NSW Prisons: Corrective Services plan Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander-run correctional centre

A specialist NSW prison — managed and staffed by an Indigenous organisation — could be created in Sydney in an effort to reduce Aboriginal incarceration. See the plan here.

An ambitious plan to transform a Sydney prison into an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-focused hub — with culturally informed leaders overseeing the correctional centre — has been revealed.

Corrective Services sources told NewsLocal a high-level team, including Deputy Commissioner Luke Grant, were “establishing a masterplan” to see the specialist facility operated and managed by an Indigenous organisation and Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander staff.

A Corrections officer at the Mary Wade Correctional Centre in Lidcombe.

“This innovative program could be launched at Mary Wade Correctional Centre in Lidcombe, with the possibility of expanding to other centres in regional NSW,” the source said.

Corrective Services Minister Geoff Lee said while the program wasn’t a “government policy” Corrective Services NSW were being encouraged to “investigate innovative solutions to help reduce reoffending in NSW”.

Minister Geoff Lee. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard.

NSW Corrective Services Deputy Commissioner Luke Grant.

“Indigenous incarceration in NSW is too high, so I welcome any evidence based solutions from CSNSW to tackle this difficult problem,” he said.

Meanwhile, A CSNSW spokeswoman confirmed the concept and location of the facility was being “canvassed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, cultural leaders and industry experts”.

A NSW Prison could be transformed into an Indigenous-focused centre with cultural leaders. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“Corrective Services NSW consistently works to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody by creating strong partnerships with Aboriginal organisations and communities,” she said.

“We continuously strive to find meaningful solutions to support the NSW Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Australians, including through systemic changes.

“Corrective Services NSW is committed to ensuring its actions are driven by the lived and worked experiences of our Aboriginal colleagues to tailor how we work to better suit Aboriginal people.”

Sister Inside chief executive Debbie Kilroy said Indigenious facilities, like those proposed by CSNSW “haven’t worked in the past and won’t work now”.

“The Canadian government built specific Aboriginal ‘healing’ prisons in in the 1990’s,” Ms Kilroy said. “They had the Aboriginal community involved in the planning process, but after a few months it was taken over and failed. 

Debbie Kilroy of Sisters Inside. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

“It was a failure — this is a window dressing by Corrective Services and it will not address incarceration rates across the state. 

“All prisons, no matter who they are run by, come with the same culture.”

Ms Kilroy said she feared Aboriginal organisations would be “held responsible” for recidivism levels at the proposed facility.

“We need to refund Aboriginal communities to provide adequate social services,” she said. “If Aboriginal people had safe, stable accommodation, access to appropriate mental health facilities and better healthcare, we would prevent people from becoming criminalised. 

“Prison cannot be the default response to social issues.”