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14 October 2025
In 1981, a Special Care Unit (SCU) opened at Long Bay to help inmates experiencing emotional distress. At the time, it was considered groundbreaking, not because it offered therapy, but because it focused on helping people change their attitudes and learn new skills.
As part of Mental Health Month, we’re looking back at how mental health support in NSW correctional centres has evolved, and why it matters to all of us.
“I don’t think there will ever be anything like the Special Care Unit,” says Gillian Tulloh, Senior Psychologist Programs at South Coast Correctional Centre.
“It was groundbreaking in its day, and our current therapeutic units have evolved from the work done at that time.”
The SCU gave inmates a safe and structured space to talk, learn, and grow. It offered therapy groups, communication sessions, and a contract system that encouraged people to take responsibility for their actions.
Even though officers didn’t receive formal mental health training, their approach changed. They learned to support inmates with empathy instead of force. This shift, from control to communication, was one of the unit’s most powerful legacies.
That legacy continues today. Mental health care in NSW correctional centres is no longer just the job of psychologists. Custodial staff now work closely with clinical teams, and there’s a stronger focus on understanding what people have been through.
These days, there's a deeper understanding of how adverse childhood experiences can impact mental health and even influence brain development. Regular access to counselling is now recognised as a vital part of managing mental wellbeing in custody.
This shift in thinking has influenced the wider correctional system. Officers increasingly recognise that supporting inmates’ mental health is a shared responsibility.
“Custodial staff historically viewed their role as strictly security, but that mindset has shifted,” explains Tulloh.
Psychologists and medical staff are now recognised as integral members of the correctional team, which has led to better communication, shared goals, and more effective outcomes for those in our care.
Mental health care in custody has come a long way, but challenges remain. There aren’t enough psychologists to meet growing demand, and transitions between prison and community care can be inconsistent.
Even so, there are positive changes. New programs help inmates build better relationships, improve their mental health, and prepare for life after prison. These programs are open to everyone, not just those considered high-risk.
“There’s a degree of fluctuation in what’s considered best practice,” Tulloh says,
“but the current movement toward trauma-informed and wellbeing-oriented approaches is promising.”
She keeps a quote from Maya Angelou pinned above her desk:
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
It’s a fitting reflection of how mental health care in custody continues to grow with compassion, collaboration, and a commitment to doing better.
Supporting mental health in custody isn’t just about helping individuals, it makes correctional facilities safer, improves the chances of successful reintegration, and strengthens our communities.
During Mental Health Month, it’s a good reminder that when we treat people with empathy and care, even in the most complex systems, we all benefit.
Discover more about mental health support and the role of psychologists in correctional centres. Read more if you are interested in a career as a psychologist with Corrective Services NSW.
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