Search Results for: Prison

Fast Tracked For Success

Posted on June 21, 2024 by ICAN - ICAN News

ICAN Prison Project team members, Elise Deemal (L); Sharon Edwards (R)

Remember Elise Deemal who was living the dream as a Yarnin’ Money Mentor last time we yarned? Thanks to CBA’s First Nations Scholarship Program she’s now on track to graduate as a Financial Counsellor later this year and thriving in her new role with ICAN’s Prison Project. We caught up with Elise to get the scoop on her amazing journey.

Hi Elise, it’s great to yarn again!

When we caught up in September 2023 you were working as an ICAN Yarnin’ Money Mentor while completing the CHC51122 Diploma of Financial Counselling Fast Track through CBA’s First Nations Scholarship Program. Can you tell us what you’ve been up to since then?

Hi guys, thanks for having me back 😊. Well let me tell you I have been busy to say the least, transitioning from my role as Yarnin’ Money Mentor to Financial Counselling Support Officer Trainee, my study, and family time. But I’m loving every minute of it.

Can you tell us what receiving the Fast Track Scholarship means to you?

Receiving the Scholarship not only provides me with the opportunity for higher learning, it’s given me the opportunity to build my future and to be a role model for my family and my people. Not a lot of us in my family had the opportunity for higher education, we just go out into the workforce to earn money for our living, as opposed to working in something that you’re passionate about, and I’m really passionate about financial counselling.

What’s your study experience with ICAN Learn been like?

It’s fantastic – and challenging at times! Not only am I’m gaining the knowledge to become a professional financial counsellor, but I’m learning how to work within frameworks, and how to conduct myself ethically both in my professional and personal life. It’s also taught me to be much more organised so I can balance work, study, and family. It’s really brought a new awareness into my life and is changing the way I view things.

I also really enjoy learning online – for me it makes the learning more personal. The ICAN Learn trainers are amazing, especially their acknowledgment of country and First Nations people. It’s a great career path for First Nations peoples, we desperately need more in the sector.

Why did you choose a career in Financial Counselling?

After I accessed my own financial counselling in my twenties and I knew that it was what I wanted to do. Back then I was a full-time working mum hustling for my family, with no time to study. Now it’s my turn. Starting out as Financial Capability Trainee was a foot in the door to a career in financial counselling. I’m at a place in my life where I feel like I can take control of my future.

You’re now part of ICAN’s Prison Project Financial Counselling team, can you tell us more about that?

It’s been an exciting time for me. Coming from a legal services background made the transition smooth. My colleagues in the Prison Project team are awesome, and the clients I assist make it easy to come to work every day. My manager, Sharon Edwards, is an incredible person. She is passionate, patient, and has a great wealth of knowledge. It really shows in her work and the way she helps our clients, she really listens to every word. I feel incredibly grateful to be learning from her.

What sort of issues surprised you when you started providing services to inmates?

What’s surprised me most is the level of need and the types of issues, such as ID and banking challenges, it makes life very difficult. Money is part everyday life, even in prison. People who are incarcerated cannot self-advocate. They’re not allowed to call their financial institutions. They have time limits on their phone. So to have ICAN visit the centre is a relief for inmates. Being able to help someone manage or set up a bank account while they’re inside is one less worry for them to deal with and helps them reintegrate into society more easily on release. I always feel safe when I’m in and around the centre, and the staff are great. Not everyone can do this work, but I think there needs to be an understanding that inmates also have rights. For me, it’s not about their offending, it’s about their financial life.

Why is it important to have more First Nations peoples working in the Financial Counselling sector?

There’s not a lot of familiar faces in this profession, so I think it’s important that First Nations people are in these sorts of roles to empower our people, our communities, and to let them know that they can do this work as well. As a First Nations person, wherever I go in Australia – or in my profession – I feel like I’m in the minority. Whereas when I visit the prison, I am in the majority. It’s a good change for First Nations inmates to have a familiar face helping them with their financial hardship, and they feel more comfortable sharing their story with me.

ICAN provides financial counselling to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. As a First Nations woman, I believe everyone had the right to achieve financial wellbeing. Seeing our non-Indigenous clients embrace my help is very important to me, it means a lot.

What would you say to encourage other First Nations people to apply for a Scholarship with ICAN Learn?

I would say that Financial Counselling is a wonderful sector to be a part of, I love it so much. It doesn’t matter what age you are when you start studying, you can make a real impact in people’s lives that could change the course of their life.

Financial literacy for modernity is so important. Times are rapidly changing with technology, cyber scams, and the cost of living. The need for financial literacy has never been greater. It’s an important skill for us to have to continue to succeed in today’s world. And the beauty about this learning is that no one can take it away from you.

You can read more about ICAN’s work with prisons here

Or find out more about ICAN Learn Scholarships here

Do you need help with your personal or corporate training needs? Contact ICAN Learn at:
E: administration@icanlearn.edu.au
T: 03 5471 7777

Systems Change

Posted on August 24, 2021 by ICAN - ICAN News

ICAN is leading the charge in addressing changes to banking systems for people in prison. In a recent submission to the Australian Bankers Association (ABA) Code of Banking Practice Review, ICAN highlighted five practical recommendations that the banking industry can make to address current inequities. The recommendations tackle the structural barriers witnessed first-hand by ICAN financial counsellors, Sharon Edwards and Alex Price-Busch, in their fortnightly outreach service to Lotus Glen Correctional Centre (LGCC).

“People entering prison, often come with debts which they have limited information about,” said Sharon. “Their ability to obtain information to deal with the debts is near impossible, due to the many barriers faced inside. Unresolved debts grow through additional fees and interest charges while in prison, resulting in an unmanageable debt upon release.”

A 2019 Queensland Productivity Commission Inquiry (p359), reported on the link between unresolved financial issues and stress for people inside prison, and the compounded risk of reoffending because of increased indebtedness. ICAN Operations Manager, Jillian Williams highlights banks, and the products and services they provide are critical tools for managing the essential needs of day-to-day life.

“Banking products and services remain crucial for people incarcerated,” said Jillian. “We are trying to amend systems that will allow people in prison to keep managing their financial lives while on the inside. What we really need from the banks is for them to acknowledge that people in prison, and those transitioning out, experience vulnerable circumstances and amend the Code of Banking Practice accordingly.”

In a growing movement for change, Financial Counselling Australia, and the Thriving Communities Partnership, have championed the impact of financial issues on people in prison in their reports; Double Punishment: How people in prison pay twice and Fostering Financial Stability for People in Prison Project. As highlighted in these reports, people entering prison will come with many and varied debts which they have limited information about, and which will often go unaddressed or unresolved.

Through a partnership with LGCC, in Far North Queensland, ICAN Trainer, Majella Anderson and Financial Counsellor, Alex Price-Busch deliver our financial capability program, Yarnin’ Money, once a month. The participant stories and comments shared in group training or one-on-one financial counselling sessions, best characterise the need for systems change:

“It is such a relief to know you can help. I had no way of letting them know I was here. I was worried I could lose my house.”

“My bills and things have been stressing me out so much, I couldn’t sleep.”

“I worry about my family on the outside. If I can’t deal with my bills and things, it will only make it worse for them.”

“I really want to straighten everything out while I’m here so I can have a fresh start. I want to be able to rent a place for me and my son and buy a car. If I had a car, I could take my son to footy and I could get out of the ‘Bronx.’”

We hope that our submission can affect meaningful change to the systems impacting people in prison. You can read our submission to the Code of Banking Practice Review on our website at: https://ican.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Submission_ABA_Banking_Code_Review_2021.pdf

Yarnin’ Money in Lotus Glen Correctional Centre

Posted on May 24, 2021 by ICAN - ICAN News

Lotus Glen Correctional Centre and ICAN partnership participants.

Lotus Glen Correctional Centre (LGCC) has partnered with the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN) to focus on delivering strong financial skills training for prisoners.

The focus of the collaboration is to increase prisoners access to skills such as budgeting and management of finances which are critical skills for everyday living.

These skills bring a value of self-belief and a positive affirmation for the prisoners and the struggle of debt and lack of financial understanding within the prisoner cohort causes stress, angst and a loss of self-confidence.

Service Delivery Support Officer (SDSO) Tania Parker and Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN) Financial Counsellor Sharon Edwards got together to look at how a partnership could address these concerns, and assist in providing an opportunity of change for the prisoners by providing tools for the prisoner to feel confident in the management of their personal finances upon transition back into the community.

ICAN CEO, Aaron Davis said the collaboration with LGCC was an opportunity to help prisoners regain financial control of their lives and teach lifelong skills to help them support themselves.

“We are really excited about this opportunity to empower people that have often had very complex and dynamic lives, “ Mr David said.

“We know that debts don’t magically disappear when someone goes to prison and can become one of the greatest barriers to re-integration and rehabilitation.”

“For ICAN, our focus is on breaking down this barrier by providing financial counselling support to manage existing debts and education to promote good financial literacy in their future.”

With the assistance of the SPER Hardship Partners Team from Queensland Treasury, a strong partnership has been formed.

Twenty men have successfully completed their first Yarnin Money workshop, with eighteen continuing on with individual one-on-one financial counselling.

Due to the success of the program, Yarnin Money has now become a LGCC staple program, and ICAN a part of the LGCC community.

Tania Parker SDSO said the response from prisoners about the program had been very positive.

“Our goal is to provide this fantastic opportunity to as many of our prisoner cohort as possible, and we have received very positive feedback about the program,” Ms Parker said.

“All the participants were engaged, they shared ideas and stories, and have spoken to other prisoners about their positive experience within the program, which has generated great interest amongst the prisoners.”

ICAN Financial Counsellor, Sharon Edwards said that interest and uptake of the service has been overwhelming and this is an area of great need.

“There are numerous impediments to the provision of financial counselling in a prison setting, like meeting creditor identification requirements, providing evidence of low income, to just general day-to-day client contact.” Ms Edwards said.

“By working together to identify and remove some of these barriers for prisoners, our partnership has also streamlined access to the Work Development Order Program.”

“Participants now have the ability to reduce their SPER debt through accessing our service in the prison. I believe this is a first for Queensland.”

SPER’s Hardship Partner program gives people in genuine hardship realistic options to resolve their debt. Delivering this program with partner organisations like ICAN has been key to ensuring debtors experiencing hardship have access to such options, including Work and Development Orders. Partnerships like that which Sharon and Tania have established between ICAN and LGCC means prisoners have access to this program and can now work towards getting on top of their debts.