About Reboot Australia

It began in 2017 when Anthony MacShane walked into a heritage-listed prison camp in Pinjarra to attend a program graduation. What he witnessed was a highly skilled and motivated cohort that was disconnected from what was happening in the employment landscape. What also took him back was that at different points throughout his life it could have easily been him sitting there. Anthony, having been an alcoholic and drug user for 30 years, a drug dealer, a bankrupt, raised four great kids, worked in a host of different industries, was compelled to share information he’d gathered during his time on this planet.

Over the following years, we ran over a hundred information sessions inside prisons, listening to the stories of people who wanted to change but lacked the support to do so. A common thread emerged: the biggest barrier to staying out of prison was not motivation but stigma. Without breaking down the personal stories, helping the individual see beyond their situation, stable employment, housing and community connections weren’t an option.

In 2022 Reboot Australia was founded as a social enterprise recruitment company. By combining in-prison education with employment-led training programs and post-release recruitment and mentoring, we created a throughcare model that walks alongside participants from the moment they decide to make a change. Today the organisation operates nationally, with a growing network of employer partners, universities and community supporters.