At Macquarie Correctional Centre, a new literacy program designed by Education Services Coordinator Tom Noiprasit, Foundation Skills Trainer Paul Ryan and a group of dedicated inmates is changing lives, offering inmates a second chance at education.

The  initiative, which began in late 2023, targets participants whose reading and writing skills are low and they are unable to engage with the Foundation Skills Program, leaving educators overwhelmed by the needs for individual remedial assistance. Recognising the potential within the inmate population, Tom and Paul enlisted the help of skilled inmates, including former educators and professionals, to serve as tutors.

Among them is a mature-aged inmate with a background in English language instruction. He, along with Ben* and Phil*—both trained lawyers—have played a crucial role in guiding their peers toward literacy. By pairing those struggling with skilled tutors, they found an inexpensive yet highly effective solution to an educational gap.

The curriculum relies on carefully selected free and graded materials, such as MIZ KATZ N. RATZ – A Progressive Phonics series and Macadamia Readers, which allow students to progress through structured lessons. Additionally, access to Penguin Readers, which adapt classic literature like Sherlock Holmes and Oliver Twist to different difficulty levels, provides further opportunities for learning.

The  program’s impact has been profound. Tutors describe witnessing dramatic shifts in self-confidence as inmates, many of whom previously saw themselves as "stupid," discover that their struggles stemmed not from a lack of intelligence but from unaddressed gaps in their education. "I have had officers ask me, 'What did you do with so-and-so? I’ve known him for 10 years and he has completely changed after joining your course,'" says one tutor.

One particularly inspiring success story is that of Don*, a 38-year-old Aboriginal inmate and a repeat offender battling addiction. When he entered the program, Don* was functionally illiterate, yet he showed keen learning ability. By the time he left, he was borrowing books and carrying one everywhere he went. He told the court he had learned to read and wanted to share bedtime stories with his children—a moment that earned him an approving smile from the magistrate, a first in his life.

The literacy  program doesn’t just teach reading—it rebuilds self-worth. Graduates have gone on to study certificates in hospitality, fitness, animal studies, and community services, reintegrating into society with newfound confidence. By providing inmates with essential literacy skills, the initiative at Macquarie Correctional Centre offers hope for rehabilitation and reduces the likelihood of re-offending.

Now, efforts are underway to bring the program to St Heliers Correctional Centre, ensuring that more individuals receive the same life-changing opportunity. As one tutor aptly puts it, "It’s making gaol work for you."

*Names have been changed