Many people entering or leaving prison struggle to rebuild their lives because they lack access to banking services while inside and basic identification when they leave. Research shows that people released without ID face immediate delays accessing housing, income support, health care, and financial services. This increases their risk of homelessness, financial hardship, and reoffending.
The Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN) is tackling this problem directly through its prison ID and banking projects at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre (LGCC).
ICAN provides weekly services inside Lotus Glen with a team of financial counsellors and capability workers. Referral data from individuals entering the prison show the problem is widespread: about 70 percent identify as First Nations, 70 percent arrive without photo ID, and nearly one in five have no bank account or have lost access to one.
This matches findings across Queensland and Australia: First Nations people are less likely to have current ID because of a combination of historical, structural and practical barriers. Obtaining or replacing ID often requires fees, supporting documents, fixed addresses, and online access. These requirements make it harder for people experiencing financial hardship, housing instability, or limited digital access. As a result, people are shut out from essentials like housing, phones, income, and even their own money.
“As we started working inside Lotus Glen, it became clear that lack of ID and banking access was not a side issue; it was the main issue,” said Sharon Edwards, ICAN Financial Counsellor and Prison Project Coordinator. “Around 70 per cent of the people we support need help with identification, and over the past year, about 30 per cent of all requests for support are for bank accounts. These are foundational supports for release and reintegration.”
Without ID, people get stuck fast. One man said he could never reach the 100-point ID requirement and always fell short. Research shows that this system is especially hard for people in custody, since they may not have important documents like birth certificates, proof of address, or licenses when they come out of prison.
Another man had to sleep outside on his first night after leaving prison as the accommodation provider would not accept cash and he had been unable to ID himself to request a keycard from his bank. These problems are common and can be prevented.
To address the lack of ID issues, ICAN got funding for a pilot ID project, helping people get identification before they leave prison. Evidence shows that having ID before release leads to better outcomes, with fewer delays in getting income support, housing, and other services. Working closely with both the Centre and Re-Entry support staff, so far, 358 people have received ID while still in custody.
ICAN also partnered with a major bank to create a new process for opening bank accounts inside the prison. This has led to over 100 new accounts for First Nations men, which was once thought impossible. One man who had been without a bank account for 10 years described the experience, “like being out there in the desert on my own. It was very hard”.
Research shows that not having ID is a major reason for financial exclusion. A former Lotus Glen resident shared his thoughts:
“Without this service, I’d be struggling to figure out how to manage my finances or even open a bank account once I’m out. That uncertainty would’ve made my transition harder and more stressful.”
This work is also leading to bigger changes. ICAN’s advocacy helped update the Queensland Corrective Services banking form to improve how banks respond, requests that were difficult to meet until recently.
“This work shows what’s possible when systems are designed around people,” said Aaron Davis, ICAN CEO. “Our priority now is to secure a government commitment so that every person leaving prison has an ID as a standard, not a privilege. Without it, people are set up to fail before they even start.”
Research in Queensland shows this reform is urgent. With increasing numbers of people moving in and out prison, and over half returning to prison within two years, not fixing basic barriers like ID makes reintegration harder and puts both the individuals and community at risk.
In 2026, ICAN plans to release new research on ID access, keep expanding in-prison account opening, and urge banks and governments to build more inclusive systems. With over 300 people on our waiting list, the need is obvious, and so is the answer: ID, banking access, and dignity are key to successful reintegration.