Diversionary programs are nothing new in Victoria’s region. Since 2015, 5 people facing police charges have been given the chance to attend special programs and avoid jail but none of them have been Indigenous Australians. Now, a new program designed specifically to help First Nations people has been given state government funding to help give offenders a second chance.
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00:0023-year-old Wadjabuluk man, Rodney Douglas, works as a maintenance man in his hometown
00:08of Horsham in Western Victoria. But 12 months ago, his life looked very different.
00:14I was a bit of a troubled person. I had a lot of stuff going on.
00:20A drunken fight left him facing a criminal charge, but instead of going to court, Mr
00:25Douglas was redirected into a diversion program called Yallum Yallum.
00:29I learnt a lot about myself and realised I was kind of going down the wrong path.
00:35Run by the Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Cooperative, the program works with police, the courts
00:41and legal services as an alternative to prison.
00:43I wish it was around when we were all growing up, but that system sort of failed us and
00:50we ended up in jail.
00:52Over four months, Mr Douglas worked closely with a panel of elders and respected people.
00:57Hey, how you going Uncle Rob?
01:00The impact has been clear.
01:02It's night and day. He was very quiet and withdrawn and you could almost see the shame
01:07just heavy on his shoulders when he first sat down in front of the panel and made very,
01:11very little eye contact. And then he now walks around a lot more confident, a lot more engaged
01:16and connected.
01:17The state government has recognised the program's potential to providing $800,000 in funding
01:23for the next three years to help others find the right path.
01:27I feel pretty good. I'm proud of myself. I've come a long way.
01:32Making a path that others might follow.