Working in the community cafe is just one program which not only helps inmates gain hospitality qualifications, but gives them practical experience of a working environment.

This inmate has completed his Certificate Two in Hospitality and would be finishing his Certificate Three toward the end of this month.

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He said it was the relationship with the corrections officers that made him want to succeed on the outside and hopes when he is released he could open his own cafe or restaurant.

"It's made a huge difference, this jail especially living and working in the cafe, It's made everyone want to socialise with each other, it's not us versus them [correctional officers]," he said.

"You can talk to someone if you've got a problem, and it's just more freedom that makes you feel more normal.

"When you've got more freedom and feel more normal, you're going to feel a lot happier instead of being locked away in little cages and be given water and bread."

This inmate admitted when he first came to Macquarie Correctional, he was skeptical about the dormitory-style living due to his past experience with other prisons.

"When I first come here, because of all the other jails I've been, you're locked in pretty much every second day, getting out for a few hours," he said.

"When you first come here I was a bit skeptical about whats going to happen at night time, but once you're around all the boys I feel safe, and everybody around here wants to help.

"There hasn't been an incident, I've been here three years since its been open, and there hasn't been an incident at the night time."