Psychological injury claims among West Australian prison officers have surged, according to a recent report from the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services. The report reveals that claims for psychological injuries have more than doubled over the past six years, increasing by 110% from 81 claims in 2019 to 170 claims in 2024. This rise significantly outpaces the increase in physical injury claims, which have also risen but at a much lower rate. Psychological claims now represent a quarter of all workers' compensation claims in the prison system.

Eamon Ryan, the Inspector of Custodial Services, noted that the report was prompted by ongoing staff shortages, which are often attributed to high rates of workers' compensation claims. "We did this report because we're constantly seeing high rates of staff shortages, and one of the reasons commonly given for the staff shortages is high rates of workers' compensation," Ryan stated.

The report highlights systemic issues within the Department of Justice that need to be addressed to reverse this trend. It recommends a comprehensive review of the workers’ compensation and injury management processes. Between 2023 and 2024, psychological injury claims rose by 77%, while physical injury claims increased by 27%. Ryan attributed the sharp rise in psychological claims to changes in the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023, which placed greater emphasis on psychosocial claims.

"Corrections work is difficult work — it can be dangerous, it can be volatile," Ryan explained. "It's an environment that has inherent risk, and so you can understand there are higher rates of claims. It does not necessarily mean harm is inevitable."

The findings come amid growing concerns about overcrowding in WA's prison system. The Department of Justice has acknowledged that nearly 80 prisoners were sleeping on mattresses on the floor in two major prisons in 2024. The report also indicated that one of WA's largest prisons continues to violate national and international human rights standards due to overcrowding.

Andy Smith, secretary of the WA Prison Officers Union, attributed the rise in psychological harm among prison staff to inadequate management and funding from the state government. "I can tell you categorically, we've got a prison system that is bursting at the seams," Smith said. "The government needs to recognize that they've allowed the system to just fall into a massive pit."

Bronwyn Hendry, a former prison officer who worked at Bunbury Regional Prison from 2021 to 2023, reported suffering psychological injuries due to sexual harassment and daily exposure to violence and self-harm. "Prisoners will smother themselves in their own faeces … and a prison officer has to handle that," Hendry recounted. "We'll attend a medical emergency and they'll throw their semen onto you as you enter the cell."

Hendry was involved in a significant psychological harm case where WorkSafe WA sought to prosecute her former employer, the Department of Justice. However, the case was dropped in September based on new evidence. She is currently pursuing civil action against the Department of Justice in Federal Court.

The Inspector of Custodial Services' report also pointed out major shortcomings in the Department of Justice's Workers' Compensation Strategy, which was launched in 2021 with $3.9 million in funding. The report stated, "The Department of Justice has struggled to implement its initiatives effectively. Support staff were not placed in prisons as planned, and new systems to manage claims have been delayed."

These issues have led to reactive case management, poor communication, and widespread perceptions of misuse and dysfunction within the system. The Department of Justice has accepted the report's recommendation to review its compensation and injury management processes to develop a model based on industry best practices. This review will explore various measures, including increasing resources for the Workers' Compensation Team and implementing early intervention programs for employees.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice said it is committed to working with stakeholders, including representative unions, to implement meaningful changes in the workplace. "The Department has worked closely with Worksafe to ensure compliance, and we will continue to deliver on our commitment to a Safer Corrections for everyone," the spokesperson said.

Hendry emphasized the need for a change in senior management within WA's prison system to improve conditions. "You have to drain the dam. You have to get rid of the people who have been in these positions for a very long time," she said. "You have to revise the whole structure."