“Growing up, the person I looked up to most was my aunty. She’s a successful lawyer, and I admired her independence and total ‘boss’ energy. My kid brain decided that’s exactly who I wanted to be, and I mapped out my whole life to follow in her footsteps. It wasn’t until I started my first professional role at a law firm that I realised lawyer life wasn’t for me. I felt unfulfilled and started craving a life that served a greater purpose.
“So, I pivoted and decided I would become a police officer. Perfect mix of boss energy and meaningful work, right? I went to Uni, studied Criminology and Social Sciences… but that peek behind the curtain had a glass-shattering effect. I started to see the system for what it was—deeply flawed, and leaving the most vulnerable behind.
“Then I found ACSO, the ReStart program, and the role of Forensic Case Worker—and everything just clicked into place.”
“My time at ACSO has been transformative, though, not in the traditional sense of career progression. I started (and remain) as a Forensic Case Worker with ACSO’s ReStart program two years ago.
“ReStart is not for the faint of heart. It’s chaotic, complex, and at times, high risk. But despite all of that (or perhaps because of it), it has been the most rewarding and fulfilling experience of my life. I’ve never felt more confident in my purpose, or more certain in my ability to make a real difference.
“One day I might be moving through the units of a maximum-security prison, sitting with participants in their space—listening to their stories, goals, and barriers, and helping them shape their own post-release plan. The next, I’m catching up on admin (or at least trying to)—watching court, planning release days, and coordinating with external providers. Other days, I’m out on the road with participants, offering advocacy and a familiar face while we navigate the frustrating barriers accessing essential services. And sometimes, it’s all the above…all in one day.
“The ReStart team rally together and have each other’s backs—we all understand given the nature of the program, it takes a team effort to keep things running (somewhat) smoothly.”
“My favourite part of the role is witnessing the moment a particularly hardened or withdrawn participant starts to soften, open up and show real vulnerabilities. Service distrust is rife with this cohort, and they tend to develop a keen eye for what’s real and what’s not! As ReStart is a voluntary program, continued engagement often comes down to rapport building and established trust—both of which are earned through genuine effort, authenticity, and consistency from us as workers.
“When someone like this is released from prison and chooses to stay in touch, to reach out and ask for support when feeling vulnerable—that’s huge. That’s why I go 110% for my participants. In that moment, they’ve chosen to give a service provider another chance. They’ve trusted that I’d have their back, and they’ve allowed me to challenge a belief they may have carried for most of their lives.
“ReStart is about small wins. Three months isn’t enough to undo a lifetime of trauma—but it may be long enough to plant a seed. A seed that says: maybe not all services are the same, and maybe they are worthy of something better.
“Occasionally, there is another bittersweet moment, months after a participant ‘successful completion’ of a ReStart episode, when I hear my name being called across the prison unit and see that same participant walking towards me with a big smile and asking to be re-referred.”
If you’re inspired by the life changing work Briony is doing, learn more about working with ACSO.