InsideOut Pathways Inc

"What does giving someone a second chance mean to you, if anything?"

This is one of the questions we ask employers who reach out to InsideOut Pathways looking to give someone as opportunity.

The following are answers which came from business owners. Employers. People who have staff to manage, wages to pay and business to run.

"Being a criminal doesn't determine someones ability to be a good person".

"A mistake is something you learn from, so why should it be held against you indefinitely?"

"Second chances are needed for people to learn and grow, because if they don't get opportunities they just go backwards again".

"Once upon a time someone gave me a second chance that enabled me to get to there I am today".

"A second chance for someone who is ready to change can be life-changing, not just for them, but for everyone around them".

"... and there's no such thing as rehabilitation without a second chance".

"Most people aren't where they are today because they never made mistakes".

Blown away by the responses we have received and would like to thank ALL employers who have reached out to us.

These employers who believe in second chances aren't people who think crime is okay. They are people who understand that human beings are CAPABLE of CHANGE.

If we genuinely believe people can change, then eventually we have to give them somewhere to prove it. Because every closed door, every rejected application, every employer who refuses to even have a convo sends a message.

A message I've had to battle myself just recently:

No matter how much better we do, it still won't be enough.

That sent me on a deep spiral. It's a dangerous place for someone to end up mentally. And for a lot of people, they stop believing in themselves. Stop applying for jobs. Stop putting themselves out there.

They stop BELIEVING there's any point TRYING!!

And when that happens, they often fall back on what they know. Why? Because they can't see another option!

Most people don't wake up wanting to fail. Or go backwards. Or return to prison. They want what everybody else wants.

A purpose. Something to lose. Something to protect.

Thats why employers are so important as they're often the difference between somebody moving forward and somebody giving up.

Right now, we have vetted candidates ready to work. People who have reached out to us. People who are ready to put in the work. They just need an employer whos open enough to have that conversation.

They need to that opportunity to prove themselves.

If you're an employer willing to have a conversation, we'd love to hear from you.

Employer EOI: https://forms.gle/zEfQApG4PTX8jQP59

Looking for work/support: https://forms.gle/iBUDGi59pLxRGxpK9

What do people genuinely think a second chance should look like?

Just wanted to apologise to all those who’ve been trying to reach out lately, especially through the IOP inbox.

The messages and emails have honestly gotten a bit out of control over the last couple of weeks and I just haven’t had the time or capacity to stay on top of everything properly.

Truth is I've had a lot going on behind the scenes lately. A few things happened recently that really knocked me (and my family) around a bit, and on top of that I had to make the decision to close my gym down.

Wasn't doing too well when a friend reminded me, “There’s a reason they tell you on a plane to put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others”.

That, and a phone call I received from inside, really helped me change my mindset.

Had a really good meeting with the IOP team today, and we’ve put some proper systems and structure in place so we can get back on top of everything and respond to people the way they absolutely deserve.

So grateful for the people around me right now who're helping carry this, especially during a time where I probably haven’t been carrying myself too well either. These guys deserve a lot more credit than they get.

To everyone who’s called, text or stopped by.. thank you! Really appreciate it. Really grateful.

Anyway, boo hoo, pity party over. Back to work... LFG!!!

l&r!!!
Vincent

This is probably not a subject I ever really wanted to write about.

It's a touchy one. A topic that instantly brings emotions out of people. And as uncomfortable as it is to speak about, this stuff is real.

Over the years, I had met many men inside who've had their lives completely destroyed because of lies, false allegations, manipulations and from partners weaponising systems during relationship breakdowns.

Now obviously, I'm not saying that every single person who says that is telling the truth.

I been around long enough to know there are genuine offenders and genuine victims too. But I also think people would be naive to believe that none of that happens either.

And since starting IOP, I've seen this issue very much goes both ways.

There have been just as many women reaching out sharing stories of being cut off from their kids, struggling financially through endless legal battles, emotionally broken from years of manipulation, or feeling like no one would believe them before the other person ran with the narrative first.

Now before anyone wants to have a go at me in the comments, I'm not saying this is a men vs women issue. It's a human issue.

And one of the saddest parts about all of it is the children caught in the middle.

Kids being used as leverage. Or punishment. Or bargaining chips between angry adults trying to hurt each other.

I've seen people lose access to their children before anything was even proven. I've seen them lose jobs, relationships, reputations and entire support networks almost overnight.

I have seen people spend years of their life and tens of thousands of dollars trying to defend themselves while carrying labels that society rarely removes, even if allegations later fall apart completely.

And people remember accusations..
They rarely remember outcomes.

I'm not dismissing genuine victims here.. there is so much abuse, violence and trauma that exists. There are also SO many genuine cases that go completely unreported or unsupported too, which is another issue all together.

But false allegations, manipulation and people weaponing systems exist as well. Pretending they don't doesnt help nobody.

I don't think people understand how often threats like:
"If you leave me, I'll ruin you"
is actually a reality for so many.

And unfortunately, by the time the truth finally comes out, the damage is already done.

Jobs gone.
Families broken.
Mental health destroyed.
Years of someones life stripped away.

I tried looking into the statistics around all of this and most studies seem to throw around figures like 2-10%.

Imagine if it was closer to 10%.

That would mean 100 people out of every 1000 having their lives torn apart for absolutely nothing. Even if it was 2%... That’s still 20 innocent people.

20 families. 20 lives. 20 people having to rebuild after something that never happened.

I have no idea what the answer is here. But acting like this never happens isn't going to help..

Would genuinely like to hear people's thoughts on this.

"What do you feel is currently the biggest thing stopping you from moving forward?"

We recently updated our IOP employment/support form and added this question. These are REAL answers from people who are trying to rebuild their lives after prison.

“Myself 100%.”
“Homelessness.”
“Fear of rejection.”
“No licence. No ID. No bank account. Don’t know what to do.”
“My criminal record.”
“Court and fear of going back inside.”
“Anxiety.”
“Confidence.”
“Support.”
“I can’t seem to find employment.”
“My police check.”
“Parole.”
“Relapse due to no structure and routine.”
“No transport.”
“Feeling lost and isolated.”
“Lack of opportunity due to criminal history.”
“Trying to stay away from old environments.”
“Self esteem and lack of confidence.”
“I am very lost and very isolated. I know I have more to offer life.”

These aren't people making excuses. These men and women reached out to us because they're TRYING to rebuild their lives.

Trying to find work. Trying to stay away from old environments. Trying to rebuild confidence. Trying to become functioning members of society again.

It's so easy to underestimate how hard it can be when every part of your life feels so unstable at once.

No licence, no housing, no confidence, no support network, no money. Just a criminal record that follows you into every opportunity you apply for.

And you wonder why some people lose hope.

But you know what, those answers show something else:
these guys HAVEN'T given up yet.

Despite everything listed above, these people still filled out a form asking for work, support and a chance to move their life forward.

We've had a large number of people reaching out lately genuinely wanting employment and a different direction in life, including women trying to rebuild after prison who just need someone to give them that opportunity.

So to employers reading this:
If you're willing to look at who somebody is NOW rather than who they used to be, we would genuinely love to hear from you.

Behind every one of those answers above is somebody who, deep down, still believes they have more to offer life.

Employers EOI
https://forms.gle/zEfQApG4PTX8jQP59

Job Seeker / Support Form
https://forms.gle/iBUDGi59pLxRGxpK9

If you've been in prison, caught up in the justice system, or your life has gone off track and you're genuinely trying to move in a different direction, reach out.

Our main focus here at IOP is to help people get back to work.
Working brings so much more than just money.

It brings routine. Purpose. Structure. Confidence. Something to get up for again.

Honestly, sometimes one opportunity is all it takes to completely change the direction of someone's life.

We already have employers reaching out who understand people have a past. Employers who are more interested in who someone is NOW, rather than only who they used to be.

Whether you need:
work,
support,
mentoring,
or if you just don’t know where to even start rebuilding anymore...

Reach out.

A lot of our team understand this life personally. We've lived it ourselves... or living it I should say, because many of us are still dealing with the roadblocks that come with trying to rebuild after prison.

But we also know things CAN get better. We have seen lives change once people get around the right environment, routine and opportunities.

So if you're sitting there feeling like your life has gone too far off track, or feeling like nobody is ever going to give you a real shot again... don't go disappearing back into old environments thinking that's your only option.

There are people out here who genuinely want to see you WIN. Get in touch. Fill out the Job Seeker form below ⬇️

Job Seeker / Support Form
https://forms.gle/iBUDGi59pLxRGxpK9

Employers EOI
https://forms.gle/zEfQApG4PTX8jQP59

I've been out of prison for nearly 3 years, and one of the hardest things I've come to realise is that prison follows you everywhere, long after you get released.

Like, I mean everywhere:

Job interviews.
Relationships.
The way you think.
The way you react to people.
The way you see yourself.

"Well you should have thought about that before committing crimes"

Yeah, thanks Karen. I've taken accountability... I'm talking about what happens AFTER accountability.

Eventually your time inside ends. Eventually parole ends. Eventually you're expected to just slot back into society and magically become a functioning person again.

I remember getting out and feeling like I had to constantly prove I wasn't the person people assumed I was.

Even with the little things.

When I first got out, I took my kids to the local shop and (as usual) they began fighting with each other. I didn't even want to show an ounce of frustration because in my head I was thinking: "People are just going to see it as some angry crim going off", or I even thought it'd cement their beliefs, thinking 'we're all like that'.

You start to overthink everything. The way you speak. The way you react. The way people speak to you or perceive you.

All while you're trying to rebuild confidence, stay away from old environments, find work, rebuild relationships and somehow stay motivated while carrying a label that follows you into every room you walk into.

3 years later, still copping all the roadblocks.

Trying to get insurance.
Trying to get certain tickets/licences.
Trying to borrow money.
Trying to VOLUNTEER!

It's like having a crazy ex-gf/bf... seriously, just f*ck off!! I'm trying to move on with my life!!

It wears you down mentally. It starts feeling like no matter how good you're doing, or how hard you try to move forward, your past keeps dragging itself into your future.

Three years I've been out. People closest to me know that it wasn't until now that I've probably taken the biggest hit just recently.

Long story short - my partner and I put our entire savings into trying to build something positive for our future, and it had aligned with with IOP's mission. We threw everything at it - time, stress, energy, savings...

We ticked all the boxes, but it completely fell on it's ass at the final stages because one of us had a criminal history.

When you've spent years trying to do everything you can to rebuild your life, that s**t hits you hard. And then having to cop the guilt of putting my family in that position..

It starts to feel like no matter how much progress you make, one label cancels all of it out.

And that hopeless feeling is dangerous.

Once someone starts believing their future is already written for them, they stop seeing the point in trying to build a different one.

I think this is what society completely underestimates:
People don't just lose jobs, money or opportunities after prison. If they're not careful, they slowly start losing hope in themselves too.

Honestly I feel like hopelessness is one of the biggest drivers behind people going backwards after prison.

When every door is kept shut, or your past keeps holding you back, eventually people stop believing things can actually change.

And once someone loses hope in their future, bad decisions start becoming a lot easier to justify.

So if you're out there trying to rebuild your life too, keep going.

Seriously.

FTS, it doesn't get to decide where you end up.

I caught up with a guy last week who wanted work that badly he was willing to take literally anything.

Didn't care what it was. Labouring. Cleaning. Night shift. Factory work. Didn't matter.

But as we kept talking, the reality of his situation started coming out bit by bit.

No licence.
No stable address.
Weekly sign-ins.
Old 'mates' still hanging around.
No real support network.
No money behind him.

And every job application since he got out took him to a dead end.

He didn't sit there and blame society and carry on about how unfair life was. He knew exactly where his own decisions had led him.

Something that has honestly been hard to watch is someone slowly questioning whether trying is even worth it any more.

Because I know how hard it can be.

It's hard sitting there telling someone to "just keep pushing forward" when you know the reality is that their record will close nearly every door before they even get a chance to speak.

It's hard telling someone to stay away from old environments when they've got nowhere stable to go.

And it's hard telling someone to stay motivated when rejection just becomes part of your day to day life.

Meanwhile society acts shocked when people fall back into old patterns.

Every body talks about wanting safer communities. Pollies stand behind podiums every election talking about 'cracking down on crime', and 'tougher laws' while the public eat it up.

Nobody talks about the bloke trying to rebuild his life while sleeping in unstable housing around drugs and chaos.

Nobody talks about the employer who bins resumes the second criminal history comes up.

Nobody talks about how hard it is to build a new life when every part of your old one is still waiting for you with open arms the second things start going wrong again.

This right here is what people need to understand:

A lot of people don't go backwards because they WANT to. They go backwards because eventually survival mode starts looking more realistic than hope.

You can throw someone in prison as many times as you want, it's not going to magically fix any of this.

But...
Routine does.
Purpose does.
Community does.
Work does.

One stable employer can interrupt a cycle that's been going on for years. I'VE SEEN IT!!

IOP currently has people wanting to work across labouring, warehousing, hospitality and more. But honestly, it's not even just about 'wanting work'.

They want an opportunity.

These are people who aren't being forced to attend some employment provider appointment to keep their Centrelink payments.

They've reached out to us themselves.

People actively trying to change their lives. Who are wanting structure and routine again. Who are trying to stay away from old environments and old versions of themselves.

People who are READY.

Some have trade backgrounds, or years of experience. Some are rough around the edges but genuinely trying to move oin a different direction.

These men and women just need someone willing to give them a shot.

At the end of the day, if we genuinely want safer communities long term, we can't be leaving it up to that DC and his crew and just "lock them up and hope for the best."

Because eventually most people get released.

What happens next is on all of us.

Employer EOI Form:
https://forms.gle/oFTR3FVW5ay5z5do6

Some people are more scared of freedom than they are of prison.

What would you do?

Legit question. Not after those "just make better choices" answers that people write in the comments that have never actually seen this stuff up close. I mean genuinely, what would you do?

You get released from prison tomorrow after 3 years. It's your last day in the unit. You give your shoes and your good visit shirts away. You leave your red bowl and buy up for your celly. You play your last game of chop.

Next morning, you're out the gate. "See you when you come back", says chief when you grab your belongings. You walk out with your bag over your shoulder and whatever money was left in your prison account.

Now you're at some run down boarding house that parole approved because you can't get an address anywhere else. Tiny little room. Cigarette burns on the carpet. Old mate screaming his head off down the hallway. Guys havin a red out the back. Dealers coming and going. You know, the kind of environment you want to stay away from if you actually want to stay clean and out of trouble.

But you got no where else to go.

Then you gotta sign in to parole straight away. After that? The fun starts. You need ID. Gotta go to Centrelink. Sort out Medicare. Get a bank account. Sounds easy right?

Except it's not.

Nothing is straight forward once you get out. Half the time you need ID to get ID. You need an address for half this s**t but you dont even know if you'll still be at this boarding house next week. You got no car. No licence. No money.

Better get a job then!

Can't be that hard. All those people in the comments say "there's jobs everywhere!". So you start applying. Everywhere. Some don't reply. Some seem interested.

Don't disclose my criminal history you say? Ok, so how will I explain that I need to take time off work each week because I need to sign in? How do I explain the gap in my employment? What do I say when they ask for references? What happens when they run a police check anyway?

This is all while you're going back every night to the same boarding house surrounded by the exact lifestyle you're trying to escape from.

This is the part so many people don't understand.

A lot of men and women do not get released into stable homes with support and opportunity waiting for them. A lot of men and women walk straight back into survival mode. Into environments full of drugs, crime, chaos and hopelessness. What do you think is going to happen next?

They end up back inside, and society just writes them off as another useless crim that 'never wanted to change'.

Remember that guy we posted about last week who had been sleeping rough since release? The one willing to pull his parole because at least prison meant a bed and roof over his head?

Back inside.

There was a comment on that post, I'm assuming from a CCO which said,

"I call b/s never have i ever seen a crim request send me back to prison".

Well guess what, chief?

This is the reality for so many people.

There are so many who become more scared of the outside than prison itself.

So? What would you do?

And before the keyboard warriors jump in with the tough guy answers, really have a think about it.

How long would you last sleeping in that boarding house?
How long would you stay clean surrounded by drugs every single day?
How long before the stress, rejection and hopelessness started wearing you down?
How long before survival mode kicks in??

It's real easy to talk about 'better choices' when you're sitting in a stable house, with food in the fridge, money in the bank, a licence a support network and opportunity.

So many people getting released from prison have NONE of that.

Officially a registered charity!

Almost a year ago to the day, I made a post on my local community page.

At the time, I had next to no following. No audience at all. This page was actually dedicated to my PT business and just had videos of me doing burpees lol... So I thought it'd be a bright idea to share my story with 20,000 strangers in the local community page.

Nearly didn't post it.

My family had kept pretty private about where I was while I was away, and putting that post up felt like I was outing the story that they ran with for nearly 5 years. I didn't know whether people would support it, laugh at it, or just crucify me in the comments.

It was a long post highlighting some of the struggles people face after prison, how hard it can be to rebuild your life even when you genuinely want to do the right thing, and I put a call out asking if there were any employers willing to give someone a chance.

I wasn't expecting too much. And I definitely didn't expect that one post would end up changing my life.

So many people reached out from this community. Employers. Lawyers. Business owners. Support workers. Families. People with lived experience. People with absolutely no connection to the justice system at all, but who believed communities become safer when people are given real opportunities instead of being permanently written off.

Then there were all the people and businesses who offered their time, skills, services, wisdom and networks.

Trusting people after a bit of time away can be pretty hard, but I was honestly blown away that complete strangers were willing to back this vision.

Next thing you know, we'd formed a committee. Volunteers stepped in. Professionals came on board. People with lived experience sitting beside people with decades of professional experience, united by the belief that PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN THE WORST THING THEY HAVE DONE.

And today, almost a year later, InsideOut Pathways Inc has officially become a registered charity.

It hasn't all been smooth sailing. People talk a lot about rehabilitation and second chances.. until someone with an actual criminal record tries to build something meaningful.

We've faced roadblocks at every turn. Endless conversations, applications and explaining ourselves over and over again, trying to push through systems which were never really designed with people like us in mind.

But despite all that, this little idea that started from one Facebook post has grown into something far bigger than I ever imagined.

Over the last year we've helped people into employment, connected prison leavers with support services, supported families carrying a great deal of trauma, worked alongside employers willing to open their minds, collaborated with lawyers and community organisations, and built a growing network of people who genuinely believe in second chances.

Most importantly, we've built an incredible team around us.

To our committee, volunteers, supporters, employers and every single person who has backed this mission... THANK YOU.

One year ago this was just a post on a local community page.

Today, it's a registered charity.
Thank you for believing.

l&r
Vincent

Some mothers spend Mothers Day visiting prisons, hospitals, rehabs and graves instead of cafes and restaurants.

Today is Mothers Day.

Scroll through your feed and your social media will be filled with flowers, breakfasts in bed, family photos and everyone posting 'best mum in the world'.. but there is another side of today that a lot of people never see.

There are mothers waking up this morning already emotionally exhausted.

Mothers sitting in prison carparks waiting for visits. Mothers checking their phones constantly because they're always worrying about their child.. whether they're inside or out. Mothers who havent had a full night sleep in years because every late night call, or unknown number, or knock at the door instantly sends their minds racing. There are mums carrying grown adults financially, emotionally and mentally... because nobody else will.

There are mums today spending Mothers Day putting money into prison accounts instead of being taken out for lunch. Or driving hours just to sit across from their son or daughter for an hour.. pretending everything is okay because they dont want their loved one feeling worse than they already do.

There are Mothers who have mastered the fake smile. The 'I'm okay' smile. The 'dont worry about me' smile. The smile they put on while carrying stress that would break most people.

When a person goes through prison, addiction, trauma, or crime, people tend to forget that it doesnt only affect the person living it. A lot of mothers carry that weight too.

They carry the shame, the judgement, the overthinking and then guilt. They sit there replaying conversations in their heads wondering what they could have done differently, questioning where they went wrong.

They worry constantly. Wonder if they're child is using again. Wonder if they're safe. Wonder if tonight will finally be the night that phone call comes.

And still these women continue to show up through things most people would walk away from.

Addiction. Prison. Violence. Homelessness. Relapses.

Years of disappointment and heartbreak that slowly chips pieces off them over time.

A lot of mothers have sat in courtrooms barely able to breathe while their son or daughter was being sentenced. A lot have walked out of visits, sat in their cars and cried before pulling themselves together and driving home because life must go on.

Some are raising grandchildren because their own children are lost in addiction, prison or trauma.

And then there are the mothers on the inside today too.

Women waking up in prison missing their own children. Missing birthdays, school pickups, bedtime stories and the little momwents most parents take for granted.

No matter how they ended up in there, that pain is real too.

A lot of people reading this today probably haven't told their mum thank you in a very long time.

People who've been through the dark know deep down there were times everyone else walked away... but mum didn't... Even when she was tired or angry or when she said she was done.

She still worried... still answered the phone... stick checked if you made it home... still carried stress that most people around her never even noticed.

She lost parts of herself trying to hold everbody else together.

So today, appreciate these women a little extra. Some of them have kept loving on a empty tank for far longer than they should have to.

A lot of people are still alive today because a mother refused to stop believing in them.

Happy Mothers Day 🧡

“We all have a choice”
“Just get out and do the right thing”
“U just need self determination”
“If they wanted to change, they would”
“There's jobs everywhere if they just wanted to work”

Meanwhile this is what it actually looks like for so many people walking out of prison.

He got out last Thursday. Has been sleeping rough since. Willing to pull his Parole so he has a place to put his head at night.