Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn

ISSUE NO. 17

December 2025

Donate Here

Poetry

Christmas Day in Prison

By

Joshua

Joshua was formerly incarcerated in a prison in VIC.

Freestocks via Unsplash

Christmas day without my family

Was such a terrible burden to bare

No Christmas tree, decorations, no presents

No laughter, no joy, no Christmas fare

No sounds of excited children

Running from their room

To see what’s under that special tree

Was a feeling of shattering gloom

My first Christmas without my family

A torrent of tears, roll down my face

A broken, soul-destroying feeling

That has taken me to a different place

I think of the joyful moments

We all shared on Christmas morn

Looks of delight on the children’s faces

As the ribbons and paper are torn

My heart lies empty and shattered

And my body trembles in pain

Emotions of complete desolation

Next year it will haunt me again

Christmas day without my family

Was such a terrible burden to bare

No Christmas tree, decorations, no presents

No laughter, no joy, no Christmas fare

No sounds of excited children

Running from their room

To see what’s under that special tree

Was a feeling of shattering gloom

My first Christmas without my family

A torrent of tears, roll down my face

A broken, soul-destroying feeling

That has taken me to a different place

I think of the joyful moments

We all shared on Christmas morn

Looks of delight on the children’s faces

As the ribbons and paper are torn

My heart lies empty and shattered

And my body trembles in pain

Emotions of complete desolation

Next year it will haunt me again

How to Make Bannoffee Pie in a Secure Unit

By Garth

A sweet treat using buy-up staples.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 20

1 MIN READ

I Am Tired

By Anthony

Tired from being told what to do. I am tired of love, tired of being deemed guilty, tired of my own remorse. I am tired of my own self-doubt, my own shadows and especially tired of my own face.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 20

I Hate You, Crystal Meth

By Mackenzie

Hate’s a strong word, but for you it’s reserved. I hate what you’ve taken from me, my parents, my childhood and my glee.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 20

1 MIN READ

Twelve Years Trying to Patch Up My Soul

By Abynei

My blue eyes look so drained, but I’m strong, I’ll make it through.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 20

1 MIN READ