Encore: Vickie's turbulent life in and out of prison, and how she reclaimed her power

Prisoner advocate Vickie Roach spent decades in and out of jail but after studying for her masters degree, she helped change the story for thousands of other prisoners.When Vicki was just two years old, she was given a police record, which enabled authorities to place her into the custody of a family she didn't know.She grew up under the strict religious rule of her adoptive mother, whom she clashed with frequently.Vickie left school at thirteen. It was that year she met her birth mother for the first time, and discovered she was Aboriginal.Decades of trouble followed, including numerous prison terms.Vickie's also known periods of stability, such as after winning back her son after a long-running custody dispute.In 2007, Vickie was awarded her Master's degree while serving her final prison sentence at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Victoria.She was also the sole plaintiff in a ground-breaking legal challenge to the High Court, which returned some prisoners the right to vote.Today, Vickie continues her work as an advocate for the rights of women in prison. Content warning: episode contains mentions of violence, suicide and drug useFurther informationVickie appears in ABC TV's You Cant Ask That - Domestic Violence (survivors) episodeVickie was joint winner of the 2017 Tim McCoy Human Rights AwardAdoption resources and supportJigsaw Australia - search and contactFind and Connect - support for former residents of children's homes, orphanages and institutionsPost-Adoption Support Benevolent Society AustraliaForced Adoption services Government support services website or, contact the Forced Adoption Support Service in your state or territory, call 1800 21 03 13Australian Adoptees NetworkFor immediate support, you can call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 46 36