West Kimberley Regional Prison

Abstract

The design of the West Kimberley Regional Prison presented a unique opportunity to address the often neglected needs of Indigenous prisoners. It is paradoxical that custodial terms are often the best opportunity many Aboriginal people have to improve their life outcomes. The correctional agency and the designers seized the chance to move beyond ‘warehousing’ Aboriginal inmates to create a custodial environment which allows the inmate to receive education and training, stay connected to country, to maintain relationships with family and kin and to live within a specified social group in an environment that provides privacy and meets health and safety needs.