Pregnancy and childcare

To be eligible, an applicant must be a woman who:

• expects a custodial sentence or is received into prison custody who can demonstrate that they were the primary carer of their infant or pre-school child prior to their imprisonment.
• is pregnant and is due to give birth while in prison.

Applications can be submitted while the woman is:

• in the community on bail or about to attend Court where it is likely a custodial sentence will be imposed
• remanded or sentenced into custody.

Application process for the Living with Mum Program:

• In prison: The applicant (woman) completes the LWM Program application form and submits it to the LWM Program Support Worker at the prison.
• In the community: If this is a pre-sentence application, the legal representative submits the application on behalf of the applicant.

Once the application is received, the LWM Program Support Worker interviews the applicant and/or talks to the legal representative (where required) prior to the application being submitted for approval.

The interview (phone or in person) with the LWM Program Support Worker will review:

• the reason for the application to the LWM Program
• the applicant’s family history
• obtain written consent for information to be exchanged with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), Child Protection background check and Justice Health (the agency that oversees applicant’s health care whilst in custody).

Once the application report and supporting documents are prepared, it is submitted to the LWM Operational Steering Committee for consideration. The LWM Operational Steering Committee then make a recommendation based on all the information and supporting documentation to the Deputy Commissioner, Custodial Operations, Corrections Victoria, who has the delegated ability from the Secretary to make the final decision.

The Deputy Commissioner advises the applicant and prison General Manager of their decision in writing.

If the application is approved, arrangements are made for the child to reside in the prison.

If the application is not approved, the applicant is provided with an explanation and appropriate counselling and support. If the applicant does not accept the decision, an appeal may be lodged.

How the application is assessed:

The LWM Operational Steering Committee reviews all applications made to the LWM Program. Consideration of each application is based on the best interests of the child and must include:

• a summary of the applicant’s offence and remand/sentence status including earliest release date.
• assessment of the applicant including their response to imprisonment, program participation, conduct, incidents, and a detailed social history.
• the applicant’s reason for requesting to have the child in custody.
• history of the child, including age, siblings, other family members, known medical condition(s) and profile development.
• details and assessment of child’s current placement (if the child is born).
• any involvement with Child Protection and the mother’s history of protective behaviour towards her children.
• whether the applicant has legal custody of the child.
• a review of the suitability of the proposed external carer nominated by the applicant to care for the child if the applicant is unable to continue to care for the child in prison or in the event of a prison emergency.
• copies of immunisations, Medicare card and birth certificate of the child.
• a letter from the child’s external parent (where applicable) supporting the mother’s application for their child reside in the prison.
• plans to transition the mother and child back into the community at the end of the mother’s custodial sentence.

How long the assessment takes?

Assessment of an application occurs at the earliest opportunity. Priority is given to applications made by prisoners in the late stages of pregnancy or who are breast-feeding their babies at the time of their reception into prison.

In some circumstances there will be unavoidable delays, depending on the complexity of the application.

Applicants who are accepted into the LWM Program reside in dedicated units that meet community standards for the safe, and secure housing of children.  Dedicated Mothers and Children Units are available at both DPFC and Tarrengower Prison. These units are cottage style living with self-contained kitchens, living areas, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

Cell accommodation is not appropriate for the program and as such, applicants who reside in this type of accommodation will not be eligible.

The LWM Program has full-time LWM Program Support Workers who are responsible for the running and administration, which includes regular monitoring of the safety and wellbeing of all children involved.

The LWM Program Support Workers also oversee the delivery of a number of programs that assist prisoners to enhance their parenting skills and confidence as parents. These programs include early childhood health and development and a Maternal and Child Health Nurse visits both prisons on a regularly basis to assist with nutritional and health requirements of babies and young children.

It is understood that at times, LWM Program participants will need to attend various appointments such as: Court, programs, medical, recreation and education, which children cannot attend.  Participants will be required to nominate alternative caregivers to assist in providing parenting support.

The two types of caregivers are:

• Internal caregivers are women prisoners nominated by the mother, pending the completion of a suitability assessment
• External caregivers are members of the community nominated by the mother. External caregivers provide support when participants are unable to care for their child, when the child is visiting friends or relatives or for when the child must be removed from the prison for their health or safety.

The Deputy Commissioner can withdraw LWM Program participants at any time. This is most likely to occur if the participant is:

• involved in the commission of a serious prison offence
• produces a positive drug result
• moved to a hospital, or
• transferred to a protection or management unit, which is not considered suitable for accommodating a child.

Withdrawal from the LWM Program can also occur if prison management believe the good order security or management of the prison is compromised or it is no longer in the child’s best interests.

New receptions:

All new mothers and children approved to participate in the LWM Program must complete a 14-day period of protective quarantine within the dedicated LWM units. This is to ensure that the mother and/or child do not present with symptoms of COVID-19 before they have access to the other women accommodated at the prison.

• Residents under quarantine are able to move freely within the unit but must remain within the unit until they have completed the 14-day quarantine period and have been medically cleared. 

• All welfare and medical services are delivered to the mother and child either via a remote service tool or dressed in full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) attire. The units are self-catering, so food and supplies are delivered to the unit for the mother to manage.

Community permits:

• Phased return to childcare, Kinder and Playgroups (Living with Mum Program): Allows a child to leave the prison to attend a childcare centre, playgroup and kinder.   Whilst in attendance at the childcare, Kinder or playgroup venue, children will be subject to the requirements of the venues COVIDSafe plan

• Visits in the Community: Children residing in custody at the DPFC and Tarrengower Prison will be able to have visits in the community with an approved carer when COVIDSafe restrictions are within the ‘Last Step’ and ‘COVIDNormal Step’ of the Corrections Victoria Roadmap. Procedures associated with child visits in the community with an approved carer have been adjusted to reduce the risk of COVID-19 entering and spreading within correctional facilities.

Visits:

For the most up-to-date information on prison visits during the pandemic, visit the Contacting visitors and prisoners page.

Enquiries:

Living with Mum Program enquiries can be submitted to the dpfcfamilyengagement@justice.vic.gov.au (External link) email inbox which will be forwarded onto the relevant area and location to follow up.

Urgent queries can be addressed by calling DPFC directly on 03 9217 8400

For enquiries about the Tarrengower LWM Program, please call the Offender Services Manager on (03) 5479 8200

Other programs that are available to support parents include:

• a contact visit program of at least one 60-minute visit per week
• Fun with Mum – held during child only access visits on Sunday’s between 12 noon and 3.45pm.
• Save The Children playgroup and Small Talk program
• Tuning into kids
• Positive Parenting Program
• Bringing up great kids
• Parenting after family violence
• Getting to know your teens
• Parenting based information sessions
• Strengthening Connections program
• special occasion family visit days throughout the year
• a residential family visits program that operates at Tarrengower Prison on weekends
• a school holiday program at Tarrengower Prison
• a custodial community permit program that allows prisoners to leave the prison for a time to visit with their child
• Video Visits Program that allows prisoners to have video conference visits with their child in addition to other visits

• Commissioner's Requirement 3.4.1 - Living with Mum Program provides further information about this program.


• A literature review of Prison-based mothers and children programs has been conducted to better inform future program development of mothers and children programs in the Victorian prison system.