Making Dollars & Cents of Financial Literacy

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Profile Con’t

Seven percent of Queensland Prisoners are female

One quarter (1/4) of all women prisoners identify as Indigenous.

Aboriginal women the majority

(21% of women in custody)

PROFILE

Profile Con’t

• 70 % are between 20 years and 38 years

• 2/3rds sexually, physically or emotionally abused prior to imprisonment

– contributes to women’s criminality and shapes patterns of offending

PROFILE Con’t

Profile Con’t

• 51% of women prisoners have a mental health diagnosis

• Two thirds – regular illicit substance users– 39% identifying as polysubstance users

PROFILE Con’t

Profile Con’t

• Primary carers of dependant children

• Limited experience in labour market(compared to female counterparts in community and compared to male prisoners)

• Low educational attainment(compared to female counterparts in community)

PROFILE Con’t

Profile Con’t

• Offence Types?

PROFILE Con’t

Why?

. High Levels of Debt – increases with incarceration

. Low Levels of Literacy, Education and Employment

. Poverty

Substance Abuse Problems

Mental Health Issues

Domestic Violence

Unstable Living Environments

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WHY

The Course

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Completion Rate

100% completion and success rate at Helana Jones CC

55% completion and success rate at Brisbane Women CC

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Recommendations

All offenders undertake course within 6 months prior to release

Funding sought for ongoing course delivery & development of workbooks

Course implemented with funding in other CCs

More on fast money loans in future courses

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Program Future

Benefits for all12

Funding or Sponsorships

Any Questions?

• Money growing

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