Scoping the Potential of a Noongar Re-entry Peer Navigator Model

The Noongar people of the South West of Western Australia (WA) continue to seek self-determination and empowerment to ensure their families are able to meet cultural, economic and social needs. Their aspirations, however, are thwarted by a significant number of their members who are incarcerated and the adverse consequences of imprisonment on families. In the meantime, the WA prison system is yet to respond to the unique needs of Noongar prisoners transitioning out of the prison system. The article reviews the literature to develop the idea of a Noongar re-entry peer navigator (PN) model. In this model, select Noongar people who have lived experience of incarceration and who have received training in peer work would be used to support Noongar prisoners during the fraught and lengthy process of re-engaging with families, settling into their communities, and living on Country. The review traces the growth of the PN model in the health system, the prison system, and, more recently, in cross-sector engagements between the prison and service organisations. Consideration is thereafter given to the strengths and limits of the re-entry PN model. The article closes with a discussion on the potential of developing a Noongar re-entry PN to assist Noongar prisoners to achieve re-entry while increasing their prospects for a law-abiding and wholesome life Noongar way.