Host prison: Broome Regional Prison
The Wyndham work camp, in the East Kimberley, was opened in July 2002.
The camp, which houses up to 20 minimum-security prisoners, is located adjacent to the local airport, five kilometres from the Wyndham township.
The new Wyndham camp will be critical in returning indigenous prisoners to their traditional lands and keeping them close to their families and communities.
As well as re-establishing their traditional links and developing work and life skills, the prisoners have the opportunity to help improve the local community assets and infrastructure.
About a third of prisoners currently at Broome Regional Prison are from the East Kimberley and more than 90 per cent of the prison population are Aboriginal people – many of whom would benefit from the work camp opportunity.
A community consultative committee has been set up with representatives from the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley, TAFE college, Historical Society, Ambulance Service, State Emergency Services, Police, Balalgarra Community, Jardamu Women's Group and the Wyndham Action Group.
Prisoners have been involved in the following projects:
- manufacturing of cane toad traps
- tree planting and landscaping in Kununurra
- construction of new cattle yards at Home Valley
- planting of neem trees for the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM).
The local Picture Gardens, which was under threat of closing because of a lack of volunteers, has been given a reprieve by the work camp, with prisoners on hand Saturday afternoons to help set up for the evening's movie.
Wyndham not only has a very active local committee and shire, but a local nursery donated all surplus plants to the work camp for the prisoners to rejuvenate and use to beautify the town.
Last Updated: 15-Jan-2009
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