The mobile outreach program takes minimum security inmates out to work on projects for community groups, including preparing the Gulgong Racecourse in June for its annual race day.

While two members of the crew have previous construction experience, many are developing entirely new skills, some painting or using a handsaw for the first time.

“They’re all willing to learn,” said senior overseer Scott Keen. “It’s a good learning curve for them.”

The project develops life skills and gives a rural experience to many participants who have not previously left the city.

Mr Keen said participants were pleased to spend some time out of a cell and to look up at night in Mudgee and see the stars.

For some inmates who have spent three to five years in jail, Mr Keen said the program also helped accustom them again to meeting and talking with new people.

“It just changes their perception,” he said.

He said the project helped others to accept people who had done the wrong thing but were ready to reintegrate and contribute to the community.

“Everybody gets the benefit,” he said.

“Inmates get the benefit, the community gets the benefit. There are no losers. It’s just a win-win.”

Inmate Ali said working with the mobile outreach program was a good way to ease back into the community and to make a contribution to society.

“We give something back that we’ve taken,” he said.

With units working from seven centres around NSW, the mobile outreach program is able to contribute to nearby community groups across most of the state.

The bird hide was funded by a grant given to Mudgee Region Tourism Inc, and the frame was constructed by Mudgee Men’s Shed.

The Men’s Shed will build the ramp to the bird hide’s entrance, and a qualified roofer will install the roof, but the inmates’ contribution has shortened the project’s construction time by about a month.