Bulletin

Issue: January/February 2006

Awards

Award recognises work with women in prison

Second year Bachelor of Legal Studies student, Ms Jiselle Hanna of Thornbury, has won the La Trobe University – Westpac Banking Corporation Award for 2005. The $1,000 prize recognises both sound academic progress and involvement in community service.

Ms Hanna works with women in prison, through the Advocacy Program for Women in Prison at the Fitzroy Legal Service, a state-wide organisation helping female prisoners with welfare and legal issues.

Ms Hanna has assisted more than 40 women, dealing with complaints relating to human rights issues, including provision of adequate medical care, unauthorised cell searches and arbitrary disciplinary procedures. After women are released from prison, Ms Hanna’s work revolves around housing needs, employment, education, family reunification, drug and alcohol counselling and life skills.

Justice does not always prevail, says Ms Hanna, and poverty is often the greatest barrier to people’s ability to get their lives back on track.

She plans to transfer to a combined Bachelor of Laws /   Legal Studies course and eventually pursue a legal career to help fill some of the gaps that exist in service provision.