UnLtd 'Bail Out.'
Forty-five advertising industry ‘inmates’ spent the night in prison, raising $102,000 and increasing awareness of youth incarceration in a campaign via UnLtd.
The event last Friday took place at Yasmar Detention Centre in Haberfield, a former youth detention facility.
To help maintain order inside, several past ‘inmates’ returned, this time as volunteer guards, to keep the new recruits in line.
The topvfundraisers were Kristiaan Kroon, Brittany Crowley, Philippa Noilea-Tani, Winston Stening and Lauren Dawber.
Optus senior director media, operations and performance, Lauren Dawber, said that it was one of the most thought provoking, stereotype-challenging and transformative experiences.
“It opened my eyes to the sad realities and circumstances that lead to youth incarceration but also gave us hope by hearing from organisations doing incredible work to prevent crime and stop kids going to prison,” Dawber said.
“Let’s raise the age together, no child that young should experience the justice system, they need care not incarceration.”
The "inmates" were shouted at and forced to hand over all control of their lives to the guards. They were finger-printed, questioned and locked into isolation in their cells.
The participants also took part in workshops hearing from people with lived experience about the impacts of youth incarceration and hearing from organisations like Down The Track and Musicians Making a Difference who are providing alternatives for preventing crime and keeping young people from reoffending.
The participants also heard about the campaign for Raise the Age NSW, aiming to raise the age of criminal responsibility in NSW to at least 14 from 10.
“This was my first Bail Out and it was an incredibly powerful way to understand and truly feel what life is like for children in the justice system,” UnLtd CEO Philippa Moig said.
“It reminded me that there are no ‘bad’ kids, just better alternatives we must fight for.
“I’m deeply grateful to all our inmates who went above and beyond to fundraise for this important cause and gave up their weekend to spend a night behind bars in solidarity.
“As an industry, we harnessed our collective goodwill and turned it into action. We’re in a unique position to create change and that starts with awareness, courage and showing up.”
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