Corrective Services NSW and community groups at Dubbo and Wellington have joined forces to improve lives and infrastructure.

They formed the Community Partnerships Program committee which decides which projects are undertaken by the inmates.

Dubbo groups taking part include Westhaven, the Country Womens Association and Dubbo City Turf Club.

Community Service Organiser for Dubbo and Community Partnership facilitator Sue Duff said most organisations had the equipment and resources to repair their buildings but not an affordable labour force to implement repairs and renovations.

Project proponents come up with the cash before pitching the projects to the committee which then establishes a priority list of works.

The Rawsonville hall is the latest structure to benefit from the hard yakka of inmates. 

Six prisoners from the jail were hand-picked for the job based on their good behaviour, and after risk assessments were undertaken.

Mrs Duff said the safety of the community was the program’s first priority and the six inmates chosen were considered privileged to participate in it.

She said they were considered “extremely low-risk.”

“This is a great thing for the men involved, they take pride in what they do and the finished product,” she said.

“They can stand back and say, we did this.”

The inmates slept in the hall for the duration of their stay at Rawsonville under the supervision of Mobile Outreach Program overseer from Wellington Correctional Centre Chris Petty.

Mr Petty said the program was vital to help inmates remember what it felt like to be back in the community.

“It gives them a bit of self-value again and develops a work ethic and a feel for team building,” he said.

Inmate Geoff Fieldsend said he and the other men got a lot out of being a part of the program.

“I’m learning new skills, getting away and giving back a little bit,” he said.

“It will help with getting a job when we get out because a lot of the boys when they first come in don’t have many skills.”

He said the skills they picked up were many and varied because of the requirements of each job.

“Recently we jacked up a church and levelled it out,” he said.

“It’s work but we enjoy getting out and it’s nice to hear the birds instead of keys, hey?”

Renovations at the Rawsonville hall this week should be completed today.