Koori Prisoner Mental Health and Cognitive Function Study: Final Report

The Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Monash University (CFBS) and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) were engaged by the Department of Justice to examine the mental health, cognitive functioning, and social and emotional wellbeing of Koori prisoners in Victoria. The study arose from the policies and priorities articulated by the original Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA) released in 2000 to address Koori overrepresentation in the criminal justice system and the expanded AJA2 of 2006. The study was jointly overseen by Justice Health and the Koori Justice Unit.
A consultancy team comprising Professor James Ogloff, Dr. Karen Adams, Associate Professor Stuart Thomas, Dr Margaret Cutajar (later replaced by Dr. Jenny Patterson) and Mr. Chris Halacas undertook the consultancy. Advice was provided by Mr. Graham Gee (Psychologist), Dr. Ed Heffernan (Psychiatrist and Director, Forensic Mental Health, Queensland) and Ms. Kimina Anderson (Social Worker and Project Manager, Forensic Mental Health, Queensland).
The study was designed in collaboration with the project Steering Committee and a Project Advisory Group, the members of which provided feedback with regards to the design of the study protocols, questionnaire design, data analysis, interpretation of findings, and recommendations.