Donate Here

Letters

You Are Not a Number

By
Rhiannon

Rhiannon writes from NSW.

Willy Pleasance

To anyone reading this inside,

I don’t know your name, your story, or the road that brought you here but I do know this: you matter. Right now. Exactly as you are.

Some days inside are heavier than others. Time drags. Walls feel closer. The noise gets louder, or the silence does. On those days, I hope you remember this: you are not forgotten, even when it feels like the world has gone quiet.

You are more than a number.

More than your worst mistake.

More than the version of yourself you’re still trying to understand.

There are people out here who see you as human, who believe growth is real, change is possible, and that hearts don’t stop beating just because doors are locked.

You are still worthy of kindness, laughter, and moments that make you smile, even if they come in small pieces right now.

If today is rough, take it one breath at a time. If you’re tired, rest where you can. If you’re angry, know it doesn’t make you broken. If you’re hurting, it doesn’t make you weak. Surviving takes strength and you’ve already proven you have it.

One day this chapter will be behind you. It won’t define your whole story. The future is still listening, still waiting for the person you’re becoming.

Until then, please remember this: you are loved more than you realise, even by people you haven’t met yet. And someone, somewhere, is wishing you peace tonight.

Keep going.

You’re not alone,

We see you.

To anyone reading this inside,

I don’t know your name, your story, or the road that brought you here but I do know this: you matter. Right now. Exactly as you are.

Some days inside are heavier than others. Time drags. Walls feel closer. The noise gets louder, or the silence does. On those days, I hope you remember this: you are not forgotten, even when it feels like the world has gone quiet.

You are more than a number.

More than your worst mistake.

More than the version of yourself you’re still trying to understand.

There are people out here who see you as human, who believe growth is real, change is possible, and that hearts don’t stop beating just because doors are locked.

You are still worthy of kindness, laughter, and moments that make you smile, even if they come in small pieces right now.

If today is rough, take it one breath at a time. If you’re tired, rest where you can. If you’re angry, know it doesn’t make you broken. If you’re hurting, it doesn’t make you weak. Surviving takes strength and you’ve already proven you have it.

One day this chapter will be behind you. It won’t define your whole story. The future is still listening, still waiting for the person you’re becoming.

Until then, please remember this: you are loved more than you realise, even by people you haven’t met yet. And someone, somewhere, is wishing you peace tonight.

Keep going.

You’re not alone,

We see you.

This
letter
was originally printed in the
February 2026
edition of About Time.

Staying Out Is the Hard Part

By DJ

Why would anybody want to come back to the system and add to that statistic?

Letters

ISSUE NO. 25

2 MIN READ

Recognising Veterans on the Inside

By Colin

We have an active veterans’ affairs type meeting here every month and an outside group called “Buddy Up” that sends two of their volunteers in.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 25

1 MIN READ

Staying Out of Politics and Working on Myself

By Dylan

I’m only 23 years old but I feel like I’m 43. Being in prison definitely preserves your body but makes your mind and soul feel so much older if you know what I mean.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 25

1 MIN READ

How Do You Cope With Lockdowns?

By Darren

I’ve been in prison for 14 years now, and lockdowns have always been a feature of prison life, but I have also noticed that over the years they have gotten worse and worse.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 25

1 MIN READ

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