Liz, writing from a prison in NSW

Since arriving back at SWCC [Silverwater Correctional Centre] from Western Sydney’s Dillwynia CC on 7 May 2025, there have been no less than 37 days (including six consecutive) the jail has been in lockdown.

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This means 24 hours a day confined to a cell. To date that equates to approximately 40 percent of the inmates’ time in custody. Over recent times, particularly since the Covid pandemic, it has become standard practice on lock-in days for custodial staff to deny inmates access to basic hygiene and sanitary items as well as medical needs and phone access.

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I have always been of the belief that the purpose of a correctional facility is to revoke convicted offenders’ freedom and civil liberties, and to support and assist as best it can to reduce recidivism and release offenders back to the community armed with the appropriate knowledge and tools to remain a positive law abiding and contributing member of society.

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By writing this letter I hope to educate and inform on systemic and important issues often ignored and covered up, and hopefully be a loud voice that can help affect change at Silverwater and all women’s prisons, that would benefit more than just the women crying out from behind cell doors.

Carolyn, writing from a prison in VIC

Sometimes we spend days at a time in lockdown. The only day we are rarely locked down is a Sunday.

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More recently, we have been segregated into individual gated and locked precincts so that we no longer have access to walk or exercise outside of our designated precinct. I personally have had my lawyer call the prison only to be told that we are in lockdown, so the call can’t go through. I have had important medical appointments cancelled, told they will be rebooked and they never are.

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Evening meals would be delivered hot at 3pm or earlier and there was no way to reheat them in the cell. Medications were delivered through the trapdoor and other than that, there was no interaction with anyone at all.

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It was literally solitary confinement.

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Australia needs to know about this terrible situation.

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Most probably won’t care, but some will. In a split second anyone can end up in prison. We live in what I thought was the luckiest country in the world. If the world knew what was happening in here they would be, and should be, shocked.

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I hope that someone on the outside is able to demonstrate some empathy for the women in here who are basically suffering solitary confinement when these lockdowns are happening.

Elias, writing from a prison in TAS

My friend has a record of the last six years – one year we were locked down over half the year prior to Covid. At the moment in max normal we routinely only come out for half day instead of full and usually get two-to-three day lockdowns.

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It’s an ongoing issue but I don’t think people realise the effects they cause.

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Usually visits go ahead but they do get cancelled regularly on lockdowns, and health is hit or miss during lockdowns - inmates have to complain a lot for basic health.