Fulham Correctional Centre

Car

From Melbourne, follow the Princes Highway (M1) in the direction of Sale for approximately 200km. The Fulham Correctional Centre is located on the right of the highway approximately 15km after the township of Rosedale. There are signs to the centre at Hopkins Road. The centre is approximately 500m down Hopkins Road.

Public transport

The city of Sale is located approximately 11km east of Fulham. There is no regular bus service between Melbourne and Sale that is suitable for visitors.

Train travel to Sale is available through V/Line. Refer to the Bairnsdale train timetable. Phone 136 196 or go to the V/Line website (External link)

To visit a prisoner, you must be on their approved list. Once on the list, the prisoner can book a visit according to the visit session times listed below. 

It is recommended that you phone the prison before you visit to check that there are no issues on the day of your booked visit. 

Animals are prohibited with the exception of trained assistance dogs and seeing eye dogs.

If you are staying overnight, please contact the centre's switchboard operator and we will provide you with contacts for local hotels, motels and caravan parks.

For conditions of entry that apply to all prisons, such as COVIDSafe procedures, general behaviour and the search process, refer to the general information for contacting and visiting prisoners. The following additional details are specific to Fulham Correctional Centre.

The following items are allowed in the visiting area:

• car keys (with no attachments)
• sanitary items
• legal papers (approved in writing prior to being brought in on a weekend visit)

Baby items:

• 2 bottles, or food in unopened clear jars or sealed tins
• 1 flannel
• 1 change of clothes
• 1 baby blanket
• 1 bib

Lockers are available for visitors to store personal items while they are in a visit. These are located in the front reception area.

No Smoking on prison grounds. On entering the site, smoking gear is to be left secured within the vehicle glove box.

Food and drink

Food and drink (excluding water on request and baby formula/milk/drink for young children) will not be permitted during visits at this time to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Vending machines are unavailable. 

Behaviour

Intoxicated persons, persons under the influence of drugs, and persons displaying aggressive or offensive behaviour will not be tolerated. Failure to comply may lead to the immediate termination of a visit.

Prisoners are encouraged to maintain contact with their family and friends and one way to do this, is via visits.

As a visitor to a prison, you are required to follow prison rules, including complying with visitor dress standards, which assist in keeping prisons safe.

There are a range of factors that staff must consider when processing visitors, including the visitor’s clothing or items accompanying the visitor, and the suitability of these items for a prison environment.

Such considerations include clothing items that can be used to conceal contraband, conceal a person’s identity, or breach security, or clothing that could lead to unrest or cause incidents amongst prisoners.

Visitors are encouraged to refer to this list as a guide and to contact the prison directly where they are unsure if their attire will be suitable for a prison visit.

The following clothing items are not permitted for the purpose of a prison visit.

• Gang affiliated clothing, colours or patches
• Clothing displaying racist/derogatory/sexist or profane messaging, imagery or symbolism
• Clothing that is considered to be inappropriately revealing of private body parts or sexually provocative in nature. This may include clothing that is:
  • sheer or see through
  • low cut
  • very short e.g. high cut shorts that reveal upper thigh or buttocks, football shorts, miniskirts
  • exposing e.g. midriff or crop tops
• Gloves
• High visibility workwear due to similarity in attire with contracted workers
• Open-toed shoes
• Scarves (excluding for religious purposes)
• Watches including any type of smart watch or Fitbit activity device 

Visitors should also be mindful that the following items may pose a concern:

• Boots and thick sole shoes
• Hair pieces such as headbands, scrunchies etc
• Hooded tops or jumpers
• Jewellery, particularly where it is excessive
• Sleeveless or strapless clothing
• Windcheaters, track-pants or t-shirts that are bottle green (men’s prisons) or royal blue (woman’s prisons) due to similarity with prison issued clothing

Please note that there may be other circumstances where an item of clothing is considered to present a security risk or safety concern.

Staff may ask visitors to present an item to be searched, including the removal of hair pieces or jewellery where there are concerns that contraband may be concealed.

You may be asked to place any items of concern into a visitor locker for the duration of your visit.

You may also be required to wear a prison issued T-shirt for visitors.

Failure to follow the prison rules may result in sanctions. This may include entry to the prison being refused, non-contact visits or a possible visiting ban.

A Prisoner pre-approved request form is required for all property. The following property will be accepted:

• socks (new only) – 3 items per visit
• underwear (new only) – 3 items per visit
• singlets or t-shirts (white only) – 3 items per visit (short-sleeved only)
• photographs (postcard-sized only) – reasonable quantity

Security level

Medium/minimum

Accommodation

• Four 78-bed, two-storey buildings divided into two blocks containing 39 cells
• One 102 bed, two-storey building containing 76 cells. 
• Medium-security lodges with 17 bedrooms, communal kitchen and dining room, lounge and laundry
• Nalu is a 68-bed rehabilitation unit for young adult offenders aged 18 to 25
• Minimum-security self-contained units for 100 prisoners
• Each self-contained unit has four single bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry, lounge, kitchen and dining room. Prisoners prepare and cook their own meals and manage their own household budget

History

Fulham Correctional Centre was opened on 20 March 1997, with the first prisoners transferred on 7 April 1997. It was Victoria's second private prison, and first privately operated men's prison. Nalu was opened in September 2003.

The operator's contract was extended in 2016: see the Project Summary for further information.