The state government has announced an expansion of the Twinning Project to the Ripley Unit at Marngoneet Prison.
This initiative, which focuses on young men aged 18 to 25, is a collaborative effort between Corrections Victoria, Melbourne City Football Club, and the FIFA Foundation. The program is designed to use football as a medium for teaching life skills, fostering resilience, and improving the physical health of participants.
The expansion targets the Ripley Unit specifically because of its focus on young adults. Inmates at this unit, whether they are serving a sentence or being held on remand, can access the program alongside other services such as family therapy, vocational training, and general education.
The Twinning Project spans eight weeks and is delivered by a combination of professional coaching staff, mentors, and guest speakers.
The primary objective stated by officials is to reduce recidivism by preparing participants for employment and reintegration into the community upon their release.
With this latest expansion, the program now operates across four Victorian correctional facilities, including the Metropolitan Remand Centre, Western Plains, and the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.
To date, 113 individuals have graduated from the program within the state. The Twinning Project is an international model that originated in the United Kingdom. It has since been implemented in more than 70 prisons throughout Europe, the United States, and Africa.
By bringing outside sporting organizations into the prison system, the initiative aims to provide a structured environment where young men can develop social skills and discipline through sports-based rehabilitation. This rollout at the Ripley Unit represents the latest step in the government’s strategy to provide targeted interventions for younger populations within the justice system.
