Delivering Better Outcomes for People in Custody Through Reform, Rehabilitation and Facilities
24 - 25 March 2026 | Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Main Conference Day Two: Wednesday, 25th March 2026
Morning Session
8:50 am - 9:00 am
Conference Day 2 Opening and Chair Remarks
Joseph Tonu -
Associate Director, Work Health Safety, Wellbeing & Security,
NSW Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network
Joseph Tonu
Associate Director, Work Health Safety, Wellbeing & SecurityNSW Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network
8:30 am - 8:50 am
Registration and Morning Coffee
9:00 am - 9:40 am
CORRECTION BEYOND BORDERS | Global Perspectives on Corrections Reform: Lessons for Australia and Beyond
• Examining innovative correctional reforms and emerging trends from leading international jurisdictions.
• Identifying best practices and adaptable strategies to inform Australia’s justice system evolution.
• Discussing challenges, successes, and cross-border collaborations that drive effective, humane corrections.
9:40 am - 10:15 am
FIRESIDE JUSTICE DIALOGUE Inside International Prisons: A Fireside Conversation
10:15 am - 10:45 am
INDUSTRY CASE STUDY | Virtual Clinics Behind Bars – Expanding Access with Telehealth
• Understand the practical steps and infrastructure needed to integrate virtual care in correctional environments.
• See how telehealth reduces reliance on transport, increases access to care, and supports quicker health interventions.
• Learn how to deliver consistent, culturally safe, and patient-centred care across locations—especially in regional or high-security settings.
10:45 am - 11:15 am
Insight Exchange Forum
Engage in quick, focused conversations around key summit themes using prompt cards to connect with diverse peers and share insights in a structured, low-key setting.
11:15 am - 11:45 am
Morning Break
Supporting Wellbeing in Correctional Environments
11:45 am - 12:15 pm Managing Complex Mental Health in Custody: From Containment to Clinical Care• Exploring the complexities and prevalence of mental health issues within correctional environments and their impact on care and security.
• Reviewing progressive care models that prioritize trauma-informed, clinical interventions over traditional containment approaches.
• Highlighting successful multidisciplinary collaborations and strategies that improve health outcomes and custodial safety
Supporting Wellbeing in Correctional Environments
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm Designing for Dignity: Supporting Inmates with Disability and Mobility Needs• Understanding the unique challenges faced by inmates with disabilities and mobility impairments within correctional facilities.
• Exploring design principles and infrastructure adaptations that promote accessibility, safety, and independence.
• Highlighting successful case studies and collaborative approaches to creating inclusive, dignified custodial environments.
Supporting Wellbeing in Correctional Environments
12:45 pm - 1:15 pm PANEL DISCUSSION | Health Equity Behind Bars: Embedding Preventative and Culturally Safe Care in Prison Health Systems Jackie Ashmore - A/Executive Lead, Operations Justice Health, Department of Justice and Community Safety, VictoriaAndrew Wiley - Prison Health Service Director for SA, Central Adelaide
• Addressing health disparities in prison populations through culturally safe and trauma-informed care models.
• Implementing preventative health strategies tailored to the unique needs of diverse incarcerated individuals.
• Showcasing collaborative initiatives that embed equity and respect into correctional health services and outcomes.
Jackie Ashmore
A/Executive Lead, Operations Justice HealthDepartment of Justice and Community Safety, Victoria
Reimagining Youth Justice: From Detention to Diversion
11:45 am - 12:15 pm Rebuilding Youth Justice Through Therapeutic, Trauma-Informed Models of Care• Unpacking the impact of trauma on justice-involved young people and the limitations of punitive approaches.
• Exploring therapeutic, culturally responsive care models that prioritise healing, development, and long-term wellbeing.
• Highlighting cross-agency collaboration and best-practice programs transforming youth justice outcomes across Australia.
Reimagining Youth Justice: From Detention to Diversion
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm JUSTICE SPOTLIGHT | Designing for Youth Justice: Environments That Heal, Not Harden• Exploring architectural approaches that prioritise safety, dignity, and personal development for young people in custody.
• Case examples of purpose-built spaces that encourage education, family connection, and therapeutic engagement.
• Discussing how physical design can reduce trauma and support diversion-focused outcomes.
Reimagining Youth Justice: From Detention to Diversion
12:45 pm - 1:15 pm Across the States: The Best of Youth Justice Innovation in AustraliaShowcasing leading youth justice programs and policy reforms from different Australian jurisdictions.
Afternoon Sessions
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Lunch Break
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Sentences with Purpose: Aligning Correctional Goals with Justice Outcomes
• Exploring how sentences can be designed to balance punishment, rehabilitation, and community safety.
• Aligning correctional programs and sentence conditions to reduce recidivism and support reintegration.
• Using data and evidence to evaluate whether sentences achieve intended justice and social impact
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
From Lived Experience to Leadership: Designing Employment Pathways That Break the Cycle
• Exploring how involving people with justice system backgrounds in program design leads to more effective employment pathways.
• Creating tailored, sustainable job opportunities that address barriers faced by justice-involved individuals.
• Demonstrating how meaningful work and leadership roles contribute to long-term rehabilitation and community integration.
3:15 pm - 3:45 pm
Breaking the Cycle — Justice Reform Through Lived Experience Leadership
• Highlighting the impact of people with lived experience in shaping effective justice reform policies and programs.
• Exploring strategies for empowering formerly incarcerated individuals to take on leadership roles within the justice system.
• Demonstrating how lived experience leadership drives systemic change that reduces recidivism and promotes equity.
