Standards for health services in Australian prisons

People incarcerated in Australian prisons or detained in custody often face complex problems with their health and wellbeing. These problems can stem from a myriad of sources including the individual’s cultural, religious and sociopolitical background, as well as their understanding of health and illness and any previous experience of the prison system.

It is acknowledged that health services in Australian prisons are run by the relevant state or territory department of health or department of justice (Victoria only). However, the RACGP Standards for health services in Australian prisons are designed to support general practitioners working to achieve better health outcomes for people incarcerated in Australian prisons or detained in custody.

Following the release of the RACGP Standards for health services in Australian immigration detention centres, GPs working in the area of custodial health recommended that the College develop a comparable set of standards to accommodate the special circumstances and challenges facing health services in Australian prisons.