Changing the narrative for women in prison
Ally Jade is an artist and youth worker with the Women’s Justice Network, a not-for-profit organisation in Sydney that provides vital support for women and girls affected by the criminal justice system.
Ally has a unique insight into what these women are going through because she actually spent time in prison herself, after her battles with addiction and mental health issues came to a head in 2015. It was that experience that led her to become a passionate advocate and mentor for women in the criminal justice system, and to give back to the organisation that helped her when she really needed some support.
Over the past three years, Ally has turned her life around in the most incredible way. She’s now using her artistic talents, her recent studies and her lived experience to help other women in prison change the narrative around how they see themselves – and how society sees them – so they can have a much brighter future ahead.
In this episode, Ally talks about the circumstances that led to her being imprisoned, how she turned her life around and the programs she now runs in juvenile justice centres for girls as young as 13.
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*Content warning: This episode contains some discussion about drug and alcohol addiction, so please consider this before listening, particularly if you might find this triggering. If you need help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 to access 24-hour crisis support.
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