Over the next two days, Sisters Inside will be in Townsville Women’s Prison, facilitating training sessions for approximately 50 incarcerated women. ‘‘Navigating the criminal legal system can be incredibly complex, especially for those without formal training or support. These workshops aim to equip the women inside with crucial skills in parole advocacy and Supreme Court Bail advocacy, enabling them to apply for parole and supreme court bail on their own behalf and for others,’ said Debbie Kilroy, CEO of Sisters Inside.
What makes this training powerful is that the workshops are being led by formerly incarcerated women. ‘We come to this work, having once been in the same place and same position as our sisters inside. We want to empower them with the knowledge and tools to liberate themselves. This is about paving pathways of freedom—not only for the people receiving the training but for countless others,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘This training represents a shift in how we value expertise,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘The women leading this training have firsthand experience navigating the system, coupled with professional experience. This is about positioning the women with lived prison experience as the ones who know how to manoeuvre and survive the system. It is an opportunity for them to support other women to advocate for their freedom. There is immense power in that,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
The training sessions are designed to foster a collaborative learning environment, where the women inside can gain confidence in their ability to advocate for themselves and others. ‘It’s a collaborative space, we are all about sharing the power, learning alongside one another, and creating a future where women in prison have the tools they need to secure their own freedom,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘This initiative highlights the strength and resilience of women who have lived through incarceration and are now returning to support and uplift others still surviving the system. It challenges traditional notions of expertise, prioritising lived prison experience as a vital asset in the fight for justice and liberation,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘It also aims to empower the women inside to wrestle back power from the system and to advocate from a position of knowing,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
Given the high level of interest and engagement from the women inside Townsville Women’s Prison, Sisters Inside hopes to expand this vital training across every jurisdiction. ‘By rolling it out nationwide, we can continue supporting more women with the skills to navigate the legal system, advocate for parole, and achieve better outcomes for themselves and their sisters. This widespread implementation has the potential to create lasting change for the women in our community,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474