Sisters Inside Inc.
Independent community organisation advocating for the human rights of women in the criminal justice system and addressing gaps in services available to them.
Sisters Inside is an independent community organisation which exists to advocate for the human rights of women in the criminal justice system and to address gaps in the services available to them. The organisation works alongside women in prison to provide support for children of mothers in prison, assist in bail applications, provide sexual assault counselling. Sisters Inside has offices in Brisbane and Townsville. They aim to provide services which support criminalised women and girls and their children to address their many different needs. They provide services in all women's prisons in Queensland. Sisters Inside also work with women, girls and their children post-release in the community. Their overarching goal is to reduce the number of women in prison - supporting them to avoid going to prison in the first place, to apply for parole as soon as they are eligible, and to stay out of prison following release.
Their Brisbane office offers a wide variety of programs to women, young people and children throughout South East Queensland. Their Townsville office provides a variety of programs in North Queensland. Sisters Inside offers some outreach services elsewhere.
For Students
Any volunteer positions that open up will be advertised on their website. The UQ Pro Bono Centre sometimes advertises opportunities with Sisters Inside. Graduates with dual degrees may be able to apply for a job as a Children's Violence Prevention Worker, Youth Violence Prevention Workers or as a Policy Officer. Lawyers are not necessarily hired for the Sisters Inside organisation.
Testimonials
Katherine McHenry
Policy Officer - Sisters Inside Inc. - 2023
Figuring out what you want to do post graduation can be very challenging for many people. After years of study it can be difficult to know what direction to take. I recall myself, not knowing exactly where I wanted to head. I knew what subjects I enjoyed (human rights law) and topics that interested me (like the mass incarceration of First Nations people in Australia). This led me to apply to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service where I commenced an internship whilst undertaking my GDLP.
In my experience, a small community legal centre is a great way to learn new skills after graduation. Often community legal centres are filled with likeminded people and are willing to take the time to teach fresh graduates. I then secured a position as an Associate to the Deputy President of the Parole Board where I then worked as a Legal Officer for the Board. I was then offered the opportunity to work at Sisters Inside in a policy role and provide parole support. At Sisters Inside we believe that no one is better than anyone else. People are neither good nor bad and human behaviour is often circumstantial, environmental and fallible. These values really aligned with my own.
I currently work within the female prisons as well as working at the law firm Kilroy Callaghan lawyers which is separate from Sisters Inside. My day to day work can include things like assisting with bail applications, parole matters, sentencing as well as case conferencing. This made me recognise the realities of people who are criminalised. In my experience, factors such as mental health, poverty, homelessness and disability often play a role in the criminalisation of people. I would strongly encourage any students who are considering working in the area of social justice to try and obtain placement at a community legal centre as it opens up many doors and is a great way to learn the ropes. I also highly recommend finding an area that you find is interesting and makes you feel fulfilled. I would also recommend establishing networks within the social sector. Relationship building and collegiality is in my view, a very important part of the legal sector which assisted me to where I am now.