Bandyup Women’s Prison is the only female prison in Western Australia that caters for all security classifications.
Bandyup holds women on remand awaiting a court appearance, assesses newly-sentenced prisoners, and manages women who are completing sentences.
The prison works with the Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women, which manages suitable women ready for a minimum-security environment.
It aims to provide women with an environment that encourages respect for women themselves and others, embraces diverse cultural backgrounds and provides the best opportunities for positive change.
|
In brief |
|
|
Opened: |
January 1970 |
|
Gender of population: |
Female |
|
Security level: |
Maximum, medium, and minimum |
|
Design capacity: |
183 |
| Current capacity (as at 30 October 2009): | 184 |
|
Location: |
22 km north-east of Perth |
|
Visiting: |
Monday to Friday: 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm. Saturday / Sunday and Public Holidays: A maximum of three adults and children per visit. Book visits on (08) 9374 8710 (Mon-Fri: 9.00 am – noon and 1.00 pm – 3.30 pm) Bandyup Women’s Prison is accessible by car from Middle Swan Road in Guildford. |
History
Bandyup Prison has managed female prisoners since 1970 when Corrective Services took over the site at West Swan, and transferred all the women prisoners from Fremantle Prison.
Fremantle Prison could not cope with the overcrowding in its female section, and the women suffered from limited opportunities in the confined facility.
Bandyup added in 2009 a self-care accommodation unit on the existing prison site to provide for another 40 women prisoners.
Day-to-day operations
Bandyup provides prisoners with work and other prison-based opportunities and activities, including self-development and therapeutic programs. Women are rewarded for demonstrating a keen work ethic and effort.
As well as standard-living units, women can reside in a drug-free unit, earn privilege self-care accommodation or transitional accommodation, which focuses on developing life skills to ensure a smooth transition from prison life to the community or a pre-release centre. A mother and baby unit allows babies up to 12-months old to live with their mothers.
Nursing, psychological and counselling services are offered.
Prisoners are employed to help maintain the prison, or on contracts for private industry and Government agencies, providing practical work to repay the community for their crimes. As part of this, traineeships and vocational skills training are available to prisoners.
A wide range of educational programs are offered, ranging from basic literacy and numeracy to tertiary level.
A variety of therapeutic programs help prisoners address their offending behaviour, focusing on such issues as substance use, anger management and self-development.
Contact details
Bandyup Women's Prison
100 Middle Swan Road
MIDDLE SWAN WA 6055
Telephone: (08) 9374 8700
Facsimile: (08) 9274 3134
Postal Address
Bandyup Women's Prison
PO Box 100
GUILDFORD WA 6055
Last Updated: 2-Nov-2009
[ Back to Top ]
