appropriate programs the Mental Health Branch, in conjunction with Queensland Health’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Policy Unit, is in the process of forming an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Policy Reference Group.

In 1991, the Department of Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs reviewed medical services for young people in detention. Strategies to fully implement this recommendation are being considered.

WESTERN A USTRALIA

The standard of health care available within is considered to be at least equivalent to that of the community.

The Health Service operates primarily as a general practitioner styled health service and relies extensively on the Health Department to provide other health services including specialist, referral and outpatient services to prisoners. In circumstances where a prisoner requires treatment of a medical, dental or optical nature, which can not be given in a prison due to impracticality or urgency, the Superintendent arranges to have the prisoner treated outside the prison.

Nursing cover is available at two Department for Community Services juvenile institutions for 16 hours per day. (There is current consideration to increase this to 24-hour a day cover.) The third institution can access this in the event of any emergency. A private practitioner contracted to the centre, routinely visits once a week for general checkups, etc. The service is equally accessible to all inmates. In the event of a medical situation outside the nursing cover period, or where the emergency cannot be dealt with by a locum doctor the child would be taken to hospital.

Juvenile inmates have access to a dentist who visits every two weeks.

SOUTH

Correctional Services is committed to the principle that the provision of medical services in prisons should not, as far as possible, differ from standards prevailing in the community.

In keeping with this, the health services available to prisoners in are of a high standard. For example, the provision of modern infirmaries at the Remand Centre and Yatala Labour Prison (and in

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