Staff and participants from a Central West provider for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have thanked Bathurst Correctional Centre inmates for their help in refreshing the group’s facility in Orange.
Eight carefully-selected minimum-security inmates carried out the work at Life Without Barriers in Anson Street over two weeks, repainting walls and polishing floors.
Manager of Life Without Barriers, Tracey Burford said her staff and NDIS participants looked forward to seeing them every day.
“We really appreciate the inmates’ help – repainting might seem like a small thing, but it really brightens the experience of our participants,” Ms Burford said.
“The inmates were so polite and respectful; it was a pleasure to have them here,” she said.
“Many of our clients are already asking when they’ll be back!”
Overseer of Community Projects with Correctional Services, Scott Keen said each month the Correctional Centre’s Community Projects Team provides more than 500 hours of inmate labour to projects across the Central West, including picnic grounds, churches and cemeteries.
“Painting the Life Without Barriers’ Anson Street house is the team’s first project with an NDIS provider,” Mr Keen said.
He said programs like this were vital to meeting the Premier’s target to reduce reoffending by 2023.
“These partnerships are a great opportunity for inmates to learn new skills while becoming accustomed to normal work hours and routines,” Mr Keen said.
