Let's talk about an organization I haven't spoken about before. It's called About Time. Maybe it's about time I spoke about it and speak to their managing director, Joseph Freeman. Joe, great to meet you and thank you so much for your time. Thanks so much for.

Let's talk about an organization I haven't spoken about before. It's called About Time. Maybe it's about time I spoke about it and speak to their managing director, Joseph Freeman. Joe, great to meet you and thank you so much for your time. Thanks so much for.

Having me, Peter. It's good to chat.

Having me, Peter. It's good to chat.

Tell us a bit about, uh, tell us a bit about about time. Uh, what do you do?

Tell us a bit about, uh, tell us a bit about about time. Uh, what do you do?

So About Time is a new organization, and it's just started. And its aim is to publish the first prison newspaper that will go out to all incarcerated people across Australia. And that's that's what we are.

So About Time is a new organization, and it's just started. And its aim is to publish the first prison newspaper that will go out to all incarcerated people across Australia. And that's that's what we are.

It's like a lot of good ideas, Joe. Uh, you know, it's the sort of thing that, uh. Why didn't someone think of this before?

It's like a lot of good ideas, Joe. Uh, you know, it's the sort of thing that, uh. Why didn't someone think of this before?

That's right. And I think that a lot of people don't put forward their own initiatives because they think someone's already done it, but often nobody has. And you have to be the first. And I'm certainly not the first because it started somewhere else. And that's where the idea came from. So the idea came from the United Kingdom. There's a publication there called Inside Time, and Inside Time is a hugely popular national prison newspaper. It goes out to every cell in every prison and detention facility across the UK, and it's been around since 1990. And it's it's really popular. It's, um, read by tens of thousands of incarcerated people, as well as the guards, the librarians, the teachers. And I think the really interesting thing about Inside Time is that most of the content is written by and produced by people in prison, and that's what we want to do here in Australia as well.

That's right. And I think that a lot of people don't put forward their own initiatives because they think someone's already done it, but often nobody has. And you have to be the first. And I'm certainly not the first because it started somewhere else. And that's where the idea came from. So the idea came from the United Kingdom. There's a publication there called Inside Time, and Inside Time is a hugely popular national prison newspaper. It goes out to every cell in every prison and detention facility across the UK, and it's been around since 1990. And it's it's really popular. It's, um, read by tens of thousands of incarcerated people, as well as the guards, the librarians, the teachers. And I think the really interesting thing about Inside Time is that most of the content is written by and produced by people in prison, and that's what we want to do here in Australia as well.

Fantastic idea. And, uh, I get a bit caught up with, uh, names and words, Joe, but, uh, about time. It's kind of got, uh, more than one meaning, hasn't it? If you like. Exactly.

Fantastic idea. And, uh, I get a bit caught up with, uh, names and words, Joe, but, uh, about time. It's kind of got, uh, more than one meaning, hasn't it? If you like. Exactly.

There's there's probably two meanings there, unless you can find a third for us. Peter. Uh, I guess one is that it's about time we have we have a publication that's targeted towards incarcerated people. It's for them. It's by them. There's not really anything else for that audience specifically. Um, and then probably the second meeting is that the paper is about time. Time being a word used often to describe people serving months or years in prison. And so the paper is about time, about their experience in prison.

There's there's probably two meanings there, unless you can find a third for us. Peter. Uh, I guess one is that it's about time we have we have a publication that's targeted towards incarcerated people. It's for them. It's by them. There's not really anything else for that audience specifically. Um, and then probably the second meeting is that the paper is about time. Time being a word used often to describe people serving months or years in prison. And so the paper is about time, about their experience in prison.

Now, I know you've just launched your website with the paper at this stage, be, uh, physical paper, or will it be kind of online or, uh, people have to read it, uh, uh, you know, with devices. Any thoughts about that?

Now, I know you've just launched your website with the paper at this stage, be, uh, physical paper, or will it be kind of online or, uh, people have to read it, uh, uh, you know, with devices. Any thoughts about that?

So it will probably be both. Um, in most states and territories, uh, incarcerated people don't have access to the internet and they don't have tablets or computers. And so in those places, it will be exclusively physical. And we we do aim to print one copy per person in prison and distribute it to each one of them. However, in New South Wales, for example, every incarcerated person has access to a tablet. And so we'll be doing, you know, kind of a neat digital version that they can view in the same format as it would be physically, uh, in the Act, they have access to laptops, which are transitioning to tablets and will probably do both digital and physical. And we understand that Victoria might soon be moving to a tablet system, so we might transition to digital. However, we're really interested in what our readers think. Some people might prefer physical, and if we can raise enough money, then we'll do exclusively physical. But in saying that, it's certainly much cheaper to distribute it digitally, and we're seeing all around the world most newspapers are turning digital. So if people are happy with digital, we might move to that. It was just going to be a wait and see and we'll see what our readers say. We'll get the feedback.

So it will probably be both. Um, in most states and territories, uh, incarcerated people don't have access to the internet and they don't have tablets or computers. And so in those places, it will be exclusively physical. And we we do aim to print one copy per person in prison and distribute it to each one of them. However, in New South Wales, for example, every incarcerated person has access to a tablet. And so we'll be doing, you know, kind of a neat digital version that they can view in the same format as it would be physically, uh, in the Act, they have access to laptops, which are transitioning to tablets and will probably do both digital and physical. And we understand that Victoria might soon be moving to a tablet system, so we might transition to digital. However, we're really interested in what our readers think. Some people might prefer physical, and if we can raise enough money, then we'll do exclusively physical. But in saying that, it's certainly much cheaper to distribute it digitally, and we're seeing all around the world most newspapers are turning digital. So if people are happy with digital, we might move to that. It was just going to be a wait and see and we'll see what our readers say. We'll get the feedback.

You talked about, uh, funding. We'll talk about that in a second, because I know you're very keen to get people involved as far as helping out with funding goes. You made a great point at the beginning of the interview, Joe, when you talked about, uh, uh, the paper in the UK sort of being written by people who are incarcerated, I mean, that lived experience. Uh, you can't kind of put a price on it, can you?

You talked about, uh, funding. We'll talk about that in a second, because I know you're very keen to get people involved as far as helping out with funding goes. You made a great point at the beginning of the interview, Joe, when you talked about, uh, uh, the paper in the UK sort of being written by people who are incarcerated, I mean, that lived experience. Uh, you can't kind of put a price on it, can you?

No, you absolutely can't. And in order for it to be for them, we think the best thing is that it is also by them because they can best relate to their own experiences. You know that people in prison have disparate experiences, such a range of reasons for being there, but they're all in some ways living the same experience. However, because they're they're closed off not just from the outside world, but often from each other. They can't necessarily relate. And what we've learnt from the feedback we've heard and read from the UK publication is they've found it so valuable because it's kind of opened up this metaphorical world, and they've realised that even if you're in a prison, in a different town, different city, different country, you might be going through something similar and you sharing that experience really helps and motivates others through their time in prison.

No, you absolutely can't. And in order for it to be for them, we think the best thing is that it is also by them because they can best relate to their own experiences. You know that people in prison have disparate experiences, such a range of reasons for being there, but they're all in some ways living the same experience. However, because they're they're closed off not just from the outside world, but often from each other. They can't necessarily relate. And what we've learnt from the feedback we've heard and read from the UK publication is they've found it so valuable because it's kind of opened up this metaphorical world, and they've realised that even if you're in a prison, in a different town, different city, different country, you might be going through something similar and you sharing that experience really helps and motivates others through their time in prison.

That's fantastic idea. Do you think you'll have any trouble getting contributions.

That's fantastic idea. Do you think you'll have any trouble getting contributions.

We're quite bullish on? Distributions because we even from small kind of prison newsletters in various prisons or states or territories, there's been a lot of kind of response and contributions. And in our first edition, a lot of our letters come from those contributions and the feedback we had from focus groups we ran with current or formerly incarcerated people was very positive. We think that we'll get a good response. What we're probably a little bit more concerned about is getting approval from the various jurisdictions. So we've got approval from Victoria and New South Wales and the Act. But we're currently in discussions with the other states and territories. So everything kind of goes through the corrections department of the state or territory, and it's up to them to allow the paper to be published and distributed. And we're hoping for a really cooperative relationship with each jurisdiction, just like the UK publication Inside Time has with the National Prison Service there. Um, and so we're in conversations and we're hopeful. Um, but that's kind of what we're working on at the moment.

We're quite bullish on? Distributions because we even from small kind of prison newsletters in various prisons or states or territories, there's been a lot of kind of response and contributions. And in our first edition, a lot of our letters come from those contributions and the feedback we had from focus groups we ran with current or formerly incarcerated people was very positive. We think that we'll get a good response. What we're probably a little bit more concerned about is getting approval from the various jurisdictions. So we've got approval from Victoria and New South Wales and the Act. But we're currently in discussions with the other states and territories. So everything kind of goes through the corrections department of the state or territory, and it's up to them to allow the paper to be published and distributed. And we're hoping for a really cooperative relationship with each jurisdiction, just like the UK publication Inside Time has with the National Prison Service there. Um, and so we're in conversations and we're hopeful. Um, but that's kind of what we're working on at the moment.

And Joe, in terms of, uh, you know, men, women, uh, kind of, uh, everyone is welcome to contribute and read it.

And Joe, in terms of, uh, you know, men, women, uh, kind of, uh, everyone is welcome to contribute and read it.

We welcome all contributions, absolutely everyone. And we expect a lot to come from currently or formerly incarcerated people, their family, their friends. But we also want contributions from guards to hear what they have to say. And wardens, we want contributions from the teachers and librarians, the lawyers, the advocates. Really, anyone who has any interest in the paper would love all positive and all negative feedback.

We welcome all contributions, absolutely everyone. And we expect a lot to come from currently or formerly incarcerated people, their family, their friends. But we also want contributions from guards to hear what they have to say. And wardens, we want contributions from the teachers and librarians, the lawyers, the advocates. Really, anyone who has any interest in the paper would love all positive and all negative feedback.

How do you see it in terms of how regular it will be?

How do you see it in terms of how regular it will be?

The aim is certainly to have a monthly publication. That's how inside time in the UK started, and that's how they've continued there at the moment, doing a monthly physical paper and a weekly online one where a long way off from that. But we really would love to have some sort of regularity, and we think monthly would provide that.

The aim is certainly to have a monthly publication. That's how inside time in the UK started, and that's how they've continued there at the moment, doing a monthly physical paper and a weekly online one where a long way off from that. But we really would love to have some sort of regularity, and we think monthly would provide that.

Now, you've recently launched your website, I believe, and, uh, there is an opportunity for people to get involved. And I note also, there's an opportunity also for volunteers to be involved too. That would.

Now, you've recently launched your website, I believe, and, uh, there is an opportunity for people to get involved. And I note also, there's an opportunity also for volunteers to be involved too. That would.

Be great. Um, at the moment everything's a voluntary based effort, but we do hope when we receive enough funding, which we can touch on, that we certainly pay people for their time, whether it's contributors who write news stories, you know, journalists and things like that, or whether it's administrative staff who help us put the paper together, designers, editors and so on. And so if you're interested in contributing in any way, whether you want to write stories or make art or, you know, create games for us that we'll put in the paper, or whether you want to read the letters and transcribe them and decide which you think are best for the paper, anything at all, just email. Volunteer at about time. Gorgo. All right.

Be great. Um, at the moment everything's a voluntary based effort, but we do hope when we receive enough funding, which we can touch on, that we certainly pay people for their time, whether it's contributors who write news stories, you know, journalists and things like that, or whether it's administrative staff who help us put the paper together, designers, editors and so on. And so if you're interested in contributing in any way, whether you want to write stories or make art or, you know, create games for us that we'll put in the paper, or whether you want to read the letters and transcribe them and decide which you think are best for the paper, anything at all, just email. Volunteer at about time. Gorgo. All right.

We'll give those details before we wrap up. Joe, from this radio station's point of view, and I'm not not sure how much I'm allowed to say so, uh, you know, kill me off if I, uh, say too much. But I believe there are kind of negotiations in place to have. About time. Read on. Uh, Vision Australia radio certainly are.

We'll give those details before we wrap up. Joe, from this radio station's point of view, and I'm not not sure how much I'm allowed to say so, uh, you know, kill me off if I, uh, say too much. But I believe there are kind of negotiations in place to have. About time. Read on. Uh, Vision Australia radio certainly are.

I reckon you probably know more about what you're allowed to say than I am, but we.

I reckon you probably know more about what you're allowed to say than I am, but we.

Well, I'll just say what I think I can say. And then if I get into trouble, I'll. I'll bear the consequences.

Well, I'll just say what I think I can say. And then if I get into trouble, I'll. I'll bear the consequences.

That's that's great. I'm happy with that approach. Um, but yeah, we we understand that there's a lot of, um, vision impaired people who won't be able to physically read the paper. And I think it would be incredibly valuable for it to be read out. Both, you know, friends reading it to them directly and also through the radio program.

That's that's great. I'm happy with that approach. Um, but yeah, we we understand that there's a lot of, um, vision impaired people who won't be able to physically read the paper. And I think it would be incredibly valuable for it to be read out. Both, you know, friends reading it to them directly and also through the radio program.

Well, you know, I guess, you know, uh, obviously the more we can know about other people's lives and their challenges, their, uh, things that they have to go through, the better off we are as a society. So it's got to be a good thing if this sort of information can be disseminated throughout the community. And as you say, for people who might have a print disability, not might not be able to access the paper as easily as others, uh, for some, some an organization like Vision Australia Radio to be able to read it is a tremendous initiative and full marks to whoever came up with that idea.

Well, you know, I guess, you know, uh, obviously the more we can know about other people's lives and their challenges, their, uh, things that they have to go through, the better off we are as a society. So it's got to be a good thing if this sort of information can be disseminated throughout the community. And as you say, for people who might have a print disability, not might not be able to access the paper as easily as others, uh, for some, some an organization like Vision Australia Radio to be able to read it is a tremendous initiative and full marks to whoever came up with that idea.

And it wasn't us. So we're very grateful for, um, I think it was it was Conrad from from Vision Australia who said that he's keen to do that. And we're super grateful for that because, yeah, as you say, the more we can learn about people in prison and their experiences, the better. There's a reason most of these people have been incarcerated in the first place, and it's not because they were, you know, born inherently bad. It's because of the problematic, um, difficult, um, upbringing they've had or any sort of experiences. And so often all we get is after the fact, we read in the paper about the crime that's committed, but we don't read about what's led them to commit that crime. And certainly there's a absolutely a reason that they're in there. And I don't think any of us are saying they shouldn't be in there. But the more we can learn about their experiences and have empathy for them, the better off we'll all be. It's a very powerful message.

And it wasn't us. So we're very grateful for, um, I think it was it was Conrad from from Vision Australia who said that he's keen to do that. And we're super grateful for that because, yeah, as you say, the more we can learn about people in prison and their experiences, the better. There's a reason most of these people have been incarcerated in the first place, and it's not because they were, you know, born inherently bad. It's because of the problematic, um, difficult, um, upbringing they've had or any sort of experiences. And so often all we get is after the fact, we read in the paper about the crime that's committed, but we don't read about what's led them to commit that crime. And certainly there's a absolutely a reason that they're in there. And I don't think any of us are saying they shouldn't be in there. But the more we can learn about their experiences and have empathy for them, the better off we'll all be. It's a very powerful message.

Hon. Read our illustrious leader. He's a bit of a go getter, so if there's an idea, he's a very good to pick up and run with it. So, uh, full marks to Conrad on this particular idea. Tell us a bit more about your fundraising. I note that on your website there, there's an opportunity for people to donate. There is.

Hon. Read our illustrious leader. He's a bit of a go getter, so if there's an idea, he's a very good to pick up and run with it. So, uh, full marks to Conrad on this particular idea. Tell us a bit more about your fundraising. I note that on your website there, there's an opportunity for people to donate. There is.

And we're really pushing at the moment, and we're really grateful for any support anyone can provide. We're currently a not for profit company, as we said, fully reliant on volunteers and donations. We plan to distribute the paper inside prison for free and online for free. We are thinking of setting up a kind of subscription model for people who want a physical edition outside, but ultimately, the way we'll be able to afford our designers to create and update our website and our newspaper to to commission journalists, to write articles, and probably the most substantial cost being to print and distribute each edition to every person in prison is through money that comes from donors. And so we would welcome any organisations who might have an interest in this space or any foundations, and as well as any individual donors who have the means, no matter how big or small. If you could please go to our website and click on the donate page would be very grateful.

And we're really pushing at the moment, and we're really grateful for any support anyone can provide. We're currently a not for profit company, as we said, fully reliant on volunteers and donations. We plan to distribute the paper inside prison for free and online for free. We are thinking of setting up a kind of subscription model for people who want a physical edition outside, but ultimately, the way we'll be able to afford our designers to create and update our website and our newspaper to to commission journalists, to write articles, and probably the most substantial cost being to print and distribute each edition to every person in prison is through money that comes from donors. And so we would welcome any organisations who might have an interest in this space or any foundations, and as well as any individual donors who have the means, no matter how big or small. If you could please go to our website and click on the donate page would be very grateful.

So how big is your team at the moment? You talked about very much volunteer based. How many people have you got sort of working at this at the moment?

So how big is your team at the moment? You talked about very much volunteer based. How many people have you got sort of working at this at the moment?

So the team is probably comprised of two sets. One is our board, which is five people, strong, different individuals from around Australia who have worked in or from the criminal justice space, whether it's, um, for community legal centres or prison rights groups or universities, including First Nations representation and people with lived experience who have served time. And then within that board there are two managing directors, that's myself and Rosie Hassilev. And Rosie and I are kind of the main people on the ground, together with the help of our designer, who have put everything together at this stage. So it's a very small team. But pleasingly, since we launched, uh, a couple of weeks ago now we've had dozens of offers for volunteers. So we actually we do hope to grow that team substantially.

So the team is probably comprised of two sets. One is our board, which is five people, strong, different individuals from around Australia who have worked in or from the criminal justice space, whether it's, um, for community legal centres or prison rights groups or universities, including First Nations representation and people with lived experience who have served time. And then within that board there are two managing directors, that's myself and Rosie Hassilev. And Rosie and I are kind of the main people on the ground, together with the help of our designer, who have put everything together at this stage. So it's a very small team. But pleasingly, since we launched, uh, a couple of weeks ago now we've had dozens of offers for volunteers. So we actually we do hope to grow that team substantially.

Was the person with a vision impairment. I had a quick look at your website. I didn't spend a lot of time on it, but I spent a little bit of time on it. It seems very accessible, so congratulations on that because often good ideas, uh, are fantastic. But then to actually, uh, have a website that is accessible to another issue. So whoever's worked on that, uh, full marks to them too.

Was the person with a vision impairment. I had a quick look at your website. I didn't spend a lot of time on it, but I spent a little bit of time on it. It seems very accessible, so congratulations on that because often good ideas, uh, are fantastic. But then to actually, uh, have a website that is accessible to another issue. So whoever's worked on that, uh, full marks to them too.

Thanks, Peter. We'll pass that on to our designer. And we'll certainly welcome any kind of feedback from you and and your listeners about how we can prioritize accessibility. It's something we've considered not just for vision impaired people, but also for incarcerated people and people with lived experience. Um, and so if there are any other tips that people would recommend, we're all is.

Thanks, Peter. We'll pass that on to our designer. And we'll certainly welcome any kind of feedback from you and and your listeners about how we can prioritize accessibility. It's something we've considered not just for vision impaired people, but also for incarcerated people and people with lived experience. Um, and so if there are any other tips that people would recommend, we're all is.

Terrific, Joe, congratulations on the initiative. As I said, I'm not sure how much we can say, but hopefully it'll be coming to a radio, uh uh, set near you very soon as well. Have you got a kind of a launch date at this stage?

Terrific, Joe, congratulations on the initiative. As I said, I'm not sure how much we can say, but hopefully it'll be coming to a radio, uh uh, set near you very soon as well. Have you got a kind of a launch date at this stage?

The our planned launch date for the physical edition is the first week of July, maybe somewhere between Tuesday and Thursday. Um, so look out for that date. Check out About time.org, our website, and we're on all the social medias. And we'll certainly be promoting as we get closer to launch.

The our planned launch date for the physical edition is the first week of July, maybe somewhere between Tuesday and Thursday. Um, so look out for that date. Check out About time.org, our website, and we're on all the social medias. And we'll certainly be promoting as we get closer to launch.

Joe, to you and all those involved. Congratulations. It's an excellent initiative and we'll keep in touch on this.

Joe, to you and all those involved. Congratulations. It's an excellent initiative and we'll keep in touch on this.

Thanks so much, Peter. Thanks for the time.

Thanks so much, Peter. Thanks for the time.

Joe Friedman there, the managing director for about time. So hopefully coming to, uh, a radio station near you and also, uh, to people to be able to access it in other formats as well. We'll keep you posted as that information rolls out.

Joe Friedman there, the managing director for about time. So hopefully coming to, uh, a radio station near you and also, uh, to people to be able to access it in other formats as well. We'll keep you posted as that information rolls out.