USQ tutors help prisoners build a brighter future

USQ FraserCoasttutors John Coyne, left, Merilyn Robertson and John Murray, right, are working on the inside to help prisoners at the Maryborough Correctional Centre with their tertiary studies. Maryborough Correctional Centre education officer Steven Scougall, second from left, helped coordinate the effort to get the tutors on to the inside.

Tutors from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) are heading inside to help a group of prisoners hit the books.

Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence commended the three tutors from USQ Fraser Coast for their work at Maryborough Correctional Centre helping prisoners with their tertiary studies.

Ms Spence said the three tutors bring with them a range of experience, with John Murray specialising in maths, while Merilyn Robertson and John Coyne focus on general tutoring, mainly within USQ's Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP).

'The TPP is a six-month course which provides successful participants with direct entry to a USQ degree program,' Ms Spence said.

'Prisoners at all Queensland correctional centres have access to a range of rehabilitative, vocational and education programs and services.

'The TPP is one of the programs that gives prisoners valuable skills and qualifications to help obtain employment upon release.

'Eight prisoners are doing TPP through USQ Fraser Coast, and another six are planning to start next semester. There are also about 10 doing university degrees at their own expense.

'These prisoners are aged between about 18 and 50.

'It is great to see the University is assisting prisoners in the rehabilitation process by helping them to get an education and achieve a brighter future.'

Last year, USQ's TPP was awarded a citation for outstanding contributions to student learning by the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

The citation acknowledged the opportunities for higher education that USQ's TPP offers prisoners throughout Queensland and many other prisons across Australia.

Maryborough Correctional Centre Education Officer Steven Scougall is thrilled with the success of the visits from USQ Fraser Coast tutors.

'Besides the academic support for our TPP students, this also has the benefit of helping them feel more connected to USQ and the community,' he said.

'The big outcome for us in the long term is rehabilitation and employment. Statistics show that those who gain employment on release are less likely to re-offend.'

Ms Robertson said some of her best students had been prisoners.

'We don't work with all of the prisoners at once,' she said.

'They are divided into groups according to their level of security.'

The sessions are held in classrooms which are under guard. One of the centre's three education officers attends the classes.

The prison has a library and computers which students can use, but they do not have access to the internet.

Ms Robertson said the USQ tutors relied solely on paper and biros for their work.

The prisoners are not free to study all day long. They have to work in the prison and they have a set time for lights out at night.

'So they can't stay up and cram for exams like many of our other students do,' she said.

'I've taught in the Faculties of Arts and Education so am able to help students who need assistance with research projects.'

Media Contact: Katrina Corcoran, USQ Fraser Coast Media Contact, +61 7 4120 6167