But it was a special occasion – the first training graduation ceremony to be held at the prison.

Nine prisoners received their Certificate IV in Small Business Management while 26 received individual Certificates of Attainment.

The privately operated prison’s education centre worked with the C.Y. O’Connor College of TAFE in Northam to provide the courses.

“This is the first time that the prison’s education centre has teamed up with a TAFE college in Western Australia to provide added expertise in the classroom,” Mr Collier said.

“The partnership with C.Y. O’Connor has been very encouraging and will continue to be a feature at Acacia.”

Prison director Andrew Beck said the graduation ceremony was the culmination of months of hard work and vital to breaking a prisoner’s cycle of offending.

“While this is the first graduation ceremony held for prisoners within Acacia Prison, I am confident it won’t be the last,” he said.

“A number of prisoners have already asked about gaining more business qualifications.

“It was like a light switched on inside them.

“Suddenly their aspirations grew and they became more confident and proud.”

Mr Scott singled out the C.Y O’Connor lecturing staff who provided the training to the prisoners.

“Although today is primarily about the graduating students, I think it appropriate to recognise in particular the contribution of two members of the college staff Dr Sak Sarangapani and Mrs Kapi Sakthivelpathi who have provided the bulk of the training effort,” he said.

“I feel privileged to work with such committed lecturers who are passionate about supporting their students to achieve their maximum potential.”

Acacia Prison is operated by Serco, an international service company.