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After 15 years working as a chef in private hospitals, Paul has only one regret about changing career paths to join the Karnet Prison Farm team as a Vocational Support Officer (VSO).

“I wish I had done it earlier,” he said.

As one of the Farm’s Chef Instructors, Paul helps run the prison kitchen while teaching the men life-changing skills.

While any professional kitchen can be high pressure environment, he says the team spirit of colleagues – and the prisoners they’re teaching – takes the stress out of the job.

“We treat it like a normal workplace – we try and have a laugh and joke along the way,” he said. “When we make a happy environment, people want to come to work and we get good results.”

By having the prisoners play a vital role in kitchen operations, Paul helps them take on responsibilities, skills, and a work ethic that sets them up for success with their rehabilitation journey.

“It makes our job easy because they want to learn,” Paul said. “They pick up skills they never thought they had – including Certificate II and III qualifications – and it changes who they are.”

Using Karnet’s own farm grown produce to prepare meals for prisoners and staff – the men in care also serve the community with meal donations to charities and food banks.

“When the guys know it’s for a good cause they put their hearts and souls into making these meals,” he said.

It’s that passion, as well as practical skills, that Paul tries to pass on to the men in his care as a VSO.

“You have to have a passion for what you do, it’s a job where you give a lot, but you get a lot back too,” he said.

That includes knowing you’ve had a positive effect on someone’s life – and the community they’re returning to.

“To hear someone has left jail and is doing well out there and using what they’ve learned to provide for their family is all you can ask for,” Paul said.

“It puts a smile on my face every time – everyone’s a winner.”