The State of Western Australia has control of a new women’s prison following the transfer of Melaleuca Remand and Reintegration Facility back to public hands last weekend.
The prison has been renamed the Melaleuca Women’s Prison and now provides WA’s Corrective Services with more rehabilitative opportunities and greater flexibility for prisoner cohort management.
The 260-bed prison was returned to the State following the early end to private operator Sodexo’s contract, which had been due to end in 2021.
Previous Melaleuca staff were offered and accepted the opportunity of transitioning to the public sector to remain working at the prison.
The process of transitioning the management of the facility from Sodexo to the State of Western Australia commenced last December and was overseen by the Department of Justice.
As stated by Corrective Services Minister Francis Logan:
“The transfer of Melaleuca prison back to public hands gives the State far more options to better manage Western Australia’s female offender population.
“It also paves the way for the planned overhaul of how we manage female offenders in the State.
“The McGowan Government demonstrated its commitment to reduce re-offending rates among female prisoners with the creation of the Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison for women in 2018.
“The Wandoo alcohol and other drug treatment prison is an Australian first and has remained drug free since its inception, which is unheard of in virtually any prison around the world.
“Now with the return of the Melaleuca facility, we will have greater flexibility within the female prison estate to move prisoner cohorts as needed, which will also help address rehabilitative needs.
“I would like to thank all the Department of Justice staff who worked with the private operator Sodexo to ensure a smooth transition of the facility back to public sector management after Sodexo’s contract was ended early.
“Thank you also to all the prison officers who have been sworn in these last few days for signing up to help female offenders on their rehabilitative journeys.
“Many of the women who enter custody are from disadvantaged backgrounds, have been subjected to family violence and have low self-esteem.
“The new Melaleuca Women’s Prison will aim to make them job-ready with the ability to reintegrate as valuable members of society.
“The new Melaleuca prisoner uniforms have also been made by other female prisoners at Bandyup Women’s Prison.”
