Life-changing prison exchange program up for national innovation prize

Life-changing prison exchange program up for national innovation prize

A partnership with Corrections Victoria allowing incarcerated people to study a subject on crime and justice together with students from RMIT University has been recognised for its positive impact.

The trail-blazing Inside-Out program has just been announced as a finalist in the Shaping Australia Awards, in the Future Builders category. 

The unique program that brings students together for two hours a week over 12 weeks to study a subject titled Comparative Criminal Justice Systems was introduced to Victorian prisons in 2015 by Associate Professor Marietta Martinovic, in partnership with Corrections Victoria.   

Once students complete the program, they can join RMIT’s prison-based Think Tanks, which provide a powerful and unique environment for further positive change.  

The Think Tanks have been involved in more than 150 stakeholder consultations and produced more than 50 thought-provoking reports for Corrections Victoria and other stakeholders.   

Program participants at the recent 10th anniversary celebration. Dr Marietta Martinovic top centre. Credit: Natalie Edge Photography Program participants at the recent 10th anniversary celebration. Dr Marietta Martinovic top centre. Credit: Natalie Edge Photography

Martinovic said research on the program confirmed benefits to participants on both sides of the program. 

“The program is rehabilitative for the people in custody and provides real life experiences to the ‘outside’ students,” she said.  

“It humanises people in custody to the outside students, as they gain a rare insight into the human and social elements of incarceration.” 

She said the program also prepares people in custody for life upon release.  

“It builds their self-esteem, motivation and critical thinking skills. These skills are intended to provide motivation for further education leading to employment,” said Martinovic, from RMIT’s School of Global, Urban and Social Studies. 

A life-changing educational experience

One incarcerated participant who has been involved in the Inside-Out program and Think Tank for about three years said it had reshaped his perspective on education and provided a lifeline to new possibilities.  

“Inside-Out offers a profound opportunity for those within prison walls to rediscover their sense of self-worth and engage in a world of learning that was previously beyond our reach,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Isabel, an RMIT Criminology and Psychology student said the program taught her that people in prison are much more than the sentences they’ve been given. 

“It’s been one of the most rewarding and eye-opening experiences of my life, offering a deep and nuanced understanding of the human beings behind the labels often imposed by society,” she said.  

“Through this journey, I've witnessed firsthand the resilience, growth, and potential for change within individuals who are often overlooked or misunderstood. This realisation has profoundly impacted me, reinforcing my belief in the importance of second chances and the power of rehabilitation.”  

The program has now run across eight Corrections Victoria locations, with over 1,000 ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ students having participated in the program since its inception.

Corrections Victoria Commissioner Larissa Strong, Assistant Commissioner Jenny Hosking, Dr Marietta Martinovic and RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education Professor Sherman Young at the program's 10 year anniversary celebration. Credit: Natalie Edge Photography Corrections Victoria Commissioner Larissa Strong, Assistant Commissioner Jenny Hosking, Dr Marietta Martinovic and RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education Professor Sherman Young at the program's 10 year anniversary celebration. Credit: Natalie Edge Photography

Add your support 

Australians are invited to have their say in the 2025 Shaping Australia Awards, celebrating life changing innovations and initiatives like this program that help build a stronger, fairer nation. 

Public voting for Inside-Out and other projects is now open to choose a winner for the People’s Choice Awards, with voting open until 19 January 2026.

Chair of the judging panel, Ms Lisa Paul AO PSM, said the 2025 finalists demonstrate the vital role universities play in tackling national challenges and priorities.  

“Universities are where knowledge becomes action – where ideas turn into breakthroughs that protect our environment, strengthen our communities and power Australia’s future,” Paul said.  

“The projects this year remind us that investing in education and research is investing in the nation itself.”  

Winners will be announced at the Universities Australia Gala Dinner at Parliament House, Canberra on 25 February 2026.  

 

Story: Michael Quin

06 November 2025

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