It was a decade-long cycle of drug addiction and domestic violence that led Danielle Hogan to 17 months in prison.
But after her release seven months ago, Hogan connected with a program that she says changed her view on life.
Confit Pathways provides mentorship for troubled youth in detention and newly-released prisoners, through fitness.
The not-for-profit social enterprise was started by Joe Kwon, who spent most of his 20s locked up in prisons across NSW.
"I grew up in a very marginalised community, a lot of violence; there was a huge gang culture," Kwon said. "But at a young age, I ended up going to prison. I spent nine years behind bars; when I got out I realised it was very hard to get community support."
Joe Kwon, who spent most of his 20s locked up in prisons across NSW, is the founder of Confit Gym. Source: SBS News / Rayane Tamer
All the trainers, including 28-year-old Hogan, are reformed prison inmates, with the program aiming to give people a second shot at life.
"All our trainers have had that lived experience, they've all hit rock bottom, but they've used fitness to transform their lives," Kwon said.
"It's a story of redemption — you can't help people who don't want to change, but for those who do want a second chance, we should give it to them as a society."
Hogan said having work colleagues who had lived through a similar past to her, while simultaneously working on their own journey to self-improvement, has provided her with a sense of workplace comfort she says she couldn't find anywhere else.
"For the last 10 years I was stuck in this loop of addiction, domestic violence, I honestly just forgot the person I was, the amazing family I come from, my capability at the end of the day, my self-worth," she said.
"It's awesome to see being with all of my team that we're all on our separate missions but doing what we can to help one another get there."
Kwon hopes the gym will break the negative stereotypes of former prisoners.
"There are so many inmates training every day, it's part of their living, it becomes purpose to them, to wake up every day, to train," he said. "So why don't we get them skilled up and get them to become qualified fitness trainers so they can have employment on the outside?"
Breaking free from an 'ugly circle'
Gaith Hamdy was a month away from turning 18 when he was placed into youth detention.
Hamdy said he knew he was capable of more but having fallen in with a bad crowd, he feared he could end up a "career criminal".
He messaged Confit after his release from 16 months in detention, having met a mentor from the group while he was there.
Hamdy was offered a job to help with the gym's construction, which he said has taught him many practical skills.
Asked what he thought his career might be before joining the program, the 19-year-old said: "Career criminal, that's what I thought.
"Honestly, I thought I'd never change. These boys taught me there's a lot more to life than the ugly circle that I was in."
Gaith Hamdy helped in the gym's construction after being released from 16 months in youth detention. Source: SBS News
He said some programs didn't resonate with detained youth, but this one did because those who run it have relatable stories.
"They don't understand and they're trying to tell us to do good and do this and to do that," he said. "But these boys have been through it, the same way as we did, and they changed — so why can't we?"
In Australia, 85 per cent of young people return to detention within 12 months and a third of them returned within 6 months.
Those are among the highest recidivism rates in the world.
But programs like these are critical in reducing the likelihood of re-offending, said Garner Clancey, an associate professor of criminology at the University of Sydney.
"Programs that connect young people with respected and trusted adults who really are there through the hard times and the good times can make a really potent change in their life," Clancey said.
"Often they've been let down by other adults, often they've been harmed by adults, so finding a strong supportive adult can be incredibly important for young people passing through youth justice systems."
