to engage. Equipped

with this information we are now

able to move forward to address

and resolve these concerns.

As part of our action plan we

are developing an Engagement

Squad. The role of the

Engagement Squad will be to

identify the “easy fix” areas, the

points of annoyance and the

concerns staff have that they feel

are making their job more

difficult. Once these have been

identified they can be addressed

and rectified.

Any more complex

challenges will be identified and

referred on to Assistant Director

Human Resources Stephen Farrell.

Our second initiative comes

in the form of bi-monthly lunches

with either Director Paul

McMullan or Deputy Director

David Brampton. Staff members

will be selected at random to

participate. During the lunch they

will have the opportunity to have

frank conversations about how

they see Acacia Prison as a place

of employment.

Positive engagement is a

two-way process. Both parties

must come halfway to enable

success. We are looking forward

to working with you and making

Acacia Prison an even more

attractive workplace than it

already is.

Thank you to all staff for completing the Viewpoint Survey all those months ago in September. Viewpoint is a useful tool for measuring engagement and, although it is not the only method used, we do look upon the results as a useful snapshot of feeling at the time.

Your viewpoint

Evidence shows that ex-offenders who successfully engage with meaningful employment post-release are less likely to reoffend. With almost half the population of Acacia coming from the Aboriginal community, finding meaningful employment in areas near family is crucial.

Five simple steps to stop bullyingIn issue 3 of the newsletter we looked at Safer Custody and the steps that Shane Stanley (Safer Custody Manager) was taking to expand and develop this essential area of prison management. Since then things have quickly progressed and, thanks to proactive staff engagement with the Strategy Mr Stanley has been kept busy – but he thinks he has capacity for more!

We are delighted to welcome Brent Bell to our staff team as the new Educational and Vocational Training Manager.Brent Bell

GDAWASAP0110/04/13. www.gdadesign.comacacia@serco-ap.com.au

The views expressed in this newsletter should not be regarded as those of Serco Asia Pacific Pty Ltd or GDA Design Pty Ltd unless expressly stated. Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this newsletter and all permissions actively sought we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. Neither Serco Asia Pacific Pty Ltd or GDA Design Pty Ltd can be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience as a result of this publication.

Printed using petroleum free inks and green electricity.Both paper manufacturer and printer are certified to International environmental management standard ISO 14001

> Inter-facility Visits 1st May> Kairos 1st & 2nd May> AVP-Protection 10th to 12th May> Sycamore Tree Project 15th May (Wednesdays, for 8 weeks)

> Twilight Visit 19th May> National Sorry Day 26th May> Toddler Time Visits 30th May> Family Oval Visits 3rd to 5th May

> Foundation Day 3rd June> Inter-facility Visits 12th June> AVP-T4f 14th to 16th June> Sycamore Tree Project 15th June (Wednesdays, for 8 weeks)

Question (via email)What can I do to keep myself safe when I’m at work?Answer:

Safety is everything from the appropriate use of protective

clothing and equipment, to recognising your training needs, to

setting up your workspace, even down to carrying a hot drink

across the room. Safety should be a key aspect of everything

you do, but we all have moments when we forget, so what three

things can you do to remind yourself throughout the day?

1. Use It: If there is safety/protective equipment or clothing

provided for the task you are about to do – use it. By taking the

time to put it on, to collect the right tools for the job and to use

these as you have been trained you are not only minimising your

own risk, but are also increasing the safety of the rest of your

team.

2. Report It: If you notice a situation that you believe could be

hazardous – report it immediately. You may have been lucky to

avoid an accident but the next person may not be. By reporting

concerns as soon as possible you are increasing the safety of

your colleagues and helping maintain a high standard of safety

throughout the workplace.

3. Share It: If you are injured in the workplace don’t keep it to

yourself – share it. It is important that we can assess your health

quickly and can address the safety issue that may have caused

your injury. Again, you may not be the only one who will fall foul

to your particular injury but in order to protect others we must first

know what happened, and this must be timely

Self-monitoring is another essential part of your role to

maintain your own safety.

During the working day you may become involved in an

incident or an unexpected event that requires immediate action

such as restraining a prisoner, slipping on a wet surface or

responding to an emergency.

Once the incident has passed, take a moment to assess your

actions and monitor your response in terms of safety to yourself.

Ask yourself:

•DidIcomplywithlegislationandpolicy?

•CouldIhaveavoidedinjury?WasIdistracted?HowdidIavoid

injury?WhatpositiveactionsdidIhavethatpreventedinjury?

•CouldIhaveleftamoreappropriatereactionarygapbetween

theprisonerandmyself?Whydidn’tI?HowwouldIdoit

differently next time?

•HaveIbeensufficientlytrainedforthistask?WhattrainingdoI

feel I need?

By taking a few minutes after an incident to remind yourself

of what you did well and what you need to change next time, you

will be putting yourself on a positive track to increased safety and

greater efficiency.

Remember to report accidents, injuries and near misses before

the completion of your working day. If it is a lost time injury then

it must be reported within 4 hrs of the incident / injury.

> Have your sayHave your say Use it, report it, share it!

The trial reporting period is for the April, May and June operational months,

in which we will report on the existing 12 measures as well as the proposed

measures. This parallel reporting time will allow us to identify and rectify any

issues that may present in the new measures.

The following 6 measures are being trialled.

Acacia Prison continues to make history as the first prison to nominate a prisoner for a Pulse Award, going on to win both the ASPAC Pulse Award and the Global Pulse Award.In recognition of his drive, commitment and

enthusiasmtotheClearVisionProjectandtomaking

a difference to the lives of strangers, Laurie was

awardedtheSercoGlobalPulseAwardforMakingan

Exceptional Impact.

TheClearVisionProjectcollects,cleansandrecycles

spectacles for distribution to Mozambique, Tanzania,

Nepal,China,NorthernIndia,Burma,Bangladeshand

Zambia improving and returning site to thousands of

individuals.(RefertoWeeklyBulletindated14January

2013 for more information.)

ThePulseAwardwaspresentedtoLauriebyDirector

PaulMcMullanon4thJanuary,inwhatprovedtobea

proud and emotional moment.

“To be handed [the award] personally by the Director

was without doubt my best achievement in life along

with my two children…I was going great until I shook

the Director’s hand, then I was overcome by just

knowing what I had truly started,” Laurie said.

Laurie was presented with his award in a special

ceremony in Oscar Block attended by two of his

closefriendsandinvitedguestsHarryVarelisfrom

Opthalmic Services, Tony Martello from the Optometry

Association, Roby Main from Moving Eyes Mobile

OptometristtoAgedCareFacilitiesofPerth,Anthony

Brandt from Arc Optical and Kathryn Kennedy, Director

HealthCareMinistriesforYouthWithaMission.

As of July 13 we will no longer report on the current measures of Staffing Levels,

SocialVisits,EmploymentandTraineeships,PrisonerGrievances,Structured

ActivityandAboriginalHealth.

PM 5: The offer of support to

prisoners who have been found guilty

underthePrisonsActofusinganillicit

substance.

PM 8:Prisonersemployedcompared

to employment positions. This

measure has been designed to

be based on documented actual

employment positions available for

prisoners to access employment

opportunities.

PM 9: Adult Basic Education is

primarily concerned with the

teaching of students to read, write

and become financially literate. This

measure specifically targets prisoners

identified with low literacy skills.

PM 10: Agreed number of

traineeships are filled. This measure

has been designed to be based on

documented actual traineeships

available for prisoners to access.

PM 11: Prisonersidentifiedwith

diagnosed chronic disease, substance

dependency or mental health issues

are provided with a relevant medical

discharge plan prior to release.

PM 12: Prisonersthatareidentified

atriskaremanagedbyPRAGin

accordance with the Department

ofCorrectiveServicesAtRisk

Management System (ARMS)

Manual.

As we go to press the performance measure review is in the final stages and we

are now trialling the new measures with the aim of introducing these in July 13.

Keep that in mind and write to us with your views, questions and requests. We will print your letters in the next issue along with our response or answers. Send your letters to acacia@serco-ap.com.au

Performance update

Upcoming events to look forward to:>Diary dates

A world first for Serco, here at Acacia

The Bibbulmun Track stretches almost 1000 km from the Perth hills to the south coast of WA, ending in Albany. The last survey (conducted in 2008) indicated that the track received around 434,736 visits a year (a 55% increase on the last suvey!)Maintaining the Track is the responsibility of maintenance crews made up

ofvolunteersfromcompaniessuchasWesternPowerallthewaydownto

individuals keen to do their bit.

But, as a result of efforts by Recreation Officer Blake Nolan from

WandooReintegrationFacilitytheBibbulmunTrackFoundationandthe

DepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation(DEC)haveanewteamof

volunteers itching to get started.

AselectedteamofWandooresidentsareduetobegintheirtrainingto

enable them to take on a brand new section of track – an 18 km section

linkingCollietotheWellingtonDamknownastheWellingtonSpurTrail.

The spur trail encompasses two campsite areas, purpose built bridges and

goes through mixed jarrah forests, pine plantations, farm land, across old

railway formations from the logging industry and ends at the dam. It is

an area rich in natural and engineering history.

The Track has been maintained and developed in areas by prison work

crews before and everyone involved is looking forward to this new

partnership and the opportunities it offers for reparation and positive

community engagement.

FormoreinformationontheTrackgotowww.bibbulmuntrack.org.au

Reparation on track at Wandoo