The Department of Justice’s Making Tracks training initiative has taken out a key category at the WA Training Awards.
Run by the Education, Employment and Transitional Services of Corrective Services, Making Tracks won the WA Industry Collaboration Award.
The WA Training Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of apprentices, trainees, employers and training organisations.
In a statement, the Department of Justice said Making Tracks had been opening training pathways for prisoners to employment success and social inclusion.
“The collaboration with key employer partners aims to reduce reoffending by taking prisoners into jobs on release and supporting them on their career journey,” the Department said.
“High-quality, accredited Vocation Education and Training (VET) courses are offered to upskill prisoners and make them competitive to fill current labour market shortages,” it said.
It said Making Tracks was also working to destigmatise the employment of former prisoners.
The win has secured Making Tracks a direct entry to represent the State in the Australian Training Awards in November.
The Department’s Education, Employment and Transitional Services team was also nominated for the Australian Apprenticeships – Employer Award for implementing traineeships within prisons.
There are 39 different traineeships and apprenticeships on offer in WA’s custodial facilities including hospitality, textiles, cleaning and maintenance, horticulture, meat processing and rural operations.
The Australian Apprenticeships – Employer Award recognises organisations that have made innovative improvements in training which benefit individuals and their local communities.
