Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison opened in July 2018 as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility for female prisoners in medium- and minimum-security. It was established as part of the Western Australian Government’s Methamphetamine Action Plan to reduce addiction-driven offending by addressing its root causes. Cyrenian House was contracted to deliver the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) program through a Therapeutic Community (TC) model, making Wandoo the only accredited TC for women in custody across Australasia.
Because Wandoo operates within a custodial setting, its program is referred to as a Modified Therapeutic Community (MTC). Unlike community-based TCs, residents at Wandoo cannot begin reintegration activities in the same way, and decisions are made collaboratively between Cyrenian House and custodial management, balancing therapeutic goals with operational requirements.
Residents at Wandoo participate in a structured, peer-led program designed to address substance dependency and promote personal growth. Within a safe, drug-free environment, they are supported by staff and peers to build insight, take responsibility, and break cycles of addiction and criminal behaviour. The MTC model fosters behavioural change and mutual support, offering many participants their first opportunity to develop a healthier lifestyle in a secure and rehabilitative setting.
This is the third inspection of Wandoo – as a women’s rehabilitation prison – by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services.