A total of 12 Aboriginal detainees have completed a Department of Justice training program at Karnet Prison Farm.
The men graduated from the successful Carey Bindjareb Program, a collaboration between traditional owners and Aboriginal contractor, Carey Mining.
Minimum security prisoners from around the State are given the opportunity to apply for the program, which is run at a simulated mine site at the Serpentine-based facility.
Over the 14-week course participants gain industry-specific skills, including a Certificate II in Civil Construction, a High Risk Forklift Ticket and a Working at Heights qualification.
One of the graduates went a step further and received a Certificate III after completing additional work and acting as a peer mentor during the course.
Minister for Corrective Services, Bill Johnston said the participants were also supported to reconnect with their culture and learn key life skills, resilience and confidence.
He said 57 men had now completed the program, with two-thirds that had been released from prison gaining employment in the mining, civil and related industries.
“More than half of the remainder are actively seeking employment activities at Carey Mining,” Mr Johnston said.
“This project provides meaningful industry-led training for Aboriginal men with direct links to employment when they get out of prison.”
He said it was a great result to have nearly two-thirds of graduates in the community gainfully employed in the mining and civil industries, and most of the remainder actively seeking work.
