Western Australian universities and the Department of Justice have teamed up to provide nursing students with a special learning opportunity – and foster new generations of prison health care professionals.

Various Universities, including Murdoch University, have entered agreements to place undergraduates into the State’s corrections facilities’ health centres.

Initial placements took place at Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women, Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison, and Bunbury Regional Prison in November/December 2024, with future placements planned for Casuarina Prison and West Kimberley and Broome Regional Prisons.

“It will expose them to a different type of setting they may not have even considered for future employment,” Jacqui Sawle from ECU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery said.

“That’s what we hope – that this partnership will lead to future employees for the Department.”

Department Director of Nursing Melissa Peet said the placements will introduce students to alternative learning opportunities, skills, and working schedules than they would encounter in the hospital system.

“No two days are the same, it is a very exciting and rewarding environment,” she said.

A program involving 24 ECU students at Acacia Prison since April 2023 has already seen positive results.

“We’ve had outstanding feedback about the program,” Ms Sawle said. “Nurses reported being well supported and having excellent skills that they’ve learned.”

The other participating Universities are now eager to offer their undergraduates similar experiences at other facilities.

“We’re grateful we’ve been able to get second and third-year students into areas they probably don’t first consider as places nurses work,” said Murdoch University Lecturer Trish Sinclair.

Ms Peet said seeing how primary health care is delivered to some of the population most in need would help many nurses find their calling.

“People come in at their most vulnerable and they are discharged in much better health than when they came in, so it’s a really rewarding career,” she said. “We do make a difference.”  

A second round of placements for ECU students is currently underway at Bunbury Regional Prison and Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison.