Intensive dairy industry training a first for men leaving prison

In an Australian first, men at Fulham Correctional Centre nearing the end of their sentences are undertaking intensive dairy industry training in a pilot program offering live-in employment opportunities post-release.
Last week, six prisoners from the Nalu minimum-security unit graduated from the second of four Cows Create Careers programs to be held at the correctional centre. It followed the inaugural course held in April this year, with three of the first participants already securing work.
It was the first time the Cows Create Careers program – developed in South Gippsland by the Strzelecki Lions Club and running in schools nationally since 2004 – has been delivered directly to prisoners to train future dairy industry employees.
The initiative is being facilitated at the privately managed correctional centre under a new partnership between GEO, the Gardiner Foundation, GippsDairy and Jaydee Events.
The program is funded by the Gardiner Foundation and GippsDairy with support from local dairy farmers and dairy industry course facilitators.
Throughout the intensive three-week course participants undertake practical and theoretical topics on the dairy industry. These include biosecurity, rearing healthy calves, farm safety, farm technology, and career options.
At Nalu, the men learn how to care for three-week-old calves brought onsite – gaining skills on how to feed, clean, weigh and walk them, as well as completing a health checklist and general maintenance of pens and equipment. Through external site visits, the men learn milking and see first-hand working dairy farms.
Minister for Corrections Enver Erdogan said the program offered men in custody a practical opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge of the dairy industry.
"It's fantastic that men will leave prison with this enriching experience that can boost their employment opportunities and help reduce their risk of returning to prison," he said.
GEO acting managing director Frank Thorn said "providing the men in our care with tangible skills that will support their employment post-release is a critical part of our role in in delivering correctional services."
"The more we can do to support the men in our care towards meaningful employment and accommodation when they leave custody and develop a sense of purpose, the less likely they are to reoffend," he said.
"The enormous effort of our staff at Fulham Correctional Centre, GippsDairy and all of the people involved in bringing this program to life within a prison setting is to be commended."
Fulham Correctional Centre general manager Natalie Greenfield said they were excited to be the first correctional centre in Australia to integrate the Cows Create Careers into their vocational education and services curriculum.
"With one man already living and working on a farm, and two preparing for their release with jobs already secured, this program is already demonstrating its benefits."
GippsDairy's regional manager Karen McLennan said it had been great seeing how engaged and motivated the participants were to learn skills in dairy.
"This program has the benefit of not only supporting these men to find meaningful, long-term employment, but also supporting our farmers by offering a new way of attracting workers to the industry."