00:00On Anthony Best's first day on the job, his boss was less than impressed.
00:08When he first walked in, he had his arse dragging out of his pants and he was a bit all over
00:13the shop.
00:14But he quickly turned things around.
00:19For the next six months, Anthony learned to craft caskets and coffins in Ballarat.
00:24It's something that's helped him turn his own life around too.
00:28Every coffin I make, I try and make it perfect.
00:31Anthony spent much of his life bouncing in and out of jail.
00:35His boss took a chance on him after he laid his story on the table, warts and all.
00:40I don't necessarily judge anyone on their past.
00:44He was completely honest with me when he started and that was enough for me.
00:50Teagan Hartwick spent three years in prison in 2015 before turning her life around.
00:55Now she works as an advocate for other prisoners, helping them find a job upon release.
01:00It means being able to go and support your family, you know, to be able to be the breadwinner,
01:04to be able to go to sleep at night and know that your bills are going to be paid.
01:08Incarceration in Australia costs more than $6.3 billion annually, but advocates say meaningful
01:15employment upon release would not only help reduce recidivism rates, but address Australia's
01:20skilled worker shortage.
01:22If we want to reduce the number of people coming back to prison, we really need to look
01:26at what happens at the point of post-release.
01:29Anthony Best's newfound stability has helped him reconnect with his mum and son.
01:35He doesn't mind being the poster boy for other ex-prisoners and if it doesn't work out, well,
01:41Anthony's advice is typically brief.
01:44Just give them a shot, you know, like you can always sack them.
01:46A dose of clarity that comes with a second chance.
01:52For more information visit www.fema.gov
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