It is my privilege to announce two new minimum security units and the mother and baby unit at Mary Hutchinson’s women prison will be titled ‘the Dr Vanessa Goodwin cottages’, in honour of my friend and colleague, the late Vanessa Goodwin.
Vanessa was passionate about rehabilitation and helping people get their lives back on track and become productive members of society following their release from prison.
These new facilities will honour her significant legacy by enhancing the rehabilitation prospects for women who find themselves within Tasmania’s criminal justice system.
Work has now commenced on the new facilities that will provide an additional 25 minimum security beds to accommodate female prisoners within the Tasmania Prison Service (TPS).
The mother and baby unit will also provide a safe and specially designed environment for new mothers, pregnant women and new born babies, allowing increased opportunities for parent/child attachment in prison.
This continues our strong record of investment when it comes to prison infrastructure, and will not only keep the community safe but also allow greater opportunities for prisoners to rehabilitate.
The 2017-18 Budget committed $2.6 million in capital funding for these works that are expected to be completed toward the end of this year.
I look forward to the opening of ‘the Dr Vanessa Goodwin cottages’ that will honour Vanessa’s contribution and help achieve our vision for prisoners to have greater prospects for rehabilitation and reintegration back into the community.