Recommendation 155

This recommendation is assigned to CSNSW and Justice Health NSW.

Recommendation

That recruit and in-service training of prison officers should include information as to the general health status of Aboriginal people and be designed to alert such officers to the foreseeable risk of Aboriginal people in their care suffering from those illnesses and conditions endemic to the Aboriginal population. Officers should also be trained to better enable them to identify persons in distress or at risk of death or harm through illness, injury or self-harm. Such training should also include training in the specific action to be taken in relation to the matters which are to be the subject of protocols referred to in Recommendation 152 (g).

Context

The Royal Commission report at 24.2.51 primarily stated that Prison Medical staff do not receive any specific training on Aboriginal Health or cultural issues. Recommendation 155 is directed at ensuring prison medical staff are aware and adequately trained in relation to health conditions that may affect an Aboriginal person in custody so they can identify and understand foreseeable risk of harm.

Details of implementation

Correctional Officers receive extensive training, including training specifically related to the risks and needs of Aboriginal people in custody including at primary training, upskilling and refresher training.

There is a protocol between Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) and Justice Health that health related notifications/protocols are provided via shared alerts that identify the existence of a condition and a Health Problem Notification Form (HPNF) which provides clinically based recommendations relevant to patient management. Correctional officers also undertake training in relation to understanding and responding to health problem notification forms from Justice Health NSW.

During Primary Training Correctional Officers undertake a face-to-face course titled Aboriginal Cultural Awareness (ACAT) which has been developed by the CSNSW Aboriginal Strategy Directorate (previously Aboriginal Support Program Unit) and is delivered by the Aboriginal Strategy Directorate or an endorsed CSNSW Academy staff member. Module 4 of this course (Managing Aboriginal Offenders at Risk) includes a specific section (Aboriginal Health Status) which provides information relating to risk factors, health conditions and research data. It is also noted that this course can be delivered outside of the Correctional Officer Primary Training as standalone training to be undertaken by any CSNSW staff member.

As outlined in response to recommendation 122, trainee Correctional Officers must complete training and assessment to meet the outcomes of the unit of competency titled CSCOFM026 Protect the safety and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Offenders as part of Primary Training. Key elements of this unit of competency relate to:

• establishing a safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders.
• monitoring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders; and
• responding to identified risks to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders.

It is a mandatory requirement that all Correctional Officers (up to and including the rank of Assistant Superintendent) complete the online Awareness of Managing At Risk Offenders short course.

Relevant training available to Correctional Officers and other staff includes (but is not limited to) the:

• face to face Managing At Risk Inmates course which aligns to 2 units of competency (CSCINT004 Assess offender risk and needs and CSCOFM004 Protect the safety and welfare of vulnerable offenders);
• face to face Understanding and Preventing Suicide course which aligns to 1 unit of competency (CHCCCS003 Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide);
• online Health Problem Notification Form short course available on our Learning Management System; and
• online Aboriginal Cultural Awareness short course available on our Learning Management System.

Justice Health NSW response

Justice Health NSW response to 152(g) As detailed above, Justice Health NSW utilise the Health Problem Notification Form (HPNF) to communicate the clinical needs and risks of adult patients and suitable placement and management requirements to CSNSW and private providers without disclosing a patient’s confidential health information.

A short course on the Health Problem notification short form is outlined above in online training available to Correctional Officers.