Prisoners are helping rebuild fire-ravaged Wooroloo Prison Farm

31/10/97

Prisoners are helping to rebuild the fire-ravaged Wooroloo Prison Farm - constructing and upgrading accommodation and learning valuable new skills.

Attorney General Peter Foss said damage to the prison, 50km east of Perth, caused by a bushfire in January, had provided an opportunity to revamp outdated Wooroloo, which has operated as a minimum-security prison since 1970 and was a part of the closely knit Wooroloo community.

The rebuilding project would initially involve nine dormitories with the construction of some new facilities and the upgrading of others. Four dormitories had already been completed with three more nearing completion.

Mr Foss said the project involved the transformation of multi-bed dormitories into single and double-share accommodation with each unit housing up to 11 prisoners.

While contractors had built three of the accommodation units, prisoners - supervised and instructed by a prison officer - had upgraded the other four.

"The remaining two dormitories are being rebuilt by prisoners as part of a nationally accredited, TAFE training program in building and construction," Mr Foss said.

One of the completed dormitories has already been constructed as part of this training program.

The course is being supervised by a prison-based carpentry instructor and is expected to provide training for up to 30 prisoners.

Course skills will include Occupational Health and Safety, first aid, gyprock fixing, wall construction and preparation, carpentry and painting.

"The prisoners at Wooroloo are fortunate to have on-hand highly trained and professional industrial staff and I am told that the course will lead to work opportunities for some prisoners, once released," Mr Foss said.

The work also involves the manufacturing of metal beds for use in the new units and these have been designed following consultation with prisoners on the design best suited to a prison environment.

"More than 170 beds have already been made and will replace the existing beds which have been damaged over a period of time," Mr Foss said.

Media contact: Chris Morris (08) 9321 2222