Wenzel Carter

WATCH WENZEL'S FELLOWSHIP REPORT HERE

My name is Wenzel Carter, I am a Ngarrindjeri man. Since 2018, I have been employed by the Victorian Dept of Justice in the role of a Respected Elder and Cultural Mentor.

Previously, I was the Cultural Support Worker at Woor-Dungin. In this role, I was involved in the Aboriginal ex-offender employment project, co-ordinated cultural activities for our annual Aboriginal on country gathering and introduced Aboriginal organisations to philanthropy.

In 2014, I helped to establish Willum Warrain Aboriginal Gathering Place in Hastings, Victoria. As part of this role, I ran a men’s group and supervised men undertaking their community corrections order.

I represented Willum Warrain on the Woor-Dungin Criminal Record Discrimination Project and was involved in this project because Victoria was the only state that did not have a spent convictions scheme.

Our project has developed fact sheets and we ran information sessions to help people with a Criminal Record.

I felt very proud when Victoria introduced Spent Conviction legislation in 2021.

Because of my life experience, I was selected by Corrections Victoria to join the Yawal Mugadjina cultural mentoring program where I work with Indigenous men in four Victorian prisons.  

I work with the men on developing their cultural journey and reconnecting with Community upon their release. I refer men to appropriate support organisations and teach time management and using a diary. 

I am currently undertaking training in cognitive behavioral therapy to support my role in working with men with drug and/or alcohol use issues. I have lived experience in this area as well as homelessness. 

I’ve now completed the Smart Recovery, Safety Facilitators Course in June 2024. This has increased my confidence and skills in facilitating groups.