Biyani
Biyani has been established by the NSW Department of Corrective Services to provide a programmed pathway for women offenders with a mental health disorder or mild intellectual disability and co-existing alcohol & drug problem, as an alternative to a custodial sentence.
The main focus of the Biyani program is to provide accommodation and support to further stabilise mental health and drug and alcohol issues and to help women to gain access to long-term residential rehabilitation programs or appropriate community rehabilitation resources.
Biyani is located at Malabar, Sydney and can accommodate up to five women at any one time, for a period of up to 12 weeks.
Potential program participants are female offenders who are at a correctional centre on remand at pre-sentence stage or who have breached their parole and are to be released to serve the balance of parole. An assessment for suitability will be conducted jointly by the Probation and Parole Service and Biyani staff and submitted to the sentencing court or the Parole Authority.
Eligibility criteria
Biyani residents will:
- Have a non-acute mental health disorder or mild intellectual disability
- Have a history of substance dependency
- Be detoxified
- Be on an Order from a Sentencing Court or the Parole Authority
- Be on a S11 Order (Crime [Sentencing Procedures] Act 1999) following a period in a correctional centre on remand for a maximum six months. This is a suspended sentence.
- Be on balance of parole following a further period in custody. (With a minimum of three months remaining on their parole order).
- Be willing to commit to rehabilitation or participate in other relevant community programs.
- Be able to provide informed consent when agreeing to the conditions of residing at Biyani.
- Have no further court pending
Women are not eligible for the program if they:
- Have a history of violence
- Are currently at risk of suicide
- Are actively self-harming
Biyani staff, as part of Community Offender Services, will provide supervision and guidance to the women while they reside at Biyani and the Probation and Parole Service may provide further input when women move to residential rehabilitation and/or into community based rehabilitation programs.
Biyani staff will also follow the residents' progress, following discharge, for a period of time.
Our Aims
- To divert dually diagnosed women from a custodial sentence
- To assist women to gain entry to therapeutic communities or establish links with community support services for independent community living.
Our Principles
- Program operated in accordance with internationally recognised 'best practice' guidelines.
- Compassion and sensitivity to the needs of individual women.
- The least restrictive residential environment possible.
- Culturally sensitive programs and services that are developed in response to individual needs and provided within a casework model.
Biyani will provide an environment where women can be stabilised and motivated to undertake change within a supportive environment. This will be done through individual case management and group activities.
Biyani
Long Bay
P.O Box 13
MATRAVILLE NSW 2036
Tel: 9289 2119
Fax: 9311 3169