Auswest Specialist Education and Training Services provide registered vocational, developmental and tertiary training and appropriate supporting education in Western Australia’s prisons to a uniquely disadvantaged group of adult learners. ASETS’ client group is characterised by students from diverse and challenging backgrounds, many of which have suffered from lower levels of educational attainment and poor or non-existent work experience.
When residing in the community, these groups face many social, economic and systematic barriers to participation in education and training. ASETS works to address these barriers and the multiple disadvantages their student’s experience, by customising learning materials and services to meet individual needs.
Their comprehensive vocational training program is recognised as a model of best practice by Australian and overseas criminal justice jurisdictions. The engaging training programs offered range from stop motion animation to rehabilitation for black cockatoos and have seen decreased reoffending rates and increased employment retention for prisoners post custody.