Ellen* still grapples with thinking of herself as an artist, but since being in prison she has already sold one painting and has a couple more on the market.
“I love the idea that someone has seen my painting and loved what I’ve done, and paid their money and have it on display in their home,” the 23-year-old tells SBS News.
“It gives me so much pride, I’m proud that I actually did that painting, I’m proud that other people have received it in such a positive way.”
Her favourite subject to paint is pelicans.
She says it is a way to reconnect with her Aboriginal heritage and happier times in her childhood.
“I love pelicans, I love everything; how they go across everywhere in Australia, there’s no certain areas for them to be.”
One of Ellen's artworks, entitled Pelican Across All Land. Source: Supplied
“The memories of when I was younger and fishing - because fishing is a big thing in my family - sitting along the Murray River and having the pelicans swim past.”
Ellen has been in prison in Victoria for three years.
She was convicted over a string of armed robberies and was a regular drug user.
She describes her past as “turbulent” with nothing to look forward to.
“There was no planning of the future … it was just very day to day survival, it was depressing,” she says.
“Everyday life was something that I didn’t want to have to deal with, I didn’t want to have to wake up and experience.”
Art has been her saviour, thanks to The Torch.
Run in prisons across Victoria, the arts and culture program helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners, and former prisoners, reconnect with their culture and it provides a pathway towards rehabilitation.
Aunty Lynn helps run The Torch and said many prisoners are shocked when they realise they can be artistic.
“The most important thing is they’ve learnt to do something that they didn’t realise they had special skills in,” she says.
“We’ve had a lot of people here who have come through and have never painted before and have learnt how to do it, and they’re doing extremely well.”
The program has been running for 10 years and the proceeds from all the artworks sold by each prisoner are kept in a trust for them until their release.
An artwork Ellen sold, entitled Pilakri. Source: Supplied
“It’s their money that they’ve earned and that’s the most important thing to them,” Aunty Lynn says.
“They can say ‘well, I’ve done this and I’ve earnt that money for myself’ and they can hold their heads up and walk proud.”
Reoffending rates reduced
Chief executive of The Torch program Kent Morris says while the financial benefits have been a positive for many, another driving force is reducing the rates of reoffending.
Despite only making up three per cent of the population, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up nearly 28 per cent of Australia’s prison population.
Seventy-five per cent of Indigenous offenders are also more likely to re-offend and go to prison compared with 50 per cent of non-Indigenous offenders.
But in Victoria, the program has helped turn some of those figures around.
“Our recidivism rates for men and women in the program upon release were down 11 per cent which was quite extraordinary,” Mr Morris said.
“The most successful programs to address the disadvantage we face as Indigenous Australians are more often than not, designed and delivered by our communities.
“We are invested with the desire, the knowledge and the skills to build programs to address the disadvantage we face because the program has always included the men and women to help design it and build it.”
The Victorian Minister for Corrections Ben Carroll said the program has delivered great results and he would like to see it taken up nationally to help address the high incarceration rates of Indigenous Australians.
The Ripple Effect, 2018, by Chris Austin. Source: Chris Austin
“I’ve already been highlighting that I would like to see as an agenda item the groundbreaking work that we’re doing here in Victoria through The Torch program and Aboriginal prisoners through the arts to have real leverage to go national,” he said.
“The evidence is in that this program reduces recidivism, it helps create not only a law-abiding life but a life of purpose.”
'We can change'
Chris Austin is one of The Torch's success stories.
The 57-year-old has spent nearly three decades in and out of prison for mainly armed robberies.
But he has been out of trouble now for nearly three years and credits it to The Torch.
“It makes you feel like you are somebody when you contribute to society. You're part of society, whereas like in the past, we’re all committing crime and you’re on drugs and alcohol,” he said.
“You're the one that's always kicked to the side no one really wants to know about ya.”
Since taking part in the program he has made a steady living out of his artwork and has sold a number of paintings.
The Road Comes To An End, 2019, by Chris Austin. Source: Chris Austin
He also helps other prisoners, hoping they can learn from his experience.
“I feel real proud of myself, I feel that I want to do more, I want to help other people get the same feeling,” he said.
“I like people to see that I can do it, and if I can do it, and I've been doing this for a long time in jail, you know, it shows them that they can do it.
“I’m a prime example of that; we can change, we just need the opportunity.”
Ellen says in many ways, prison has been her saviour. Discovering her artistic side has given her a sense of hope as well as a reconnection with her culture.
“I’ve got goals, I’ve got ambitions and I’ve got things that I’m achieving in here, and I’ve got a whole set of plans that I’m taking steps to do when I get out,” she says.
“It’s perceived as an ugly place, but, you know, sometimes you know the biggest miracles are very disguised.”
*Names have been changed
