Ralph Jackman was a sports journalist who retrained as a teacher in midlife, and got his first job at Melbourne’s Parkville Youth Detention Centre, where he was tested by the troubled and bright, charismatic young men.

At the centre he found students who struggled with basic literacy, and he also met boys who were yearning for more than juvenile justice could provide.

Ralph created bonds with some of the boys that proved his teaching was making a connection. 

But he also saw how hours of isolation in their cells stamped the hope out of the young men, despite the committed teachers’ best efforts.

Further information

Detention is published by Allen & Unwin.

Conversations' Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. Research by Alice Moldovan.

This episode covers incarceration, troubled youth, youth work,  behind bars, youth detention, Tony Abbott, Hugh Jackman, 

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