By Alesha Capone
Most people do not look forward to going to prison. Volunteers from Prison Fellowship Australia are the exception to the rule.
The organisation is part of Prison Fellowship International, which began in the US in 1976 and now operates in more than 120 countries.
Volunteers from the not-for-profit Christian organisation aim to help prisoners transform their lives and support prisoners’ families.
The group’s volunteers take one-on-one visits and group activities with prisoners and events such as camps for the children of prisoners.
The fellowship has more than 270 volunteers in Victoria, including three men from Wyndham: Mark Duggan, Tony Bonnici and Paul Itter.
Mr Itter has been volunteering with the organisation for 15 years, Mr Bonnici 14 years and Mr Duggan for about seven months.
Their tasks include visiting prison to talk with inmates and helping to support inmates who have just been released from prison.
They work with prisoners who have committed all types of offences, from white-collar crimes to violent crimes.
Mr Bonnici said he became involved with the fellowship after a nun at an East Brunswick church, who was looking for someone to volunteer with juvenile detainees in Parkville, approached him.
In addition to participating in one-on-one conversations with prisoners, he also helps with Change on the Inside, a six-week program which teaches inmates about topics such as responsibility, self-control and forgiveness.
“The message that I deliver to them, is that even though you have committed a crime, don’t think you are useless or no good for society, it will be a new life when you get out,” he said.
Mr Duggan, who is also a Lifeline volunteer, said he became involved with the fellowship because he likes to help people.
“If a prisoner says to me, ‘I’m really wicked’, I say, ‘I’m not here to judge you. The legal system has put you in prison, they will judge you, but I won’t’,” he said.
“During visits, I actually listen more than I talk – the prisoners can say anything to us and it doesn’t necessarily go any further.”
Mr Itter said it was “fantastic” to help prisoners turn their lives around. He said the fellowship volunteers hoped to encourage prisoners to change their lives and stay out of crime after serving their sentences.
Prison Fellowship Australia is looking for more volunteers. See www.prisonfellowship.org.au for details.
