Spear points the way to a better outcome

November 6, 2024

By PETER ROWE

Indigenous women in prison is a long standing issue for many communities and despite debate, discussion and talk of short and long term ‘fixes’ it is still a major cause for concern.

The Spear Foundation, based in Perth, WA is acutely aware of the problems and their Djeelya program is what chief executive Becky Sangster calls a “preventable program for women in the justice space”.

Culturally led, it is aimed through education and employment skills at keeping young women out of jail.

“If we can educate and help women with knowledge, with employment skills we can set them up for success in life, instead of prison,” Ms Sangster told ibnews.com.au.

Djeelya means ‘Wild Bush Honey’ in Noongar language and was traditionally used to heal and protect people.

“Djeelya is for our young Aboriginal Young Women who are known by the Justice department and are on a trajectory of criminal offending,” Ms Sangster said.

“The program is a preventative program which holds our young women in a nurturing space providing them with the tools and supporting their journey to alternative learning and earning pathways.”

Early prevention is critical to the success of the program and Spear Foundation’s fun and interactive system encourages young women to step up and make the change.

“We want them to come to Djeelya before Banksia and prison,” co-chair of the organisation Liza Fraser-Gooda said.

‘We want to nurture them, get them to engage in our cultural village, in beauty and fashion and leadership skills.

“It’s in some ways a modern-day forum for women in business.”

There are two programs, one for the 11-14 age group and another for the older 15-18s.

A justice preventative education program that has both business and government support, but always needs more.

“It’s an ongoing conversation,” Becky admitted. “Creating pathways to employment and not to prison will cost, but the cost of incarceration is also big – $1m to lock someone up for a year.

“When money could be better spent preventing that.”

Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds has called for significant changes to how Federal, State and Territory governments approach child justice.

Her recent report had 24 recommendations, including help ate an earlier stage before prison is the only option left.

On an average day, 4542 children across Australia are under youth justice supervision, 82 per cent are in community supervision programs and 18 per cent in detention.

57 per cent are First Nations children where they are 23 times more likely to be under supervision.

“The Hollond report says so much about that we have to do to improve the lives of young Indigenous women,” Ms Sangster said.

But the Spear Foundaton isn’t just about improving life skills and life chances for young women, It also has a Smiling Child program where they target primary schools in Perth, Broome and Darwin to ensure no child misses out.

“It’s inclusive – all kids. Poverty is not prejudiced,” Ms Sangster said.

“Clothing, books, excursions etc – they all cost so we want to make sure no child misses out.”

And to complete the circle Everlasting Elders is the third of their key community programs aimed at helping elders come together, to connect in ‘Happy Time’ and not just ‘Sorry Time’ like funerals.

At such events students engage in pamper sessions for their elders with the assistance of aboriginal makeup artists.

“It’s a great way of bringing the whole community together,” Ms Sangster said.

The Spear Foundation has come a long way since it was founded 12 years ago.

Strong community, strong people, strong community.

Through our impact programs, we walk with our people to carve pathways allowing them to reconnect and stand together,” Liza Fraser-Gooda said.

“Reigniting strong cultural connections across the generations and extending that to bridge all cultures.”

https://spearfoundation.org.au/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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