ISSUE NO. 15
October 2025
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Letters

Breaking Down the Stigma Surrounding Work Experience Inside

By
Jamie

Jamie writes from a prison in QLD.

Willy Pleasance

Dear About Time,

After reading Issue #13, I am looking forward to reading the highlights from the Reintegration Puzzle Conference in upcoming issues. In particular, I would appreciate “extended highlights” from the Queensland Injectors (QuIVAA) presentations. Being in Queensland and reading your newspaper, as well as queer newsletter Inside Out, our “Sunshine State” seems to be lacking the number of post-release support services that are offered and available in other states. It would be great to find out some more information about QuIVAA as well as other Queensland-based support services.

I think lived experience support services are an important reintegration tool, as well as an important support for those who are still inside, knowing that there are positive experiences and paths for us post release.

Another stigma that I think needs to be broken down is the working experience that most prisoners receive while they are serving their time. Some prisoners spend years in the same job while in prison, continually building on their skills and also training other prisoners. All this experience is then essentially washed down the drain when we walk through the gate. How can we break down this stigma to enable these skills to be used and appreciated post release?

Thanks for providing us with a great monthly source of information and entertainment.

Dear About Time,

After reading Issue #13, I am looking forward to reading the highlights from the Reintegration Puzzle Conference in upcoming issues. In particular, I would appreciate “extended highlights” from the Queensland Injectors (QuIVAA) presentations. Being in Queensland and reading your newspaper, as well as queer newsletter Inside Out, our “Sunshine State” seems to be lacking the number of post-release support services that are offered and available in other states. It would be great to find out some more information about QuIVAA as well as other Queensland-based support services.

I think lived experience support services are an important reintegration tool, as well as an important support for those who are still inside, knowing that there are positive experiences and paths for us post release.

Another stigma that I think needs to be broken down is the working experience that most prisoners receive while they are serving their time. Some prisoners spend years in the same job while in prison, continually building on their skills and also training other prisoners. All this experience is then essentially washed down the drain when we walk through the gate. How can we break down this stigma to enable these skills to be used and appreciated post release?

Thanks for providing us with a great monthly source of information and entertainment.

Lessons from Bees

By Muhamed

Prison teaches people to hold back. To keep to themselves. To give as little as possible. To protect what little energy or hope they have left. When everything feels limited – time, freedom, trust – it makes sense to think that giving more will leave you with less. But the bee lives by a different rule.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Albany Prisoners on Lockdowns

By Prisoners at Albany Prison, WA

We are not sure who to write to or who we can talk to about theses matters. We are hoping someone reads our letter and can point us in the right direction to have our voices heard.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

1 MIN READ

Rights for Foreign Prisoners

By Luiing

If foreign prisoners have been sentenced under same law as Australians, then it’s extremely important that they have right to be treat equally in their imprisonment – on humanitarian grounds.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Not Cool: Heat and Overcrowding in TMCC

By Dane

The following is in response to the article by Denham Sadler titled “Sweltering Behind Bars: Stifling Heat in Australian prisons”.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

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