Prisoners eager for a career in dairy farming after their release

Up at the crack of dawn, these calves have given inmates at a regional Victorian prison something to care for and strive toward.

The men have been braving the frost, feeding the calves by hand, and ensuring their every need is met. They've also been learning about the journey the calves will take to become dairy cows, as they work towards becoming dairy farmers.

John's Story

John* has never worked in the dairy industry before but has a background in metalwork and hopes to merge the two. "For people who don't have a home to go to, it gives them hope, it gives them a restart," he said. "A lot of people fail in the first couple of weeks when they're out because they have no home, they're given a few days of accommodation. They're out on their own, living out of a car, and they have no choice."

Jason and Deena Tharle run a dairy farm in Gippsland and have already hired two workers from the program, with the hope of taking on more upon their release. Ms. Tharle said the men were genuinely eager to learn all they could, and hiring them was a lot easier than sponsoring overseas workers, as they had been doing. "The questions they're asking… they want to know the answers and to know everything about it," Ms. Tharle said. "By the time they get home at night, they're going to be tired and just wanting to go to bed. These guys are on a routine and schedule in prison, which is similar to the routine of a dairy farm. I think they're the perfect candidates for a dairy farm job."

Ned's story

Ned* grew up on a dairy farm on the other side of the state. It's been a decade since he last set foot in a dairy, and he's been surprised by how far the industry has come. "The friendship between worker and owner seems to have come a long way," Ned said. "The work that goes into the dairy farm is noticed and better paid. The workers are a lot happier these days, I think."

On the outside, Ned's partner is renting with their young children, and he hopes to offer them an easier life when he's out. "My kids and their mum are struggling out there, paying $400 a week for something that's only just liveable," he said. "Farm jobs often come with houses these days, and there's a rental crisis going on, so a job with a house and a better lifestyle for the kids—why not? If it's worked into a package on a farm, you're saving a lot of money."

Collaborative efforts

The collaboration between the region's dairy industry body GippsDairy, the Gardiner Foundation, Jaydee Events, and GEO Group's Fulham Correctional Centre aims to fill worker shortages in the industry while giving the men a fresh start when they're released. The course is called Cows Create Careers and was developed in South Gippsland by the Strzelecki Lions Club. It has been running in schools across the country for 20 years.

Natalie Greenfield, the general manager of Fulham Correctional Centre, said, "Once they're in a stable home, it helps them reconnect with their partners, families, and children. With one man already living and working on a farm, and two preparing for their release with jobs already secured, this program is already demonstrating its benefits."