Meet Goulburn Supermax prison boss: Governor Faith Slatcher

Aussie prison boss shares how she talks down some of the toughest and most dangerous inmates and reveals whether jail life really is like an episode of Wentworth.

The unassuming boss of the Goulburn Supermax prison once wanted to be an archaeologist.

But Faith Slatcher didn’t enjoy the subject at university, so deferred her studies to try other jobs.

She finally found her niche when she joined Corrective Services more than 30 years ago.

It was the right fit — and she never looked back.

“I am a people person,” the now Governor said.

Those who have seen her in action agree, citing the diminutive’s figure cool and calm demeanour in talking down some the biggest, toughest, misbehaving types.

Governor Faith Slatcher said prisons are nothing like what people see on TV. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

One of her pet phrases — “Do you really want to do this?” — has deflated offenders and quickly de-escalated potentially violent situations.

Governor Slatcher has an easy manner and she believes that “If you bring aggression you will get aggression back.”

During her 30-year career, Governor Slatcher has worked at some of the toughest, mainly male, prisons — from Long Bay to Silverwater (both in Sydney) — and served as Governor of Lithgow and Bathurst jails, also in New South Wales.

“I like to do something different. I have moved around a lot, she said.”

The veteran officer has seen it all, from offenders hiding razor blades in their mouths to fights.

But mostly, her communication with inmates is very cordial and they often have a laugh.

She dismisses suggestions from the public that being in prison is like episodes from TV series’ Wentworth or Prisoner.

“It is nothing like that,” she said.

Governor Faith Slatcher runs the Supermax which houses the highest risk offenders. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

In her current role, overseeing 400 prisoners at Goulburn, near Canberra, Governor Slatcher has ushered in radical changes with the imprimatur of the Corrective Services Commissioner Kevin Corcoran.

One of the latest changes that has led to improvements on the inside has been giving prisoners their own tablets which they can keep in the cells and watch entertainment packages such as movies and music.

She said it has significantly eased tensions and reduced the number of assaults between inmates and between inmates and staff.

She has also had oversight of the scrapping of racially-segregated exercise yards in Goulburn maximum security main jail, which has been a roaring success.

“A lot of them know each other anyway,” she said

“There was a lot of shaking of hands and slapping on the back.

“It was an instant success.”

Supermax inside Goulburn Correctional Centre where they run the Countering Violent Extremism program for inmates. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Governor Slatcher is an advocate of the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program that is being run for terror offenders and the progression out of the Supermax to lower security classifications like the mini-max within Supermax and then out to the maximum security main jail.

She said the program helps inmates prepare for their eventual release in to the community when “it is safe to do so”.

She has previously talked about the goal of modifying prisoner’s behaviour and said it is possible but it is all about playing the long game. She said it is not a quick fix, but can sometimes it can take years.

“Over time and years I have watched people change. It is incremental but it does happen,” she said.