OutcareAnnouncementsJanuary 2026

Outcare is delighted to contribute as a partner organisation, to the newly funded Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Prisoner Reintegration (CEPR) – a landmark national initiative dedicated to transforming outcomes for people leaving prison and strengthening community wellbeing.

The ARC has confirmed funding for eight new national Centres of Excellence, representing a $279 million investment into high‑impact research shaping Australia’s future. Among these, the CEPR – led by Flinders University with key university partners including The University of Western Australia (UWA), Monash University, and the University of Technology Sydney – will receive $35 million to advance evidence-based, culturally informed approaches to reintegration.

For Outcare, which has long championed person‑centred and community‑focused reintegration supports, this partnership represents a powerful opportunity to contribute front-line insight to national research with real-world impact.

A National Effort to Address Australia’s Reincarceration Crisis

The CEPR brings together leading academic, sector, and community partners from across the country to address one of Australia’s most persistent social challenges: the ongoing cycle of incarceration and reincarceration. The Centre aims to:

• Develop evidence-based and culturally informed strategies that improve post-release outcomes
• Strengthen long-term community safety and wellbeing
• Generate research that transforms correctional practice at a national scale
• Build a more inclusive, resilient, and safer Australia

With UWA serving as a major university research partner, the Centre will fuel collaborative research capable of reshaping reintegration frameworks across the country – something that strongly aligns with Outcare’s commitment to supporting people to rebuild their lives with dignity and opportunity.

Why This Matters for Western Australia

For over 60 years, Outcare has worked alongside people navigating the justice system. Our teams see firsthand the structural challenges and social barriers that make community reintegration difficult. Too often, these challenges contribute to recurring cycles of imprisonment.

By participating in this national research partnership, Outcare will bring lived expertise, local insights, and on‑the‑ground program experience to the table, helping ensure that research findings translate into real change for people, families, and communities – particularly across Western Australia.

“Outcare is excited to contribute to this landmark national research partnership. We look forward to providing practical insights from our work on the front line to help shape evidence-based, culturally informed strategies that improve outcomes for people exiting prison. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Prisoner Reintegration represents an important step toward strengthening community wellbeing and building a more inclusive future for all.” — David Cain, Managing Director, Outcare

We look forward to collaborating with CEPR partners to support research that elevates best practice, drives systemic change, and ultimately helps create a future where every person leaving prison has the support, opportunity, and dignity they need to thrive.