A short 14-week transition timeframe saw the handover from Sodexo Australia back to the Department of Justice on 4 April 2020 with a name change for the facility and a new focus on women remand prisoners.
The tight deadline to transition meant the Department faced some challenges including the employment of Sodexo staff into the public sector and completing the transition while the prison was fully operational.
Corrective Services Commissioner, Mike Reynolds, said the project team also had to manage some unexpected circumstances.
"The shorter than usual transition timeframe was further complicated by the worsening COVID-19 situation in Australia, headlined by the imposition of WA’s first lockdown in March 2020," Commissioner Reynolds said.
"That added to the already significant logistical challenges the transition team faced in merging two very different operational systems and blending two staff cultures into a cohesive prison management system."
Despite the impact of the pandemic the project team, assisted by prison staff, delivered the contractual requirements for transition.
"I’m pleased to say most of those transition challenges have subsequently been, or are being, addressed," he said.
The Department acknowledged the latest report on Melaleuca from the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services which is based on an inspection of the prison in November 2020, seven months after the transfer.
The Department supports, or supports in principle, 13 of the 15 report recommendations. Six of the supported recommendations have already been implemented.
Commissioner Reynolds said the Department welcomed the Inspector’s acknowledgement that the prison was moving forward positively under the experience and guidance of the new management team.
"There is still work to be done but great strides have been taken to smoothly and successfully transition the facility back into public hands," Commissioner Reynolds said.
"There is a strong sense of purpose and direction for Melaleuca with a clear pathway to achieving better outcomes for staff and providing for the needs of women prisoners in our care."
