When the prison gates open: Tahlia Isaac Pt. 2

About this episode

Tahlia Isaac discusses the harsh realities of life in a women's maximum-security prison and the challenges faced upon release.

Being locked up in prison is hard - but often the real test comes when you're released. In part 2 of this discussion, Tahlia Isaac takes Gary inside the raw reality of life in a women's maximum-security facility: 22-hour lockdowns, mothers crying for children they can't reach, Aboriginal matriarchs ripped from their communities, and women imprisoned for nothing more than driving without a licence.  Then comes the moment when the doors swing open…to no money, support, or protection. Tahlia argues that the system doesn't need fixing, it needs to be completely torn down and rebuilt, which is exactly what she’s trying to do now through her charity Project:herSELF.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Gary Jubelin

Guest: Tahlia Isaac

Topics covered

• prison life
• women's rights
• Aboriginal issues
• reentry challenges
• criminal justice reform

Keywords

• prison
• maximum-security
• lockdown
• reentry
• charity
• criminal justice
• Aboriginal
• support
• system reform

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Project:herSELF

Places: Australia

More episodes of I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin

• From dope dealer to hope dealer: Gaz Wright Pt. 2 · June 8, 2026 · 48 min
• From running the streets to begging for death: Gaz Wright Pt. 1 · June 6, 2026 · 58 min
• ‘They told me Celeste’s death wouldn't be in vain. So far, it has been’: Aggie Di Mauro Pt. 2 · June 1, 2026 · 56 min
• 'My daughter’s murder could’ve been prevented’: Aggie Di Mauro Pt. 1 · May 30, 2026 · 59 min
• ‘I probably needed to go to prison’: Tahlia Isaac Pt. 1 · May 23, 2026 · 56 min
• How Australia created a criminal empire: Rohan Pike Pt. 2 · May 18, 2026 · 56 min