As an artist, sculptor and writer, Bandyup Women鈥檚 Prison Recreation Officer Steve finds plenty of scope to share his creativity at work.
鈥淚 would definitely recommend a VSO job to anyone looking for a change of career,鈥 Steve said. 鈥淭he fact that I鈥檝e been here for 22 years tells you that it鈥檚 satisfying and rewarding.
鈥淒espite the set procedures and processes you鈥檇 expect in a prison, there鈥檚 a lot of variety and no way you could get bored. Having a changing population brings different challenges all the time and every day is different.鈥
As coordinator of all the recreation activities at the prison Steve synchronises general recreation with arts, pilates, gym, yoga, sports and song-writing sessions.
He also organises in-prison events to mark NAIDOC and National Reconciliation Weeks, employment expos, Christmas parties for the prisoners and their families and family days where children have the opportunity to do arts and crafts with their mothers.
鈥淎s children, many prisoners have had bad experiences in the classroom,鈥 Steve said.
鈥淥ffering art activities can provide inmates with a positive experience in a classroom for the first time in their lives 鈥 and that is great for their self-esteem.
鈥淎s a VSO, I often have the opportunity to provide one-on-one direction in creative activities and I promote an awareness of the broader world of art and literature 鈥 opening up possibilities of further education. Art is definitely a gateway to learning.鈥
One of the prisoners Steve is mentoring is completing a university Arts degree while others contribute to exhibitions at the Fremantle Prison Gallery. He said he just happens to have some superstar artists in the prison at the moment, which makes for an exciting working environment, with murals and paintings in progress.
鈥淭he women鈥檚 prisons are very different from the men鈥檚,鈥 Steve said. 鈥淲omen are the hub of the family and if you educate the women you empower the whole family.
鈥淎s a VSO you can make a difference not to just one prisoner, but to their family as well.鈥
