The original Pathways to Employment Education and Training (PEET) emerged from the NSW Drug Summit hosted by the NSW Government with bipartisan political support in May 1999. The program was delivered in a partnership between TAFE Outreach and Corrective Services NSW (CS NSW). The Drug Summit brought together drug experts, families, representatives of interest groups, community leaders and politicians to examine approaches to problems of drug use.
In 2003, CS NSW received funds through the Drug Summit to extend the PEET program to a broader range of clients. The course became available to Community Offender Service (COS) clients on probation, parole or a community service order. Voluntary participation was preferred, although the offender’s supervising officer would have the option of instructing the offender to attend as a ‘reasonable direction’ within the casework management process. The emphasis was on offenders who were at a medium to high risk of re-offending.
The program has since grown and the partnership between Corrective Services NSW and TAFE Outreach has strengthened. PEET programs are now delivered state-wide with Train the Trainer Workshop training and ongoing support provided for all COS Facilitators and TAFE Outreach Coordinators and teachers.
