The Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN) has officially launched its landmark Prison ID Project Research Report at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre, marking an important milestone in ICAN’s ongoing work to improve financial inclusion and reduce barriers to successful reintegration for First Nations people leaving custody.
Funded through the ICAN Grow Fund and undertaken in partnership with First Nations research consultancy Mura Lagh, the report explores the significant challenges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men face in obtaining and maintaining identification, and the far-reaching impacts this has on housing, employment, banking, transport, healthcare and community participation.
Drawing on the lived experiences of First Nations men in custody, the research found that identification is far more than an administrative document. It is the key that unlocks access to everyday life.
Among the report’s findings:
- 81% of participants did not have current Transport and Main Roads (TMR) issued photo identification.
- 94% did not have a birth certificate.
- 78% did not have a Medicare card.
- Access to banking was identified as the service most impacted by the absence of identification.
- Cost, lack of services, literacy barriers and the “no ID to get ID” cycle were identified as major barriers to obtaining identification.
The report also highlights the emotional impact of living without identification, with participants describing feelings of shame, helplessness and invisibility while relying heavily on family members to access basic services.
Turning lived experience into lasting change
ICAN Prison Project Coordinator Sharon Edwards said the research grew directly from years of listening to the stories of First Nations men during financial counselling sessions inside correctional centres.
“Over the years we’ve learned that conversations about money almost always lead to conversations about identity, opportunity and belonging. Men repeatedly told us they couldn’t access banking, housing, employment or even a mobile phone because they didn’t have identification. We knew these weren’t isolated stories—they pointed to a much larger systemic issue.”
The research commissioned by ICAN has been undertaken alongside ICAN’s pilot project to provide practical support to fund men leaving to obtain Queensland Government issued photo identification before their release from custody. This funding, enabled through a one-off donation has relied on a valued partnership between ICAN, Queensland Corrective Services, Transport & Main Roads and the Men’s Re-entry Support program run by the Australian Community Support Organisation (ACSO).
Sharon said launching the report at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre acknowledges the collaboration that made the project possible.
“This report belongs to the men who generously shared their experiences, the Queensland Corrective Services staff who supported the research, and our partners who believed this issue deserved national attention. We hope these findings will lead to practical reforms that give people the tools they need to successfully rebuild their lives.”
Building pathways back to community
Financial Counsellor Elise Deemal said the project reinforced how important culturally safe support is during a person’s transition back into community.
“Identification is about far more than accessing services. It’s about restoring independence, dignity and connection. When people leave custody with the identification they need, they’re in a much stronger position to reconnect with family, find work, secure housing and build a positive future.”
She said the research also highlighted the resilience of the men who participated.
“Many of the men shared incredibly personal stories about the barriers they’ve faced throughout their lives. Their honesty has helped us better understand what needs to change so future generations don’t face the same obstacles.”
Small cards. Big impact.
For Financial Counselling Intern Fred Savage, the project demonstrated how something as simple as a photo identification card can transform someone’s outlook.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this project has been seeing the pride on someone’s face when they receive their very first photo ID. To many people it’s just a card, but for these men it represents opportunity, independence and hope.”
Fred believes the project shows the value of partnerships between community organisations, government agencies and industry.
“This report demonstrates what can happen when organisations come together to solve practical problems. If we can remove barriers before people leave custody, we’re giving them a far better chance of successfully reintegrating into community and reducing the risk of reoffending.”
Looking ahead
The Prison ID Project has already supported more than 600 people to obtain Queensland Government-issued photo identification before their release from custody. But the funding for it is limited.
The research now provides an evidence base for future advocacy. We know that something as simple as photo ID can have a profound impact. It can be the difference between being locked out of essential services and having a genuine opportunity to reconnect with family, find work, secure housing and rebuild after prison.
We are therefore calling on the Queensland Government to ensure that every person leaving prison who needs a Birth Certificate and photo ID can obtain these documents before release. This is a practical reform, already proven to work, that removes an unnecessary barrier to reintegration and gives people the best possible chance to successfully return to their community and build a positive path forward.
By placing identification at the centre of reintegration planning, ICAN hopes to create stronger pathways into housing, employment, banking and community participation, helping build safer communities while breaking cycles of disadvantage.
The Prison ID Project Research Report is another example of ICAN’s commitment to using research, advocacy and community partnerships to create practical solutions that improve the lives of First Nations people and strengthen communities across Australia.
