Work camps have not been fully utilised
Work camps in Western Australia have remained underutilised, with some consistently full and others persistently below capacity due to barriers such as remoteness, limited staffing, and complex approval processes. Aboriginal prisoners are notably under-represented, partly due to systemic challenges in attaining minimum-security status, and many prisoners lack awareness of the reintegration benefits these camps offer.
Each work camp offered different opportunities
Each work camp offers distinct rehabilitation, reintegration, and community engagement opportunities aligned with departmental policy. However, differences in supervision models, staffing levels, and community preferences influence how these are delivered. While some camps support unsupervised community work, others require officer oversight, and employment varies from camp-based to community-based roles.
Work camps offered reasonable reintegration opportunities
Work camps offer meaningful reintegration opportunities with most camps enabling prisoners – supervised or not – to engage in activities that build life skills, social connections, and a sense of contribution. However, access to formal life skills training and education varies, with only some camps having dedicated staff or facilities. Programs like the Prisoner Employment Program (PEP) and Home Leave also remain underutilised due to complex approval processes and logistical barriers. Despite these challenges, prisoners consistently expressed appreciation for the rehabilitative value of work camps, particularly the chance to reconnect with community life and prepare for release.
Work camps offered benefits for the prisoners, communities and the Department
Work camps deliver significant benefits to prisoners, local communities, and the Department by fostering positive community engagement, offering reparative and reintegration opportunities, and operating more cost-effectively than many host prisons. Despite underutilisation and staffing constraints at some sites, work camps contribute valuable labour to communities, often maintaining public spaces that would otherwise go neglected. They also help prisoners build self-worth, skills, and social networks. However, the absence of a dedicated departmental champion for work camps has led to inconsistent practices and missed opportunities to maximise their potential. Reinstating a Work Camps Manager could enhance coordination, promote equitable access, and support strategic expansion to ease prison overcrowding and improve reintegration outcomes.