Let us know if you are concerned about the person you visit or speak with on the phone. We care about the welfare of prisoners and detainees and take these concerns seriously.
Most visits and phone calls go smoothly and can be a welcome break in prison or detention centre routine. However, if you think your relative, partner or friend may be at risk of self-harm or suicide, make sure you immediately notify the relevant prison or detention centre.
If you are concerned for a person’s welfare and/or safety, please immediately contact staff by calling the relevant number below.
Contact numbers (available 24 hours)
Calls to these numbers are for emergency purposes only.
You will be asked to provide your name, the prisoner or detainee's name, your relationship to them and the reason for your concerns.
Note: No information regarding a prisoner can be released to a third party without the prisoner's written consent.
Acacia Prison
Albany Regional Prison
Bandyup Women’s Prison
Banksia Hill Detention Centre
Boronia Pre-Release Centre For Women
Broome Regional Prison
Bunbury Regional Prison
Casuarina Prison
Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison
Greenough Regional Prison
Hakea Prison
Karnet Prison Farm
Melaleuca Women’s Prison
Pardelup Prison Farm
Roebourne Regional Prison
Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison
West Kimberley Regional Prison
Wooroloo Prison Farm
Worried about someone in a prison or detention centre?
Being in prison or a detention centre can be difficult for some people and they may feel that their problems are more than they can deal with. A person may feel so overwhelmed and helpless about being in custody, or as a result of some other life events, that their future appears hopeless.
Tell the prison or detention centre if you feel someone you know might be at risk. If you know the person has experienced suicidal feelings or has self-harmed in the past, please also raise this concern with prison or detention centre staff.
Support is available in prison and detention centres
There are a number of specialist intervention professionals who can provide help for prisoners and detainees, such as psychologists, health staff and staff from the Aboriginal Visitors Scheme.
Some prisons and detention centres also have a Peer Support Program, where prisoners and detainees who have been trained can provide support and listen in confidence to other prisoners and detainees.
Signs to look for
Symptoms and signs may include:
- Self-harming behaviours such as cutting, scratching, burning, punching self or objects.
- Talking about suicide or indirectly referring to suicide (for example “you would all be better off without me”
- Major life changes such as the death of a loved one, major change in health status, change in marital or significant relationship, significant debts, additional sentence, denial of appeal, refusal of eligibility to special programs.
- Visible distress which includes crying and changes to normal behaviour patterns.
- Social withdrawal.
- Displays of helplessness or hopelessness (for example expressing “my life is not worth living”)
- Giving away possessions or tidying up personal affairs (for example making a will).
What help is available to me?
Family Support Services provide prison visitors with a point of contact to understand the visits process and provide welfare support.
These services are at Family Visitor Centres in:
- Albany Regional Prison
- Bandyup Women’s Prison
- Bunbury Regional Prison
- Casuarina Prison
- Hakea Prison
- Melaleuca Women’s Prison
- Wooroloo Prison Farm
Useful external services and resources
Lifeline
lifeline.org.au
13 11 14
Headspace
headspace.org.au
1800 650 890
Beyond Blue
beyondblue.org.au
1300 22 4636
