Nearly 100 adults are released from ACT prisons each year. Unless something changes, more than half will not be successful in re-entering their communities and will return to prison. The Australian Institute of Criminology report ‘Reintegration of Indigenous prisoners’ identifies successful reintegration of ex-offenders in the community is required to reduce criminal offending and the return of prisoners to jail. The report also cites research indicating the risk of reoffending is reduced when offenders actively participate in the process of community return, rather than passively receiving services.

Yeddung Mura was initially started to address a number of gaps identified by Aboriginal elders in the community. It is a grassroots organisation that works directly in the community to meet the needs of Aboriginal people. Yeddung Mura programs are an attempt to reduce recidivism and to help people avoid re-offending by promoting a smooth transition back into the community. A significant gap has been identified within the release and parole arrangements for Aboriginal prisoners who do not have strong connections to the community. Prisoners and their families are characterised by complex needs and high levels of social exclusion. A strong connection to the community is critical to supporting the successful reintegration of offenders after release from prison, thereby seeking to reduce re-offending. The high and growing social and financial cost of imprisonment makes it imperative to put in place a coordinated support system to reduce re-offending and return to prison.

Where a prisoner is without strong connections, they are prone to stress and reinforcing feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness.

Yeddung Mura was founded with a $1000 gift from a local church to meet a significant gap in the community with the reintegration of detainees released from the prisons. Over the past few years, the organization has grown from a part-time volunteer staff to over 10 employees.

Yeddung Mura is registered as an Aboriginal Corporation with the office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC). The corporation is also registered as a charity (public benevolent institution) with the ACNC. Yeddung Mura is also endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).