The memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the Learning Partnership was signed recently at Bandyup Women’s Prison by the Department’s Director General Dr Adam Tomison and Curtin’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne CNZM.
Dr Tomison said 75 prisoners had received approval to study at tertiary level in the second semester of 2022, with more than three-quarters of them enrolled at Curtin.
“The university continues to show its commitment to prisoner learning by expanding the number of qualifications it makes available to incarcerated people,” Dr Tomison said.
“Prisoners are enrolled in a range of courses from bridging education programs to full degrees across a variety of subjects.”
Courses include a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Business Administration via Curtin’s Faculty of Business and Law, while the Health Sciences, Humanities and Science and Engineering faculties also offer courses to prisoners.
“By working in partnership with the Department, we hope we can deliver better outcomes for those who are incarcerated and provide more options and enhanced opportunities for them in the future,” Professor Hayne said.
Connected with the Learning Partnership is the Indigenous Tertiary Enabling Course (ITEC), which is a bridging course piloted at Casuarina Maximum Security Prison and now extended to Bandyup.
A group of women hope to be among the first cohort of Bandyup students to complete the 12-month ITEC, a pre-requisite to starting a university degree.
Ten Casuarina male prisoners completed the ITEC over the past two years.
“The MOU for a Learning Partnership with Curtin is a first for the Department and we are proud to work with an organisation so passionate about educating prisoners,” Dr Tomison said.
Read about Women prisoners gear up for tilt at tertiary studies for more details on the ITEC program.
