The death of a friend in jail by suicide prompted former inmate Kelvin Whitwell to become a counsellor on the outside. Now he's calling for WA's prison system to be reformed.
A former WA prisoner who now counsels inmates says he has watched conditions deteriorate since he left prison.Watchdogs and researchers are advocating for people in custody to have access to the same basic health care as other Australians.Readers are advised this article contains references to self-harm and suicide.
Twenty-one per cent of staff said prisoners' access to in-prison health services was "unacceptable" — more than double the proportion in 2020.He said the entire system required a fundamental rethink, including more peer-based support services and a specific unit for therapeutic disability and mental health support in every prison.Mr Whitwell is not alone in his concerns about health care in WA prisons.
The Office of the Inspectorate of Custodial Services also found disability awareness training for custodial staff was "fundamentally inadequate". She said the issues facing WA reflected a broader national failure to take the human rights of prisoners seriously."Earlier this year … Minister Shorten stated that criminal people who had been in prison should not be receiving an NDIS package," Professor Baldry said.In April, the National Disability Insurance Scheme minister said the scheme could not be "the dumping ground for state justice systems to keep Australians safe from violent criminals".
Department Of Justice Wa WA Prisons Death In Custody Prison Suicide Prison Mental Health Prison Disability Support Juvenile Justice Banksia Hill NDIS
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