Research improving post-prison outcomes for Aboriginal women
NDRI researcher Emma Tufuga has been informing effective policy approaches to prevent repeat offending and support families by sharing the findings of her doctoral thesis direct with decision makers.
Dr Tufuga, Research Associate at both the National Drug Research Institute and Justice Health Group at Curtin University, recently presented new research to Department of Justice staff as part of the Western Australian Office of Crime Statistics and Research (WACSAR) Criminal Justice Lecture Series.
Organised by the WA Department of Justice, Dr Tufuga was invited to present by WACSAR Director Dr James Finney. The audience included Assistant Commissioner for Adult Women’s Prisons Anika Smith as well as senior policy staff, custodial staff and prison superintendents.
"It was affirming to see how engaged the audience was with the stories of Aboriginal women I spoke to during my PhD. Their voices are often unheard, so the interest shown was really powerful,” Dr Tufuga said.
"Hearing the Assistant Commissioner speak after my presentation and directly engage with some of the research findings — particularly around ID issues, Medicare access and reporting processes — gave me real confidence that change is possible.
“The chance to improve outcomes in ways that make a tangible difference in people’s lives — especially for Aboriginal women and families impacted by the criminal legal system — is exactly why we do this work.”
Emma also gave a similar presentation, entitled “It’s Not Just Her Sentence”: The Impact of Racism and Discrimination on the Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Families Post-Release, as part of a joint NDRI-Justice Health Group seminar.
Her presentation drew on findings from her PhD, which focused on the lived experiences of Aboriginal women’s families navigating post-release support. She shared key themes from the research along with culturally informed recommendations to improve post-release systems and outcomes.
Click here to watch Emma’s presentation
Posted on: 9 Feb 2026
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