Wooroloo Prison Farm was undergoing much-needed cultural change, but also had to improve:
- communication by management
- its staff performance appraisal process
- its high levels of workers’ compensation
The Department was taking too long to assess whether prisoners were suitable to work and recreate outside the prison fence, which was affecting prisoners’ employment and re-entry opportunities.
Prisoners at Wooroloo, along with those at other prisons, were feeling the impact of significant cuts to education and training.
Aboriginal prisoners were under-represented in higher-paying work positions.
The canteen service for prisoners was not working well – it had a limited range of items for purchase and poor stock controls. There were also no budgeting or healthy-eating educational programs linked to the canteen.
The chance for approved prisoners to play sports outside the prison was a real highlight, but there were limited recreation options for prisoners who could not leave the prison grounds.
All prisoners from Wooroloo who had external medical appointments were escorted by two officers and had to wear restraints, even though the some were allowed out unsupervised for work or home leave.
The prison’s drug management strategy largely overlooked support and rehabilitation for prisoners to curb their drug use.
Security at Wooroloo was undermined by the fact the prison’s control room was sometimes left unstaffed.