Introducing New Leash salon
How One Idea, a Generous Gift, and a Whole Lot of Dogs Inspired Our Next Chapter
Sometimes, the right opportunity comes at just the right time.
Last year, we were approached by a long-time supporter with an extraordinary offer: a peppercorn lease on a property on Maling Road in Canterbury. As we stood in front of 108 Maling Road, dreaming about the possibilities, poodle after poodle walked by. That’s when the idea took hold. An idea that has slowly grown legs and paws.
We realised this location would be the perfect opportunity to start working on our long-held dream. A social enterprise that could train and employ the women we support.
What if this space could be home to a dog grooming salon?
One that offers expert grooming with no waitlists, in a thriving local area.
And even more importantly, one that provides real, paid jobs and meaningful training for women rebuilding their lives after prison.
And so, New Leash Salon was born.
We know that jobs and homes break the cycle of incarceration and disadvantage. A woman leaving prison needs somewhere to live and a way to pay for it. That’s why, over the years, we’ve steadily grown the number of homes we offer, and have always worked to support women into employment. But the truth is, very few workplaces are equipped to walk alongside women who are recovering from trauma and institutionalisation. Especially when they’re just starting out.
New Leash is different.
It will offer genuine work in a fast-growing industry. Australians now spend more than a billion dollars a year on pet grooming, and over 40% of Victorians are dog owners. Maling Road, right in the heart of Boroondara where dog registrations have risen 14% since 2021, is the perfect place to meet this demand.
But more importantly, it’s the perfect place to offer opportunities that rebuild lives.
At New Leash, women will learn practical grooming skills while earning a real income. They’ll work alongside Michaela, who has run her own award-winning dog grooming business, has a Diploma of Justice and is passionate about training others. In addition to formal training, Michaela will provide mentoring and support as women build confidence, develop professional skills, and step into long-term employment pathways. Perhaps one day they’ll run their own businesses too. Our Support Workers will continue to provide wraparound support to support women with the social, emotional, and practical challenges they face after release.
Importantly, the entire program has been shaped by the voices of lived experience.
Our Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) has directly informed our service design, staffing model, and workplace policies. Their insights ensure that New Leash is trauma-informed, flexible, and respectful of each woman’s circumstances. We're also working with LEAP and a local artist to co-design a mural for the salon. It will be a daily visual reminder that this is a place of growth, belonging, and hope.
Like everything we do at Prison Network, this new chapter has been a team effort. From our Board’s oversight, to getting planning permits, to wrangling dogs for a photoshoot, to the critical business plan and feasibility study undertaken by Tanarra Social Purpose, every detail has mattered. Expertise from all areas has helped us ensure New Leash is sustainable and set up for long-term success.
And of course, it’s only possible because of the people who believe in us. People like you.
You’ve stood with us through challenges, change, and growth. You’ve helped us hold the door open. Now, you’re helping us build a future.
Because women leaving prison don’t just need a second chance.
They need a real one.
That’s what New Leash is about.
Real work. Real support. Real change.
And yes, real dogs too.