The Government recognises that Aboriginal offenders continue to be over-represented in custody. Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) has developed a strategic plan to support Aboriginal offenders to desist from re-offending and to reduce their rate of incarceration. This involves focusing on education and vocational training, and employment.

• CSNSW has several programs which are specifically intended for Aboriginal offenders. They include the Balund-a Program; the Gundi Program; the Yetta Dhinnakkal Program; the Girrawaa Program and the Nura Warra Umer Program. Details regarding these programs are available on the internet.
• Funding has recently been received as part of the Reducing Re-offending Strategy to establish 10 high intensity units that will deliver rehabilitation programs to inmates serving short sentences. Aboriginal offenders will be prioritised to these units which will be spread across a number of correctional centres. 
• The CSNSW Aboriginal Advisory Council provides a forum for CSNSW to engage with Aboriginal people of significant standing in the community, and with professionals with expertise related to social justice, as well as the legal and health care systems.
• CSNSW also collaborates with a number of other agencies in its efforts to reduce the rate at which Aboriginal people are incarcerated. These include:
  • the Eden Local Aboriginal Lands Council which manages the Bundian Way Project 
  • Redfern Local Area Police Command and the Redfern Community regarding the Never Going Back Program for Aboriginal male inmates
  • the Aboriginal Housing Office
  • a number of Aboriginal organisations in the community which run post-release support programs such as Tribal Dreaming (New Horizons) and the Muru Program.

Juvenile Justice also has a number of programs and initiatives to address the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in custody.

• The Youth on Track early intervention scheme provides family-based intervention and support to young people who are at risk of long-term involvement in the criminal justice system.
• Other initiatives include the provision of therapeutic interventions to address offending behaviour; Dthina Yuwali, a drug and alcohol program; the My Journey, My Life program which aims to reduce the incidence of inter-generational violence; access to educational programs, and opportunities for young offenders to participate in driver safety education programs and to obtain their driver licence.

• To maintain connections with family and country, young offenders are held in custody close to their home, where possible. They also have access to local elders and

  community members who visit centres to run cultural programs and provide mentoring to young offenders. All Juvenile Justice centres have an Aboriginal Consultative Committee which includes local community groups and elders who visit centres regularly to engage with young offenders and provide them and staff with cultural guidance.

• Juvenile Justice recognises that by recruiting and retaining Aboriginal staff, it will develop a better capacity to work with Aboriginal young people. Approximately 12.6 per cent of the total Juvenile Justice workforce identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.