Partnership with Tasmania’s prisoners is helping in recovery process for fire-affected farmers

The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) today thanked community organisations and the staff and prisoners of the Tasmania Prison Service (TPS) for their contributions to recovery efforts following the devastating January bushfires.

Jan Davis, TFGA Chief Executive Officer, said that the fires in January had devastated a number of farming properties, leaving farmers and their families in dire straits.

TFGA has been working with the affected farmers to ensure generous assistance offered by the state government and a number of community organisations reached those most in need.

“One of the valued partnerships developed over that time has been with the Tasmanian Prison Service. As part of the TPS Bushfire Community Assistance Program, Community Assistance Fencing Crews have been working with a number of landowners affected by the fires,” Ms Davis said.

“These crews are made up of minimum security rated prisoners and correctional staff members. Since July crews have been working on properties extensively damaged during the bushfires. Fencing and associated works have been undertaken with farmers in the broader Dunalley region,” she added.

This has been a win-win outcome, according to Ms Davis. The prisoners have been keen to make a contribution to communities hard hit by the fires; and the farmers have valued the contribution the work crews have made to restoring properties to functional status. Most importantly, the work experience will better equip the prisoners with work skills to assist when they leave prison.

“The partnership with TPS is only one of many valued alliances developed after the January firs. Farmers in the fire affected areas have also appreciated the enormous efforts made by so many in the aftermath of the fires: the state government, the Bushfire Recovery Task Force, Rotary, Lions, the Mayors of the Sorell and Central Highlands Councils, NRM South, and Blundstones,” Ms Davis said.
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis