Walking together on the path of justice

MYICCJ has come a long way in the past 2 years. From being on the brink of folding in 2021, the board, including one community Elder and people who work in a variety of areas, worked with ORIC to get MYICCJ back up and running to thriving – where it is today.

They now have a strong board, a new office and have been approved for a grant to deliver their flagship gambay bay-m (together come/follow) – Rites of Passage program.

Their personal and hands-on approach with offenders of all ages, at all stages of contact with the system, has helped people to re-engage with the community after prison release.

Shanella Waia-Togo (Administration Officer), Chantel Van Wamelen (Chairperson), Cheri Peters (Director), Myles Broome (Director), Lana Fisher (Director) and Skye Pettitt (Co Ordinator) Absent- Aunty Marlene Munro (Director)

Practical support towards closing the gap in justice outcomes

MYICCJ is among the important community-controlled efforts helping to prevent offending and reduce reoffending through culturally responsive care. They’re part of the response to Close the Gap on the incarceration rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.

Marigurim Yalaam means ‘strong talk’ in the local Butchulla language of Hervey Bay, Queensland. MYICCJ’s 5 directors and 2 employees – including coordinator Skye Pettitt – spend their days helping people with big and small tasks so they can reengage with the community and have a better future.

‘I support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in community who are in contact with the justice system,’ explains Skye.  

‘I provide early intervention and prevent reoffending while in custody, going through the court or on orders after court.’

A typical service with MYICCJ might include helping someone to apply for identification, setting up a phone number, transporting them to appointments and linking them up with community services. She helps people fill in forms for housing and Centrelink and guides them through the process.

Providing these basics for a client can help them overcome what they might consider huge obstacles, particularly if they’ve been institutionalised.

‘Going to the courthouse, the real estate – you have to have everything photocopied and certified before you go. It gets overwhelming for our clients, but we know the process and what to look out for. We can also pick them up and prepare them before they have this feeling of being overwhelmed and just walk out,’ says Skye.

‘Services can only help to a certain extent, but we’re more flexible in what we can assist with, even if it’s just getting to a doctor’s appointment.  

‘We help to engage our clients when possible with other Indigenous organisations and help give services a better understanding of cultural awareness when assisting our clients. We also connect clients to local native title organisations and employment opportunities.’ 

One-on-one attention when a person needs it most

Being embedded in the community and connected with the people who live there gives MYICCJ a special trust and knowledge that other services don’t have. This shines through in the way they personally assist each and every person they come into contact with.

Skye gives an example where she helped a woman experiencing homelessness to find stable housing and be with her children, including her newborn baby. It took some phone calls and help to sort out identification documents. These simple acts by Skye made a big difference.

‘We follow up if you have someone who’s reoffending because they don’t have stable housing – that can be the difference for them,’ says Skye.  

‘I got onto the Department of Housing, helped her to fill out a housing application, print out ID, photocopy it and get it certified. We got onto RentConnect. By that afternoon, she was in a hotel for a few weeks then she was able to move into a house where she could be with her babies again.’ 

Prevention programs the way forward

Yarning Circle with other organisations for Rites of Passage (MYICCJ, Butchulla Elders, Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, Butchulla Land and Sea Rangers, Red Cross, Churches of Christ, Reconnect, Queensland Police Service, CQID and Hervey Bay Community Centre)

With funding through the Department of Justice for Community Justice Groups, MYICCJ is growing. They’re looking to now fill the seats in their large new office space after being awarded a grant to pursue some exciting new avenues for youth diversion.

Through the Queensland Government’s Community Partnership Innovation Grants, their program gambay bay-m (together come/follow) – Rites of Passage was awarded $298,980.

The program will use the Rites of Passage framework to deliver intensive support for young people over 6 weeks. They then attend a Rites of Passage camp and receive another 6 weeks of assistance. The framework involves:

• story - connection and relationships are deepened using storytelling
• challenge - resilience is strengthened by providing challenge
• vision - creating a vision for the future and a framework to achieve it
• honouring - most importantly, every young person is honoured and recognised for their individual gifts, strengths and talents.

After Rites of Passage training, MYICCJ facilitators and mentors develop a culturally appropriate program and camp.

The program will directly support young people and one family member each. Skye hopes it gives young people on the Fraser Coast hope through connecting them together and with their culture.

‘Last year we did everything in the implementation plan and kept the corporation and its funding going,’ says Skye.

‘Now we’re looking to expand and looking for anything else that can assist us in our journey to help prevent crime, particularly something on the weekends when the crime happens.’ 

Girls Program (Tiddas are Deadly TADS) November 2022 Breakup at K’gari