Programs · Community corrections

Rehabilitation in the community.

Most people serving a sentence in Australia are supervised in the community, not in prison, and states are putting more into community corrections and parole. Queensland is one example. New Beginnings can train three groups in your community corrections offices and reporting centres: the people on orders, the officers who supervise them, and the staff who support both. One goal: reduce recidivism, so fewer people return to prison.

81,503people on community-based orders across Australia, including 18,591 on parole, against 50,164 in custodyABS, June quarter 2026
$28a day to supervise someone in the community in Queensland, against $333 a day in prisonQueensland example: Budget 2026–27, 2025–26 estimated actual
23.7%of people in Queensland back with a new sentence within two years of finishing a community order. The target is under 16.8%Queensland example: Budget 2026–27, 2025–26 estimated actual
536rehabilitation program completions in Queensland community corrections, against 4,572 in its prisonsQueensland example: Budget 2026–27, 2025–26 estimated actual
Why now

A big push on community corrections.

Supervision in the community costs a fraction of a prison bed, and most people finish their orders (83.6% in Queensland). The gap is rehabilitation: far fewer rehabilitation programs are completed in the community than in prison, and too many people come back. Queensland shows both the push and the gap:

Queensland: parole reform

The 2026–27 Queensland Budget commits Queensland Corrective Services to major reforms of the parole system, including recommendations from an independent review of the parole board.

Queensland: more officers

48 new Queensland Community Corrections Officers finished their foundations training in February and March 2026 and were posted to offices and centres across the state. New officers need practical, current training, including on AI.

Queensland: a rehabilitation gap

In July 2026 the Queensland Audit Office found that rehabilitation and reintegration were not being planned well enough. 44% of people released from Queensland prisons in 2022–23 were back in custody within two years. Queensland Corrective Services accepted all five recommendations.

How it fits a community corrections office.

01

Sessions around reporting

Held on reporting days, in the office or a nearby partner site, so people do not have to make an extra trip.

02

On their own phones

No computer room needed. People learn on the phone they already use for myGov, work and appointments.

03

Referred by officers

Officers refer people into sessions, and we send back attendance and completion records for case management.

04

Culturally led

37% of people in Australian prisons are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; in Queensland it is 40%. Sessions are co-delivered with First Nations educators and community-controlled organisations wherever possible.

05

Regional reach

Community corrections offices are spread across large states and territories, many of them regional and remote. We deliver in person, by video, or by training local officers to run the sessions.

06

Measured on rehabilitation

Each pilot starts with a baseline and reports against the measures your agency already publishes, such as orders completed and people returning with a new sentence. Queensland, for example, reports both in its budget papers.

Sources: ABS, Corrective Services, Australia, June quarter 2026; ABS, Prisoners in Australia, 2025; Queensland Budget 2026–27 Service Delivery Statements, Queensland Corrective Services (2025–26 estimated actual figures); Queensland Government media statement, 10 April 2026; Queensland Audit Office report on rehabilitating and reintegrating prisoners, as reported by ABC News, 7 July 2026. More on the Evidence page.
Community corrections enquiries

Start with one office.

For corrective services agencies, community corrections offices, reporting centres and the organisations that work with them. Tell us where you are and who you want trained.

01We call you within two business days.
02We agree who to train first, where and how referrals will work.
03A pilot with a clear baseline, reported against rehabilitation outcomes.

Community corrections request

Who would you like trained?