The role of Prison Industries
The Prison Industries Business Unit provides a link between the Department's management, prisons and external stakeholders, in all matters related to prison industries.
It provides direction on industry policy and procedures for prisons, and sets up partnerships between prisons and private sector organisations that have established businesses.
The unit advises and assists prisons in maintaining industries that are operated in a realistic, business-like, customer-focussed work environment, which closely replicates the outside world.
Industries within prisons give prisoners opportunities to become work-ready, and develop vocational skills that will increase their chances of gaining and retaining work on release. They contribute greatly to maintaining the good order of a prison while meeting prisoners' rehabilitative needs.
Experience shows that where prison industries operate on a 'commercial' basis, the training, production and management objectives for prisoners are achieved to the highest level.
The Department's aim is to develop these industries to recognise the:
- employment demands of prisons
- training and development needs of prisoners
- self-sufficiency needs of prison operations (food, clothing, construction, maintenance, etc) and
- financial benefits to the Department.
Prison industries plays an important role in:
- paying back the community
- building partnerships with local business and
- helping business compete with imports.
Prison industries partners with local businesses to:
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provide opportunities for business to compete with imports
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give business access to export opportunities and prevent manufacturing from going offshore
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provide labour
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become a small player in dominant or growing industries, where there is already a high degree of competition and
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assist with start-up opportunities.
Prison industries recognises the sensitivity of the approach it needs to take in the private sector to protect business and workers. The Department works under the requirements of a national competition policy and a code of practice determined by Correctional Industry Business Development in Australia.
Prison industries engage in areas of business that do not threaten Western Australian or regional businesses.
