I've been following your paper and I love it. I find it very cool and entertaining.
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Feedback From Our Readers
Every day we receive letters from people in prison. Many share the impact of About Time on their lives. Readers have told us that they feel as if they have a voice for the very first time. Some talk about how the paper has helped them connect to others and lessen isolation. Many talk about the educative benefit of the paper, while others praise the newfound hope and sense of self-worth they feel reading a publication just for them. Here are all of their words.

I can't tell you how glad I was to see this paper come into my unit, a sign that times can and always will change the way we live, especially in prison.
To About Time,
I only just discovered the prison newspaper last month in April 2026.
I spent all day reading and sharing the newspaper here at Melaleuca Women’s Prison.
I had only just begun writing again since getting incarcerated this year in January.
When I found out about About Time I was excited to be able to write in to the national prison newspaper.
I do look forward to reading some of the submitted written work of others and possibly hope to enter into the next writing competition!
From Vanessa.
It was great to see prisoners being spoken of in a constructive and positive way, as I'm sure you're aware that isn't the norm in Australia. I look forward to hearing back from you and hopefully reading your newspaper.
To About Time,
Thank you for your newspaper. I look forward to reading it each month. Its great! I enjoyed it from the first time I read it last year. Its made me feel connected, seen & heard. When I first went to jail I felt really alone and your newspaper helped me so much. Someone – well lots of someones – got how I felt. They understood. Thank you for that. I've written this poem while incarcerated. I really hope you will publish it for me.
Keep up the hard work – we need you guys.
I relate to a lot of people in this paper. I feel comfort in knowing I'm not alone in custody. I feel more connected, and well heard.
I feel submitting/participating in surveys makes me feel as my input is valued towards making a better paper! It's helped boredom and helped me better understand jail, as it's my first time (been here 4 months).
Keep producing a great paper! Thousands of us appreciate it! Love from Charlotte.
About Time gives prisoners a voice and a platform. In life being heard is so important, and makes you feel you have something to offer. Contributing made me feel valued.
So many relatable stories, letters etc, when you thought you were alone in your experience or thoughts. The relatable content really makes you feel that you are not alone. Everyone's experience is unique but there is plenty of articles/letters that reflect my own experience.
In my 4th week of prison (1st time) it has given me more insight and validated so much of my feeling/experience. It is already making a hard situation somewhat better and has given me a more positive feeling (even though some articles expose so much of what is wrong with the system!).
I just want to thank you and the team, and the contributors, for providing a publication that is so raw, honest and relatable.
Keep up the great work, you are making a difference and helping countless people get through this experience!
Hello About Time and Readers,
I love getting the opportunity to learn about other prisoners and their stories from all over the country. We all have something to share and I encourage everyone to give it a go. Finding purpose is how we thrive beyond survival against all odds, especially in these circumstances that I'm sure we can all relate to.
Shout out to my girls at DPFC and anyone else incarcerated, struggling with their own consciousness.
A gracious thank you to About Time for giving us a necessary platform to express ourselves.
I write to About Time so others can see their stories matter and others will maybe write in too or tell there families to. Cause it helps to deal with being stuck and also lets me get it out.
It makes me feel pain is only a thought not a feeling and everyone goes through it some don’t show it. Cause I see others feel it or live it too, I feel their pain as I too have lived it or gone through it.
It is a space of free speech and also gives good advice and also hope and strength.
Thank you for what you do.
I have no contact with my brother who is in prison and the newspaper gives me great comfort knowing I have some small insight into his life, a way I can connect with his world.
I'd like to give a shout-out to Vanessa from prison in WA and welcome to About Time. I discovered About Time early last year 2025 and always look forward each month for the read. Last year in two seperate issues I had stories published and seeing them in the national prison newspaper was the best feeling.
I've always had a love for writing but never had the time, now incarcerated I have nothing but time so I decided to put pen to paper and with two stories published I am now working on writing a book.
Sometimes when we write something worth publishing it is when we least expect it. For me writing is a powerful tool that helps with my mental health.
Keep up the good work and never give up writing, I look forward to future stories.
Thank you for your work providing the About Time platform which allows creativity and expression a space to flourish.
Last night I woke up with something I had to write down which is just how it happens, and I wrote this poem that I would like to share with everybody. I hope you like it too.
It would be nice if you could publish it as it is my hope that it will help people form more positive relationships in their lives and help contribute to a more pro-social society.
Thank you, I enjoy reading your newspaper.
About Time has been a lifeline - when I was inside, it gave me a sense of purpose and feelings of camaraderie. The stories were really powerful. I have a chronic illness and suffer from intense pain, and writing for About Time has given me something to focus on and prevents me from going to dark places. Without About Time I don't know where I would be.
I have been in prison for over 13 years and I want to say that your newspaper is an amazing opportunity for all who have put the time in and it has been very well received throughout the Victorian Prison System.
Dear About Time,
Thank you once again for your amazing publication. I know I speak for myself and many of the other men here when I say that you publication is valued and appreciatedand we look forward to its arrival each month. It certainly becomes a central discussion point in the yard in the days following its distribution here. Both myself and the other men within my accommodation lodge read over every edition repeatedly.
I've written to you once previously with a poem that didn't make the cut. I hope my submission this time around is more in line with the material you're looking to publish. Once again, thank you for your incredible work in continuing to support, connect, and inform incarcerated men and women across the country.
About Time helps me relate to my problems knowing others are also dealing with similar problems I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. I feel that I have a connection to others with similar struggles and that I am not alone. I don’t feel as isolated over the past six years doing hard time.
It has given me the confidence in trying to write better and for help in bettering myself pre-release.
Due to reading this I know there is help and that there’s always some one worse off needing help.
This paper deserves all the support it can get. A way for prisoners to express their honest stories and gifts. A real way to heal and rehabilitate encouraging others to do the same.
About Time has positively impacted my belief in myself. It has real life stories from real life prisoners.
About Time is filled with good and thoughtful people issues, because we all have contributed to it. Misery loves company, so to speak. I’m now 9 jail sentences in so am very much used to this but this is for us crims and has made us feel connected and that someone gives a f**k. By making us write letters, it helped stimulate the brain.
The paper gives me a positive attitude is because I felt good when I read this. Thank you and I love your work.
Dear Rosie,
I just want to say how happy I am to receive a reply from you. I never expected an acknowledgement of receipt, let along a letter. This means a world to me. It shows that someone was kind enough to take their time to read through and understand what it meant and appreciate the event and the effects it bears upon the writer. I can not thank you enough for that.
About Time helped both me and my partner on the outside share some situationaI awareness. Cannot wait for the paper each month. The articles by other prisoners resonate with my own inner voice, they give my own feelings more universality. Submitting my writing feels as if I can make a difference.
Thank you About Time! Amazing work.
About Time gives a sense of community and belonging. It’s valuable to have my opinion heard and respected, to stay feeling valued and worthy.
To have a voice, to be heard with no fear of judgment. It gives a clearer perspective and to know that others experience the same things as we do in these places. Hear and see other peoples stories and know there is no judgement.
Because the truths are being printed rather than hidden.
Wow, I won the caption comp for December... I've never won anything and the whole jail is congratulating me. Our jail was never told about your newspaper – but in November 2024 it just showed up and all 120 girls love it. So please, please keep it up. ... Thank you for the write up on pen pal programs – I've been in jail for four and a half years and always watch a show called Love After Lockup based on the USA pen pal project ... Anyway guys, thank you for your newspaper. We eagerly await it every month here.
I am thankful for any and all social and creative outlets such as yourselves involved in the creation and distribution of your newspaper. They provide a link or window to another place, an opening for personal expression and a greater sense of community for those who choose to make use of the opportunities. Writing a book review for a peer newsletter that might only be read by a hundred or so inmates at one prison may not change the world, but having someone stop you in the yard to tell you that they were impressed with your writing is valuable and reinvigorating.
Its my first time reading this paper and I love every thing that it offers, thank you for sharing information that all prisoners need to know.
It makes you feel like your feelings and thoughts are valid and others can relate to how you feel and together we can over come this negative time in our lives and turn this experience into a positive and heal and live your best life.
Because it comes from us that live it, us the real people that experience jail life every day every minute, people on the outside should really learn what actually goes on and the mistreatment we as prisoners go through we are all not bad people.
This is just the first of many times I will submit my words, my feelings and my thoughts I will continue to offer my help and guidance even when I am released.
Its good to share and connect without judgement give you self confidence.
About Time is an avenue that we can express our frustrations, our gratitude and facts. It is a honest and reliable source that we can depend on, it is stories and facts from prisoners that hasn’t been distorted. None of the stories have been doctored. I really enjoy reading this honest media outlet. Thank you!
To read about people experiencing almost the same things that bother me makes me feel less isolated and that I am not crazy, some peace of mind and relativity, empathy and understanding.
To read about others going through the same experience is reassuring and comforting, it helps kill time, learn, laugh and relate.
Keep up the good work. We need you :)
This is my first time and I must say, stumbling across About Time has made things so much better. The open, honest, raw and relatable articles are real gems and resonate hugely.
Anyway, I felt compelled to contribute so here follows a few submissions for your consideration.
About Time
There is a great paper 'About Time',
Which is free and won't cost you a dime,
With articles galore,
It is never a bore,
And provides a refreshing angle on crime!
I read your paper the night previous, and a part of me that previously was dead or dying suddenly felt alive and connected to others with similar struggles and trauma … So I just want to say thanks for your newsletter/prison paper.
He was pretty happy when he called, and had already cut the exercises out to stick on the wall in his cell!
Thanks again Edith. I hope all in the AT team really understand how much difference the paper makes.
This this paper is dedicated to prisoners which helps our mind health in so many ways.
The stories are from prisoners who want to share their views with others and that helps us do our time. It meant I could share my story with others who are feeling the same way. I feel this paper allows us to connect with each other.
About Time is a great way to learn what is happening in other jails. It was a chance to use my writing skills and use the tools to tell a story. Love this paper.
Please keep up the great work and thanks for giving us a voice.
Congratulations on the launch of About Time. I can only imagine how many obstacles you have navigated to successfully sail the product into Australia's prisons, and from where I sit it was very warmly received by the inmates, security and medical staff that I share time with. Well done, and thank you for delivering us something we didn't know we needed until we received it.
I first and foremost would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for all the hard work that goes into producing and providing myself and the other prisoners in Australia with your truly captivating content.
Your work and effort does not go unnoticed.
Thank you to the team at About Time for your efforts and hard work making the newspaper what it is.
I love this newspaper and enjoy reading it from front to back and back to front. I really enjoy looking at the artworks. You published one of my artworks, DEEP OCEAN, so thank you. I am very proud of that artwork. I taught myself to do art as I was severely bullied and abused, mentally, and physically, growing up and until this very day and I find it is good escape for my mental health. It helps me copy with all the bullshit and bullying that goes on in this place, that I've called home for the past 9 years. I have a minimum of 6 years left to go and then hopefully I can leave this place behind me. I'm not sure where I will restart my life once I'm out, but I guess I still have time to sort that out lol. Well that's all I wanted to say so thank you and keep up the wonderful work.
Finally a voice for the unseen and unheard. First huge step in connecting prisoners.
There are way too many problems in jail, so to hope for better solutions is always an interesting find. Also staying connected to other's thoughts and feelings – it sort of feels like a union paper.
I certainly agree it helps give a more earnest effort of confidence in writing, but I do believe it is more to do with the burning feelings in one's heart that makes them feel compelled to write. Improved writing skills is just a bonus.
I personally look forward to the paper, as do so many others in prison. The impact was very moving – to hear other stories, to see legal opportunities available as well as fun stuff to do to keep us occupied (especially with so many lockdowns). It is in the word 'Impact' – To Act!
Dear About Time,
I was very excited to see the writing competition article in the latest edition. Included is my submission. It's based on my own happy place (nature) and even if it's nowhere near good enough to be included in the newspaper, just having the chance to write creatively is fantastic. So thank you.
Heard of your work on radio national well done.
I would be pleased to maintain contact and further contribute. About Time is a valued publication in prison and a worthy pursuit.
Keep up the good work, good vibes, and great paper. I'm sure everyone in jail really appreciates your efforts (including me!).
Great to see how the publication is putting forward items of interest to inmates, such as the expansion of education in venues.
Keep up the wonderful work you all do.
Thank you so much for your positive response to my short story!
P.S. Is About Time published for the public too? My father would love to read your paper.
About Time allows for expression, and a platform to be seen and heard, in a space with little other options for us. Had over a dozen people say they read and enjoyed my writings after they were published. Can be yourself in the written word, free thought and expression of mind.
I submitted to feel seen/heard, in an environment where we’re not; had a lot of feedback from friends inside and a nice letter from the outside posted in reply.

I have recently come by a copy of the newspaper, About Time. I read some interesting correspondence by others that are incarcerated. It is enlightening and insightful material to read and connect with on an emotional level as well as intellectually. Thank you for giving us a voice, an outlet, an opportunity for creative work and being able to share on a humanistic level our thoughts, feelings and aspirations. This is a piece I wrote. I hope it conveys my love for people, for life, and my hope for redemption.
Thanks for listening and I really appreciate what yous do for us crims locked up do time around Australia. Also I really hope yous publish my letter and drawing I did for yous paper.
Honestly thank you everyone that puts in there hard time in making the newspaper what it is I truly enjoy reading it every time.
Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this submission.
I know it would mean a lot to my partner if he saw it in your paper. He reads it religiously. Inside and out.
Thank you for the gift of your newspaper. A simple idea to spread a good word or thought via written media to the Australian prison population – and beyond – makes more of a difference to us, than anyone who hasn't done prison time could ever know.

PS: If you receive mail from Belinda, please publish her entry. Seeing her achieve that would make me very happy. Thank you :)
Your newspaper is fantastic and is extremely valuable, sharing experiences and knowledge between prisons in all states of Australia as well as the world - Helping all gain insight into practices and procedures as well as outlining certain indiscrepencies. It is wonderful to see such a vast array of people writing in to share their views, feelings and sharing their lived experiences within the system. Thank you to all those involved and keep up the great work!

Kind regards, and many thanks for your continuous work every month to deliver yet another great monthly edition of "About Time".
I do love getting your publication. I cut it into A4 sections and send them to my son, who is in an NT prison. Only 5 cut-out pages at a time, of course!
Thanks About Time! Thanks Rosie! Publishing my writing means so much to me and gives me hope I might use my writing to get me out of this life. Please write back with any advice or thoughts! Can't wait to see my writing in next month's edition!
We’ll continue to read About Time with interest – Denham Sadler’s recent article was excellent, so congratulations to you and the team on the work you’re doing.
As a former social worker, I’m 74, by the way, I did my early years in adult probation and parole. Many visits to Pentridge. Worked at Turana youth justice centre before doing social work. I think this idea is beyond brilliant. It ticks so many boxes.
Love your work!!
Thanks for providing About Time and explaining things – it's helpful for understanding life behind bars and other things.
Thank you for giving us a good read every month.
Thanks for the great newspaper.
Thank you for this newspaper, it makes me feel less lonely, more comforted and I have hope for my future.
Thanks for your excellent newspaper. It always contains useful information and heartfelt stories. Keep up the good work.
Give it up for this fine newspaper!!
G'day, My name is Dane. Firstly, great job on the paper. I look forward to it every month and expect I'm not the only Aussie inmate who is appreciative of the effort that goes into producing such a thing and at no cost to the incarcerated. Keep up the good work.
I love the About Time paper and what it does for the world.


Thanks for your time and effort it’s appreciated a lot. I look forward to hearing from you and having my topics published in your article.
G'day About Timers,
Got a kick out of seeing my last entry in the paper!

And just want to say a big thank you to About Time newspaper and other inmates in custody/jail remember to smile every day :)
I thank you for taking the time to listen to my experience, take care everyone.
I thank you again for everything, the newspaper, your letters and the time you take reading mine. You have been an inspirational part of my journey and have helped contribute to my focus of change for a better and successful future and pursuit of living up to my true potential and ultimately striving to live my best possible life. Thank you.

Keep up the good work, I love reading About Time as I find some sections informative and interesting.
Hello, firstly I must congratulate you for your latest publication and I must tell you that many people including officers read and enjoy, so keep it up.
Thank you for the paper copy of About Time. The November & December 2025 got through to me. I look forward to maybe receiving them now I'm back here. Your section on Christmas Greetings was well received by inmates. A wonderful addition to the December issue. Keep up your efforts. The paper is nourishing. I'm encouraging new men to share their stories. So much talent.
I really enjoy your paper and the articles and the art are unreal.
I'm writing to you guys, because I'm a big fan of the work you do and what the newspaper represents, and because I'd like to share some advice and tips on how to make the most of your time inside.
A big shout to all prisoners and the team of "Australia's National Prison Newspaper. Thank you for all the support.
I am so proud that I get to welcome our NT people in prison to your very first issue of About Time! This is your newspaper, so please write in and send pictures, stories, poems and whatever else fits.
I look forward to hearing from people in the NT writing into About Time and making the newspaper your own.
Some of my students enjoy writing, and I’d like to try and get them to write for About Time. Seeing other people in custodial settings writing articles might inspire them.
Hello, firstly I must congratulate you for your latest publication and I must tell you that many people including officers read and enjoy it, so keep it up.
Hey mate, I received your letter the other day & I appreciate your reply on my story "Time Stands Still For No Man." Today we all got a copy of Issue 17 of About Time & to see that you put my story on the 2nd page made me smile. All the lads were quick to yell out & say "Is that you Leb." I was like yes boys, they were all moved by my story so I guess it done the job it was meant to do.
Keep up the awesome prints! We all love and appreciate them down here.
Thank you most kindly for your words about my latest article, 'When Your Mind Turns Against You: Understanding Depression in Prison.' It came straight from the heart.
Together we can effect positive change, and About Time is a blessed resource for doing just that. Your work is immensely meaningful.
Keep up the professional and caring support given to the incarcerated. It is quality "therapy", so needed.
ABOUT TIME PUBLISHERS:
Thank you for your work, About Time newspaper helps so much for myself and so much more people around Aus doing time, it's almost like The Incarceration Bible it spreads good words, stories and peoples’ journeys.
I'm very grateful and proud to be a part of this great thing you and Rosie are doing, truly.
Thank you so much for running my fire breathing piece in January's edition. Lovely to see it there. Happy to continue contributing into the future.


Thanks for publishing my article in Issue 14. Reading through it, I came across another article that got my attention: "The Dark Side of Gains" by Ronin Cruise. Anyway, great paper, keep it rolling.
I can tell you that the papers are very popular and are often requested from prisoners, and I have received positive feedback.
Thank you About Time – the printed voice of the prisons.
I just received a copy of issue 15 and once again I have a near overwhelming feeling of enthusiasm. Thank you.
Thank you for letting me share <3
Your December, 2024 issue of 'About Time' lived up to a standard of quality journalism second to none. Thanks to your staff and all who contributed letters, stories, artwork, sound information, legal opinions, humour, therapies to enable transformation and the like.
I recently discovered your publication while flicking through the resources on my tablet but have now gone through and read all the back issues available… it's fantastic and look forward to its release each month.
Thank you for provide this platform for incarcerated people able to share their experience and stories. Actually I don’t really believe a lot people in community really care about what happen inside walls nor do they care about incarcerated people at all. So the rarity of this platform is invaluable.
By reading About Time makes me more aware that what I'm experiencing is actually a shared common experience. There is a large group people across Australia in same shoes, makes me feel that I'm not alone. To understand that my experience is actually a shared experience with thousands people across country make me feel a connection.
I love seeing The Torch artwork in here - they do so much for the Mob in jail. Keep up the good work. Happy New Year to all the Black Mob behind bars.
This newspaper is a fantastic idea and I am glad it comes here.
This is so awesome. Such important work. I must look into how you got approval for this as the state is so punitive and resistant to prisoners needs. Anyway, awesome work!
Best wishes for this humane project.
Hi, I just want to send congratulations on your first issue reaching my prison. I may be a rare beast, a prisoner who is enjoying his time in prison. This is due to my work as editor of our prison quarterly newsletter and running computer-aided design (CAD) workshops for prisoners.

Fantastic work.
We may be seen as criminals but we are also human beings who have rights, rights that are being stripped from us. Thank you to all the About Time team, you have given us all a voice, lets hope it can be heard.
Hello Mini, Rosie,
Thank you so much. I feel humbly encouraged.I do believe that in my monologue about water, I went into a zone.
A zone that reflected a dark period, yet one in which I was able to tap into the sort of hope I felt when immersed in that life-giving, soul-nourishing water. I went to places, in that talk, I haven't been to for nearly 40 years. And that I've never spoken about, out loud. I worried at the start of the exercise whether I'd be able to recall anything with five-senses resolution. I was wrong.
Perhaps if I had people speechless, that's a good thing? Perhaps it brings us all back to the bone-deep reality of life inside; aneasthetises our senses for a moment, occasions a reset, and renders possible further externalising of experiences. Perhaps we, in trying to capture our prison experiences, teeter on the precipice of fear – and in that state, we pause before measuring if we have the strength to fully give of our experiences.
I do believe that I chose to leap into that chasm of fear, and give voice to one aspect of my experience of imprisonment. I think I succeeded.
Thank you so much for giving us all a forum, a platform to externalise our experiences. The hope is that it helps people inside to feel seen and validated, and humanised.
With great thanks,
Steve
Thumbs up from everyone for the newspaper, it's amazing!
Thank you also for a very interesting and informative paper. Especially that it gives this office a prisoner perspective also. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for all you do in putting together About Time and sending it into prisons. I certainly found it helpful and informative while I was inside. I look forward to reading the next edition of About Time when it comes out. I really like the way you have formatted your website. A bit easier to follow and read compared to what was on the NSW tablet version. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much for the paper. It has been quite the eye opener for me, eight months into a two year sentence. Among the views expressed, many about their time, reflecting on boredom, lack of resources and so on, and I thought to add my older prisoner view simply because so many of your readers here at Wolston are older men, though I assume many of the same or similar issues happen to women as well.
Some of the stories, songs, poems etc exactly reflect feelings or situations I and others at this prison experience. I love this publication. Thank you!
Thank’s for your time and effort, it’s appreciated a lot.

Great work with the paper keep it up… Since reading your paper I realise other prisons go through the same issue. It's not fair or humane.
To About Time,
First of all I would like to do a shout out to my fellow brothers and sisters doing time and may be struggling. Just remember that this place can’t dim your energy, it’s only temporary.
Just good to see us Blackfellas get something as we don’t get much down here and we are locked down well over 50% of the time.
Love your newspaper, it provides a lot of people a bit of light :)
Thank you for taking the time to read my poetry submission.
Firstly, thank you for all your effort. We love your newspaper, Its good to find out what’s going on at other prisons all over Australia plus it’s always full of helpful information that can help us along our journey plus help us reintegrate back into the community.
Thank you for your newspaper. I look forward to reading it each month. It’s great! I enjoyed it from the first time I read it last year. It’s made me feel connected, seen and heard. When I first went to jail I felt really alone and your newspaper helped me so much. Someone – well lots of someones – got how I felt. They understood. Thank you for that. I’ve written this poem while incarcerated. I really hope you will publish it for me. Keep up the hard work – we need you guys.
I would like to say a big thanks to the publishers of About Time newspaper for creating such a good opportunity for inmates have a turn to talk and share. Thanks for shining a light on our darkness.
Thanks for your time and effort.
Hello, I write to congratulate you on your informative/entertaining magazine and I was sorry when the Justice Action magazine folded up years ago because I was a regular contributor and great fan of their publication. Now you are here to fill a much needed gap in prison life. Can you please place me on your mailing list and I look forward to receiving further editions.
A quick thank you to About Time for the national paper. I really enjoy reading about the ins and outs of Australian jail life.
I am writing today to thank you for all the hard work involved in putting together and 'getting out' the National Prison Newspaper that I received for the first time here in Queensland.
Dear About Time,
My name is Matty & I am currently in a QLD jail, hoping you could put my poem in your paper. I know alot of inmates will like it.
Thank you.
The articles and stories you read in 'About Time' and other outlets change lives. They have the power to help people to make informed choices. And they can also inspire readers to think in different ways and try different things. Being a writer is exciting and rewarding. So, this article is for all those people who have tinkered with the idea of penning a story. This publication, like all publications, is always on the lookout for fresh talent.
Thank you, keep up good work.
Great to get your paper, this only about our 3rd copy.
So, keep them coming. It's great to read other people’s stories.
Answering your survey, I found it was great to stimulate my brain.
I am 68 years old and I get very little stimulus in here. I have a lot of pain and can’t walk.
I want to let ya know how stoked I was to see me as a runner up in last month's "Caption This" comp. So I thought I'd give it another crack.