Corrections Victoria’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Program is helping break the cycle of reoffending.
The program provides people in prison with skills and community connections gained by rehabilitating injured wildlife.
People in custody at Beechworth Correctional Centre are selected to join the program, which is delivered in partnership with community and educational organisations.
More than 100 animals have been rehabilitated through the program and more than 250 people in prison have participated.
Providing a sense of achievement
For program participants, including Rocky*, the program provides a second chance at life.
‘It keeps my head in a good place,’ said Rocky, who has been in custody since 2022.
‘I am very passionate about animals and the outdoors so I’m extremely grateful and appreciate having the chance to work with the raptors.
‘It has given me many opportunities to grow and develop a skill set I can carry through my life.’
Fellow participants Dan* and Dougall* recently shared their stories with the ABC. You can watch the 2-minute story on the ABC's website (External link) and see some images taken on the day of filming, below.
*Dougall feeds Snappy the wombat. Snappy was just a baby when he was collected by local wildlife volunteers from the side of the road after his mother was killed by a vehicle.
Rehabilitating and protecting wildlife
Program participants rehabilitate injured native Australian wildlife so the animals can be released safely into their natural habitat.
Protecting endangered species from climate change and pollution, plus feeding and weighing the animals, are covered in the program.
Animals treated in the program include cockatoos, galahs, kookaburras, kangaroos, wombats, pythons and goannas, as well as wedge-tailed eagles, barn owls, tawny frogmouths and king parrots.
The program has been running since 1999, initially at Won Wron and then, after the prison closed, the program moved to Beechworth in 2005.
The eagle being cared for at Beechworth Prison as part of the Wildlife Program.
Beechworth Correctional Centre
Beechworth Correctional Centre is a minimum-security facility in north-east Victoria. The facility holds many long-term people in prison who are reaching the end of their sentence.
Programs, such as the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program, help people in prison find a renewed sense of purpose and increase their engagement and sense of accomplishment.
Beechworth Correctional Centre facilitates this program in collaboration with:
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The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
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The NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service
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Healesville Sanctuary
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Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter
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Beechworth Wildlife Shelter
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Benalla Wildlife Shelter.
ABC reporter Jason Katsaras interviews program participant *Dougall about the program as he holds Aisha the snake.
*Name changed to prevent identification.