A ‘second chance’ for former prisoners in WA in the form of agricultural work
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00:00 There's no mistaking Sabrina Hahn's trademark laugh or her passion for plants.
00:08 I love your veggie patch, it's awesome.
00:11 And the people who grow them.
00:13 Well done.
00:14 At the Bartlup Prison Farm west of Mount Barker, the ABC Radio gardening veteran is the guest
00:20 of honour for the 87 farm workers in prison greens.
00:25 Everything's just cropping really well.
00:28 Farmers working at the minimum security prison designed to reintegrate offenders back into
00:33 the community produce tons of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish destined for the state's main
00:40 prisons.
00:41 The leaves look really healthy.
00:42 The gardening guru providing impromptu growing tips.
00:46 But you will have to thin them out.
00:48 And also booking a dinner date.
00:49 When I come next time to visit you uncle.
00:51 I cook for you.
00:52 You cook for me.
00:53 100 per cent.
00:55 But she's here on a mission to inspire prisoners to hone their horticultural skills while doing
01:01 time to be job ready for WA's food growers who are desperate for workers.
01:06 The little nurseries cannot get staff.
01:10 The farms cannot get staff.
01:13 And horticulture can take you to many different pathways.
01:17 The prisoners hopeful attitudes to hiring them are changing.
01:21 If you were known as a prisoner no one wanted to know nothing about you.
01:24 No one wanted to know you.
01:26 But nowadays it seems like they're more willing to give us a second chance which is great.
01:34 Sabrina Hahn setting an example by hiring ex-convicts in her own business.
01:39 They've all talked about giving back to society for the wrongs that they've done.
01:45 So let's give them the opportunity to do that.
01:48 Let's support them on that pathway.
01:50 And I have been very active in doing that and will continue to.
01:56 Planting the seeds for future growers.
01:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]