New $9.2 million medical unit at Loddon Prison to address reoffending, provide space for rehabilitation

Prisoners have often been taken into the Castlemaine community for medical or dental care, placing pressure on local services, while there was a lack of space for prisoners to take part in offender programs.

The medium security Loddon Prison was designed to specialise in behavioural programs for drug offending, family violence and other offender programs, but the out-of-date facilities meant it was unable to live up to its potential.

It was creating a number of issues, Corrections Victoria acting commissioner Rod Wise said.

“If prisoners are returned to the community and they’ve got unmet medical needs, then they are at higher risk of lapsing back into offending behaviour,” he said.

Almost two years ago, construction started on a $9.2 million medical unit inside the boundaries of Loddon Prison.

The unit – known as the Yaluk Centre, which means “river” or “creek” in the local Dja Dja Wurrung language – includes new consultation and treatment rooms, more space for rehabilitation programs, six video courts, a pharmacy and a dental clinic.

It was officially opened on Thursday.

The centre also allows prisoners to access an opioid substitute therapy program.

Buprenorphine is the most common drug smuggled into the prison grounds, often in patch form, making it easy to conceal.

The prescription drug is used as a replacement for heroin or methadone dependence and is longer lasting than morphine. 

The problem is not unique to Loddon. Continued opioid dependence remains an issue across prisons in Victoria.

It is more common than forms of amphetamine, such as ice – although ice also finds its way inside the Loddon Prison grounds.

Loddon Middleton Prison general manager Peter McCoombe said staff rely on intelligence gathering and random and targeted urine sample collections to monitor drugs that enter the prison.

He said there had been a decrease in drug user statuses in the last 12 months, and expected the new Yaluk Centre would result in a further reduction.

“The prisoners are loving the new environment, it’s certainly a lot easier for everyone in management,” Mr McCoombe said.

“Before this facility was built, we were managing out of three or four different areas.

“It brings the whole team together now.

“Not only that, it allows all service providers to engage with one another.”

The modern medical unit stands in stark contrast to the rest of the prison yard, which is dotted with 90s-style units and structures for prisoner training.

Further works are likely in the future as the prisoner population pushes over 500.

The meeting rooms within the new medical unit gives the prison the space for more rehabilitation and offender programs, as well as Koori programs such as the Healing workshop, Beyond Survival.

Member for Bendigo West attended the opening, and said improving rehabilitation services would help to reduce reoffending rates.

The centre was funded in the 2015/16 state government budget.

“This new facility was a much needed facility given that the old medical unit was built back in 1990 and was no longer suitable or adequate to accommodate the increasing number of prisoners here at Loddon Prison,” Ms Edwards said.

“What is really important about this program here at Loddon Prison... is that it’s about ensuring that prisoners have rehabilitation, good access to services so that when they are introduced back into the community, the rates of reoffending are significantly reduced.

“That’s a great outcome for everyone and makes for a safer Victoria.”

Safety at the Loddon Prison precinct was brought into the spotlight in 2016 following the death of inmate Hizir Ferman in the adjoining Middleton Prison.

Ferman had been transferred from the maximum security Barwon Prison three days earlier.

He allegedly attacked guards at Middleton and barricaded himself in his cell before tear gas was used. Ferman was found dead shortly after.

A prison staff member was taken to hospital in January following an alleged stabbing and an inmate was hospitalised in June last year after an attack.

Assaults within Loddon Prison have increased since 2014, but Corrections Victoria suggested this increase was a result of the opening of the Middleton annex which resulted in more than 200 extra prisoners being brought to the area.

Mr McCoombe said it was impossible to completely eliminate violent behaviour from prisons, but prison staff were constantly engaging with prisoners to try to create a safer environment.

“The figures we’ve seen from the 17/18 period are saying there has been a reduction on... instances in our prison,” he said.

“There are assaults, it’s a prison environment, but they’re low level assaults.

“We’re gathering intel… by engaging. And challenging behaviour has seen a reduction.”

The Yaluk Centre was opened with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country.