Guest speaker Will Dodson told us of HMA Tarrangower.
Posted by Brian Thomas
on Mar 11, 2012
Will has worked as a prison officer for nine years and has progressed to the role of supervisor. He enjoys the work and the progress which is being made in caring for women prisoners.
Tarrangower was opened in 1987 as a minimum security prison for women.Originally it housed 40 inmates , that has now increased to 75.. The women are expoected to work, to be educated and to attend programs to aid their return to the community. Asian women make up 10 to 15 % of the prisoners and so language education is a factor. Contact visits are allowed on Saturday and Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm . A two bedroom house is available to enable residential visits so women can apply to have their children visit Friday to Sunday. Community work is important and the prisoners have provided Senior Citizens in Maldon with meals since 1987 , they work at the Maldon Cemetery as well as the Campbells Creek Senior citizens and the CFA.
Environmental considerations are an important concern and for example they have reduced water usage by 50%.
Mothers can have children up to 5yrs of age in Tarrangower and pregnant women can apply to have their baby remain with them, presently there are 7 who attend childcare twice per week. They have a nurse once per month and have playgroup on a Thursday.
Careful case management is critical and everyone develops a plan to work on behaviour, education rehabilitation etc.
The entire program is based on developing and maintaining trust and respect. In regard to drugs , the dog squad searches all visitors and and there is an accommodation search twice per month.
Up to 30-% of crimes are drug related. Of the staff 50% are male , important to demonstrate respect from males. The only industry at the prison is a working Angus farm and so milking cows and feeding of calves is done.
Tarrangower is a well run ,effective facility.
Tarrangower was opened in 1987 as a minimum security prison for women.Originally it housed 40 inmates , that has now increased to 75.. The women are expoected to work, to be educated and to attend programs to aid their return to the community. Asian women make up 10 to 15 % of the prisoners and so language education is a factor. Contact visits are allowed on Saturday and Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm . A two bedroom house is available to enable residential visits so women can apply to have their children visit Friday to Sunday. Community work is important and the prisoners have provided Senior Citizens in Maldon with meals since 1987 , they work at the Maldon Cemetery as well as the Campbells Creek Senior citizens and the CFA.
Environmental considerations are an important concern and for example they have reduced water usage by 50%.
Mothers can have children up to 5yrs of age in Tarrangower and pregnant women can apply to have their baby remain with them, presently there are 7 who attend childcare twice per week. They have a nurse once per month and have playgroup on a Thursday.
Careful case management is critical and everyone develops a plan to work on behaviour, education rehabilitation etc.
The entire program is based on developing and maintaining trust and respect. In regard to drugs , the dog squad searches all visitors and and there is an accommodation search twice per month.
Up to 30-% of crimes are drug related. Of the staff 50% are male , important to demonstrate respect from males. The only industry at the prison is a working Angus farm and so milking cows and feeding of calves is done.
Tarrangower is a well run ,effective facility.