Alice Springs Alternative to Custody Program

The Mparntwe/Alice Springs Alternative to Custody (ATC) Program is an innovative, communitybased approach to reducing Aboriginal incarceration and recidivism.

The ATC delivers targeted, tailored rehabilitation programs to Aboriginal women at risk of offending or reoffending who have been diverted, defected, mandated by courts, police or others or self-referred.

The Mparntwe/Alice Springs ATC Program was established in 2019 as a pilot project for 18-months. It was initially managed by the Centre for Appropriate Technology (CfAT) that owns the residential facility known as the ‘Life Skills Camp’ (the Camp).

The Camp, located in a bush setting outside of Mparntwe/Alice Springs, provides accommodation for up to 10 Aboriginal women and their young children. In July 2020, Drug and Alcohol Services Australia (DASA) became lead agency for the ATC Program. Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (Congress) is funded to deliver psycho-therapeutic services under a separate contract with the Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch (MHAODB) in the NT Department of Health (DoH).

Read the Alice Springs Alternative to Custody program  - Evaluation report PDF (1.4 MB)