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Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘It could have been fatal': What pushed crime author Mark Brandi to focus on writing
This story is part of the June 21 edition of Good Weekend. See all 15 stories. Mark Brandi, the author of five crime novels, starting with Wimmera (published in 2017 and winner of the prestigious British Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger Award for an Unpublished Manuscript), writes about outsiders: heroin addicts, former prisoners, and child victims of poverty and violence. A look at his family background and his career in Corrective Services before he started writing full-time sheds light on why he is drawn to people on the margins. You were born in 1978 in Italy, the fourth son of migrants who ran a pub in Stawell, in rural Victoria. What was your childhood like? There were great aspects to growing up in the country. We went rabbiting, fishing, yabbying, all that stuff. The flip side was being in a small Victorian town which was very Anglo-Saxon. We were the only Italian family, which was tough, especially in the schoolyard. I couldn't make friends, and I didn't know why. You start to think, 'There's something wrong with me.' Then, some of the kids told me, 'My dad told me not to be friends with you because you're a wog.' Did that childhood experience feed into your interest in writing about people who are outsiders? Yes, definitely. Being an outsider myself created a greater degree of empathy for others on the margins. Plus, when you are on the outside, wanting to be accepted, you start to observe people closely. I was watching kids in the schoolyard – how they spoke, what they talked about – and that observational skill has helped me in my writing. Also, growing up in the pub, where I met people from all walks of life: farmers, police officers, chronic alcoholics, criminals. When I started working behind the bar, my dad always said, 'Don't make judgments about people based on how they look. Talk to them because everyone's got a story they want to share.' And that's what I found over time. You listen to people who might look a bit rough and they often had the most interesting stories. That sparked something inside me. When I sat down to write, it affected the subject matter I was drawn to. Your parents ran the pub successfully for many years. Then in the 1980s, the local police started to harass them. What happened? In the 1980s, there were [false] rumours that we were dealing drugs from the pub. At the time, thanks partly to Robert Trimbole [a prominent Mafia figure of Italian background who was involved in the drug trade in Griffith, in south-west NSW], there was a perception that Italians doing well might be linked to organised crime. The police started to take a keen interest in the pub, showing up regularly, checking patrons' IDs and security logbooks. It was relentless. It seemed like they were trying to drive Dad out of business. It was crazy because he was the most clean-living person you could imagine. Then, one night in 1985, there were people from out of town in the bar, drinking heavily. They started provoking some of the customers to violence, then pulled out their badges and said they were undercover police. They started to arrest patrons indiscriminately, grabbing them from their bar stools by the hair. I was seven and heard it all from my room upstairs. It was terrifying. They took people to the cells, then showed up the next morning and charged Dad with multiple breaches of his licence. When it went to court Dad ended up pleading guilty to illegal gambling on the premises – for having a footy tipping competition on the wall, which every pub in Victoria had at the time. None of the other charges stuck. The police kept up the harassment, and it was unbelievably stressful for my parents. It led to them deciding to sell the pub, which was a bitter pill for my dad. He loved running that pub. You studied criminal justice at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) then worked for 10 years in the criminal justice system in Victoria, including as a political adviser to the corrections minister. Tell us about that. I loved studying criminal justice: the law is fascinating, full of drama and good versus evil stories. We learnt about the social determinants of crime and why we label people deviants. After RMIT, I got a placement at the Department of Justice [now Justice and Community Safety], where I worked in multicultural policy, disability policy, emergency services, gambling and other areas. I went into the department a bit as a crusader, wanting to make a difference. That was partly born of that experience in the pub, seeing power exercised unjustly, and the terrible impact it can have on people. I wanted to do something positive, and that led me to work as an adviser to the corrections minister, advising on corrections, emergency services and counterterrorism. I loved that job. 'I don't believe that we are a meritocracy in that jingoistic way we like to believe. I don't think we are the land of the fair go.' Your latest novel, Eden, is about a man who spent time in prison, trying to rebuild his life. What did your work in corrections teach you about the prison system? I learnt that we essentially have the same cohort cycling through the prison system again and again. The recidivism rate is stubbornly stuck on about 40 per cent [on average] Australia-wide. It was dispiriting to see the impotence of some of the initiatives to address the problem. You can't just fix it through the prison or justice system. The broader social justice issue is how you keep people from getting into the prison system in the first place. You have written before about class in Australia. Are we the classless society we like to think we are? No. It's incredibly tough for people to overcome the circumstances that they're born into. I don't believe that we are a meritocracy in that jingoistic way we like to believe. I don't think we are the land of the fair go. A lot of people struggle throughout their lives and are sold this message that if you don't make it, it's your fault. That's not true. There are so many things beyond our control that affect our chances in life. Everyone is doing their best to live a good life; no one is seeking to fail. Let's talk about the role luck has played in your life. In 2010, you had some good luck. What happened? I decided I would like to do some writing, but needed money so I could move to part-time work. My brother suggested I go on Eddie McGuire's Millionaire Hot Seat because I was good at trivia. I thought I'd humiliate myself, but I won $50,000! That enabled me to move to part-time work and start a writing course at RMIT, which was life-changing. In 2012, you were a victim of an equally life-changing piece of bad luck. What happened? I was riding my bike down Brunswick Street in North Fitzroy, a busy area. A car turned right in front of me and didn't see me. It hit me, and I went flying over the handlebars. I had to have two shoulder operations and the recovery was painful; I was out of action for six months. It was unlucky, but in some ways it was a bit of good fortune because it brought things into stark relief for me. I realised it could have been fatal, and I got to thinking about what was important to me in my life. Of course, that was family and those close to me, but also my writing. I realised that I really needed to focus on it and give it a proper go. So I quit my job to jump into the financially precarious world of being a writer. It's a struggle; you can't plan for the future. Forget about super. I rely heavily on government grants. Is it worth it? I absolutely love it. There's nothing else I would want to be doing. When I'm writing a book I love being inside of it, even though my characters are often in difficult circumstances. The two most satisfying things are when I finish a book and I know it's working, and hearing from readers at writers' festivals. That is magic: you've created this imaginary world, and they've gone away and created something bigger out of it, with their own interpretation of it. That's what keeps me coming back to the page. Dogs feature in almost all your books, often in a prominent role. Why? I've always loved dogs. When I was a little kid having a tough time at school we had dogs, and they were my best friends. Dogs have no agenda; it's just unconditional love. They are special to me, so it's inevitable that they end up in my books. I'm paying tribute to their role in my life and the lives of many others. Why did you choose to be photographed in Melbourne General Cemetery for this article? It is just a couple of streets from where I live. My father is buried there, as are his parents, and I've spent a lot of time exploring its sprawling grounds, mostly while walking my dog. Then a few years back, while visiting my father's grave, I encountered someone sleeping rough near one of the mausolea. I began to wonder about what had brought him there. It was the spark that led me to write my latest book, Eden. It features in Eden very prominently.
The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
‘It could have been fatal': What pushed crime author Mark Brandi to focus on writing
This story is part of the June 21 edition of Good Weekend. See all 15 stories. Mark Brandi, the author of five crime novels, starting with Wimmera (published in 2017 and winner of the prestigious British Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger Award for an Unpublished Manuscript), writes about outsiders: heroin addicts, former prisoners, and child victims of poverty and violence. A look at his family background and his career in Corrective Services before he started writing full-time sheds light on why he is drawn to people on the margins. You were born in 1978 in Italy, the fourth son of migrants who ran a pub in Stawell, in rural Victoria. What was your childhood like? There were great aspects to growing up in the country. We went rabbiting, fishing, yabbying, all that stuff. The flip side was being in a small Victorian town which was very Anglo-Saxon. We were the only Italian family, which was tough, especially in the schoolyard. I couldn't make friends, and I didn't know why. You start to think, 'There's something wrong with me.' Then, some of the kids told me, 'My dad told me not to be friends with you because you're a wog.' Did that childhood experience feed into your interest in writing about people who are outsiders? Yes, definitely. Being an outsider myself created a greater degree of empathy for others on the margins. Plus, when you are on the outside, wanting to be accepted, you start to observe people closely. I was watching kids in the schoolyard – how they spoke, what they talked about – and that observational skill has helped me in my writing. Also, growing up in the pub, where I met people from all walks of life: farmers, police officers, chronic alcoholics, criminals. When I started working behind the bar, my dad always said, 'Don't make judgments about people based on how they look. Talk to them because everyone's got a story they want to share.' And that's what I found over time. You listen to people who might look a bit rough and they often had the most interesting stories. That sparked something inside me. When I sat down to write, it affected the subject matter I was drawn to. Your parents ran the pub successfully for many years. Then in the 1980s, the local police started to harass them. What happened? In the 1980s, there were [false] rumours that we were dealing drugs from the pub. At the time, thanks partly to Robert Trimbole [a prominent Mafia figure of Italian background who was involved in the drug trade in Griffith, in south-west NSW], there was a perception that Italians doing well might be linked to organised crime. The police started to take a keen interest in the pub, showing up regularly, checking patrons' IDs and security logbooks. It was relentless. It seemed like they were trying to drive Dad out of business. It was crazy because he was the most clean-living person you could imagine. Then, one night in 1985, there were people from out of town in the bar, drinking heavily. They started provoking some of the customers to violence, then pulled out their badges and said they were undercover police. They started to arrest patrons indiscriminately, grabbing them from their bar stools by the hair. I was seven and heard it all from my room upstairs. It was terrifying. They took people to the cells, then showed up the next morning and charged Dad with multiple breaches of his licence. When it went to court Dad ended up pleading guilty to illegal gambling on the premises – for having a footy tipping competition on the wall, which every pub in Victoria had at the time. None of the other charges stuck. The police kept up the harassment, and it was unbelievably stressful for my parents. It led to them deciding to sell the pub, which was a bitter pill for my dad. He loved running that pub. You studied criminal justice at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) then worked for 10 years in the criminal justice system in Victoria, including as a political adviser to the corrections minister. Tell us about that. I loved studying criminal justice: the law is fascinating, full of drama and good versus evil stories. We learnt about the social determinants of crime and why we label people deviants. After RMIT, I got a placement at the Department of Justice [now Justice and Community Safety], where I worked in multicultural policy, disability policy, emergency services, gambling and other areas. I went into the department a bit as a crusader, wanting to make a difference. That was partly born of that experience in the pub, seeing power exercised unjustly, and the terrible impact it can have on people. I wanted to do something positive, and that led me to work as an adviser to the corrections minister, advising on corrections, emergency services and counterterrorism. I loved that job. 'I don't believe that we are a meritocracy in that jingoistic way we like to believe. I don't think we are the land of the fair go.' Your latest novel, Eden, is about a man who spent time in prison, trying to rebuild his life. What did your work in corrections teach you about the prison system? I learnt that we essentially have the same cohort cycling through the prison system again and again. The recidivism rate is stubbornly stuck on about 40 per cent [on average] Australia-wide. It was dispiriting to see the impotence of some of the initiatives to address the problem. You can't just fix it through the prison or justice system. The broader social justice issue is how you keep people from getting into the prison system in the first place. You have written before about class in Australia. Are we the classless society we like to think we are? No. It's incredibly tough for people to overcome the circumstances that they're born into. I don't believe that we are a meritocracy in that jingoistic way we like to believe. I don't think we are the land of the fair go. A lot of people struggle throughout their lives and are sold this message that if you don't make it, it's your fault. That's not true. There are so many things beyond our control that affect our chances in life. Everyone is doing their best to live a good life; no one is seeking to fail. Let's talk about the role luck has played in your life. In 2010, you had some good luck. What happened? I decided I would like to do some writing, but needed money so I could move to part-time work. My brother suggested I go on Eddie McGuire's Millionaire Hot Seat because I was good at trivia. I thought I'd humiliate myself, but I won $50,000! That enabled me to move to part-time work and start a writing course at RMIT, which was life-changing. In 2012, you were a victim of an equally life-changing piece of bad luck. What happened? I was riding my bike down Brunswick Street in North Fitzroy, a busy area. A car turned right in front of me and didn't see me. It hit me, and I went flying over the handlebars. I had to have two shoulder operations and the recovery was painful; I was out of action for six months. It was unlucky, but in some ways it was a bit of good fortune because it brought things into stark relief for me. I realised it could have been fatal, and I got to thinking about what was important to me in my life. Of course, that was family and those close to me, but also my writing. I realised that I really needed to focus on it and give it a proper go. So I quit my job to jump into the financially precarious world of being a writer. It's a struggle; you can't plan for the future. Forget about super. I rely heavily on government grants. Is it worth it? I absolutely love it. There's nothing else I would want to be doing. When I'm writing a book I love being inside of it, even though my characters are often in difficult circumstances. The two most satisfying things are when I finish a book and I know it's working, and hearing from readers at writers' festivals. That is magic: you've created this imaginary world, and they've gone away and created something bigger out of it, with their own interpretation of it. That's what keeps me coming back to the page. Dogs feature in almost all your books, often in a prominent role. Why? I've always loved dogs. When I was a little kid having a tough time at school we had dogs, and they were my best friends. Dogs have no agenda; it's just unconditional love. They are special to me, so it's inevitable that they end up in my books. I'm paying tribute to their role in my life and the lives of many others. Why did you choose to be photographed in Melbourne General Cemetery for this article? It is just a couple of streets from where I live. My father is buried there, as are his parents, and I've spent a lot of time exploring its sprawling grounds, mostly while walking my dog. Then a few years back, while visiting my father's grave, I encountered someone sleeping rough near one of the mausolea. I began to wonder about what had brought him there. It was the spark that led me to write my latest book, Eden. It features in Eden very prominently.
The Advertiser
31-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Woman charged over daughter's murder taken to hospital
A mother accused of fatally stabbing her three-year-old daughter has been rushed to hospital after being found unresponsive. Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was found unresponsive in her cell at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre on Friday night, police said. Queensland's Corrective Services said officers had responded to Flanigan suffering a medical emergency. Paramedics were called and transported the woman to the hospital. "Support is being offered to the responding officers and their colleagues," corrective services said in a statement. Police Minister Dan Purdie said the matter, which is "still unfolding", is under investigation by the Corrective Services Investigation Unit. "It's awfully sad, the whole circumstance of the situation, and that matter is under investigation," he told reporters in Brisbane on Saturday. Flanigan was being held in custody until her next court appearance in July after being charged with murder on Monday. Neighbours had called triple-zero after seeing a young child unresponsive in the front yard of a Moore Park Beach home, north of Bundaberg, about 4.45pm. When emergency services arrived at the home, they found a three-year-old girl, identified as Flanigan's daughter Sophia Rose, with several wounds. She died at the scene. A crime scene was established at the property, where police seized a knife. Police had said two other children, aged one and two, were also at the property at the time, but neither was injured. Both are in the care of their father. Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip said at the time that mental health and any prior interactions with police would likely form part of the investigation. Supt Inskip said first responders had encountered a "horrific" scene. "It's a terrible, terrible incident for everybody," he said on Tuesday. A GoFundMe has been established for the children and their father, with more than $48,000 raised. Family friend Connor Thompson, who has organised the fundraiser, remembered Sophia as a sweet child with an infectious laugh that could light up the room. "Her smile was like a ray of sunshine and her heart was as pure of gold," the fundraiser said. "Sophia always wanted to help and was the best big sister to her baby brother and sister. "Though her time here was short, the love she gave and the joy she shared will stay with us forever." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 A mother accused of fatally stabbing her three-year-old daughter has been rushed to hospital after being found unresponsive. Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was found unresponsive in her cell at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre on Friday night, police said. Queensland's Corrective Services said officers had responded to Flanigan suffering a medical emergency. Paramedics were called and transported the woman to the hospital. "Support is being offered to the responding officers and their colleagues," corrective services said in a statement. Police Minister Dan Purdie said the matter, which is "still unfolding", is under investigation by the Corrective Services Investigation Unit. "It's awfully sad, the whole circumstance of the situation, and that matter is under investigation," he told reporters in Brisbane on Saturday. Flanigan was being held in custody until her next court appearance in July after being charged with murder on Monday. Neighbours had called triple-zero after seeing a young child unresponsive in the front yard of a Moore Park Beach home, north of Bundaberg, about 4.45pm. When emergency services arrived at the home, they found a three-year-old girl, identified as Flanigan's daughter Sophia Rose, with several wounds. She died at the scene. A crime scene was established at the property, where police seized a knife. Police had said two other children, aged one and two, were also at the property at the time, but neither was injured. Both are in the care of their father. Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip said at the time that mental health and any prior interactions with police would likely form part of the investigation. Supt Inskip said first responders had encountered a "horrific" scene. "It's a terrible, terrible incident for everybody," he said on Tuesday. A GoFundMe has been established for the children and their father, with more than $48,000 raised. Family friend Connor Thompson, who has organised the fundraiser, remembered Sophia as a sweet child with an infectious laugh that could light up the room. "Her smile was like a ray of sunshine and her heart was as pure of gold," the fundraiser said. "Sophia always wanted to help and was the best big sister to her baby brother and sister. "Though her time here was short, the love she gave and the joy she shared will stay with us forever." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 A mother accused of fatally stabbing her three-year-old daughter has been rushed to hospital after being found unresponsive. Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was found unresponsive in her cell at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre on Friday night, police said. Queensland's Corrective Services said officers had responded to Flanigan suffering a medical emergency. Paramedics were called and transported the woman to the hospital. "Support is being offered to the responding officers and their colleagues," corrective services said in a statement. Police Minister Dan Purdie said the matter, which is "still unfolding", is under investigation by the Corrective Services Investigation Unit. "It's awfully sad, the whole circumstance of the situation, and that matter is under investigation," he told reporters in Brisbane on Saturday. Flanigan was being held in custody until her next court appearance in July after being charged with murder on Monday. Neighbours had called triple-zero after seeing a young child unresponsive in the front yard of a Moore Park Beach home, north of Bundaberg, about 4.45pm. When emergency services arrived at the home, they found a three-year-old girl, identified as Flanigan's daughter Sophia Rose, with several wounds. She died at the scene. A crime scene was established at the property, where police seized a knife. Police had said two other children, aged one and two, were also at the property at the time, but neither was injured. Both are in the care of their father. Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip said at the time that mental health and any prior interactions with police would likely form part of the investigation. Supt Inskip said first responders had encountered a "horrific" scene. "It's a terrible, terrible incident for everybody," he said on Tuesday. A GoFundMe has been established for the children and their father, with more than $48,000 raised. Family friend Connor Thompson, who has organised the fundraiser, remembered Sophia as a sweet child with an infectious laugh that could light up the room. "Her smile was like a ray of sunshine and her heart was as pure of gold," the fundraiser said. "Sophia always wanted to help and was the best big sister to her baby brother and sister. "Though her time here was short, the love she gave and the joy she shared will stay with us forever." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 A mother accused of fatally stabbing her three-year-old daughter has been rushed to hospital after being found unresponsive. Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was found unresponsive in her cell at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre on Friday night, police said. Queensland's Corrective Services said officers had responded to Flanigan suffering a medical emergency. Paramedics were called and transported the woman to the hospital. "Support is being offered to the responding officers and their colleagues," corrective services said in a statement. Police Minister Dan Purdie said the matter, which is "still unfolding", is under investigation by the Corrective Services Investigation Unit. "It's awfully sad, the whole circumstance of the situation, and that matter is under investigation," he told reporters in Brisbane on Saturday. Flanigan was being held in custody until her next court appearance in July after being charged with murder on Monday. Neighbours had called triple-zero after seeing a young child unresponsive in the front yard of a Moore Park Beach home, north of Bundaberg, about 4.45pm. When emergency services arrived at the home, they found a three-year-old girl, identified as Flanigan's daughter Sophia Rose, with several wounds. She died at the scene. A crime scene was established at the property, where police seized a knife. Police had said two other children, aged one and two, were also at the property at the time, but neither was injured. Both are in the care of their father. Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip said at the time that mental health and any prior interactions with police would likely form part of the investigation. Supt Inskip said first responders had encountered a "horrific" scene. "It's a terrible, terrible incident for everybody," he said on Tuesday. A GoFundMe has been established for the children and their father, with more than $48,000 raised. Family friend Connor Thompson, who has organised the fundraiser, remembered Sophia as a sweet child with an infectious laugh that could light up the room. "Her smile was like a ray of sunshine and her heart was as pure of gold," the fundraiser said. "Sophia always wanted to help and was the best big sister to her baby brother and sister. "Though her time here was short, the love she gave and the joy she shared will stay with us forever." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
West Australian
30-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Young people at Banksia Hill invite ‘outside-in' for first-of-its kind Reconciliation Week event
Young people in youth detention at Banksia Hill Detention Centre invited the 'outside-in' for a first-of-its-kind National Reconciliation Week event. The Department of Justice's event, Benang Moorditjabiny — Becoming Stronger for Tomorrow — featured reconciliation messages from Government and non-government representatives, cultural dance performances and a group yarning session. Ninety guests attended, including former Senator Patrick Dodson, Attorney General Tony Buti, Minister for Corrective Services Paul Papalia, Elders and community leaders from across the State. Mr Dodson — the father of reconciliation — said it was 'a great initiative'. 'The fact that the people in here, the young fellas and the young people inside, wanted to see and invited people from outside to come in, that to me is a great initiative and a great compliment to them, but also a compliment to the authorities for enabling that to happen,' he said. Banksia Hill's 'outside in' event showed what can be done when people are serious about reconciliation, and what can happened when people come together for a common purpose. 'This helps both parties, the young kids, the people that work with them and gives everyone a sense that we are able to not only help people when they're here, but to hopefully put the onus back on the communities to make sure that they don't come back here,' Mr Dodson said. 'There's a lot of hope that, working together, we can make life better, not only for the young people, but for the people that work in these places. We sometimes don't see, but there are real possibilities, and real values in doing some of the things they might have to do.' Department of Justice Director General Kylie Maj said it was a 'first of its kind' event. 'We listened when young people told us they would like 'to bring the outside world in' to celebrate National Reconciliation Week,' Ms Maj said. 'Here at Banksia Hill, it's evident we are taking significant steps to improve outcomes for young people, alongside Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, including the introduction of important programs and supports.' Reconciliation WA's engagement with students at Banksia Hill focused on ways to encourage young people to find and use their voices and take part in ongoing conversations about reconciliation and their futures. Young people at Banksia Hill were involved in event planning and delivery and were supported by the Corrective Services' Aboriginal Services team and the Aboriginal Justice Transformation unit. Despite the 'marvellous achievements' of the Banksia Hill event, Mr Dodson believes a lot of work still needs to be done nationally. 'There's a bit more enlightenment in some of our jurisdictions that need to take place, and they better get on with it and make the changes to make things improve for the young people,' he said. 'For our communities, we've got to keep their young people out of harm and out of the attention of the police, which bring them into these places through the courts.' The event was hosted in partnership with Reconciliation WA.
West Australian
26-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Greenough Regional Prison staff members Dean Wellman and Candice Hatch receive Corrective Services Awards
Two staff members at Greenough Regional Prison have been honoured with Corrective Services awards for their commitment to improving the conditions for and health of inmates and detainees. Assistant superintendent offender services Dean Wellman was recognised with the Commissioner's Award for Outstanding Service, while clinical nurse manager Candice Hatch received the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Award. Mr Wellman has 30 years experience at Greenough Regional Prison, starting as a prison officer in 1995 and working his way up to a member of the senior management team. A Department of Justice spokesperson said Mr Wellman has worked tirelessly in his career to improve conditions for both staff and prisoners, while also acting as a community liaison and representing the prison on projects, networks and partnerships. 'His strong focus on people and partnerships has been instrumental in fostering a collaboration with DFES, enabling prisoners to assist in fire mitigation efforts,' the spokesperson said. 'Additionally, he represents the prison on multiple committees, working to enhance Greenough's image and access resources that benefit both staff and prisoners.' Ms Hatch was singled out for praise for showing 'exceptional dedication to promoting prisoner health and wellbeing, making a real difference to the lives of detainees at Greenough Regional Prison'. She has been proactive in raising health awareness among prisoners through health expos, information sessions and on-site health checks, while also implementing health care plans for individuals managing diabetes, asthma and cardiac issues. 'Her commitment has not only improved individual health outcomes but has also supported Corrective Services' broader efforts towards rehabilitating prisoners,' the spokesperson said. Mr Wellman and Ms Hatch were presented with their awards by Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce at an event in Perth last week.
