Dame Phyllis Frost Centre

Car

Via the Westgate Freeway: from the city take the Westgate Freeway and exit at the Western Ring Road. Exit at the Western Highway (to Ballarat). Exit at Robinsons Road (right), then turn left onto Riding Boundary Road.

Via the Hume Freeway: from the Hume Freeway, veer right onto the Western Ring Road. Exit at the Western Highway (to Ballarat). Exit at Robinsons Road (right), then turn left onto Riding Boundary Road.

Public transport

To Laverton railway station
The bus departs from Sunshine Railway Station Bus Terminal (Bay 11) and runs via the overpass, Durham Road, Anderson Road, Forrest Street, Tilburn Road, Station Road, Western Highway (Ballarat Road), Westwood Drive, Robinsons Road and Riding Boundary Road to the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. The bus then departs via Riding Boundary Road, Robinsons Road and Middle Road to the Metropolitan Remand Centre. It then departs from the Metropolitan Remand Centre via Middle Road, Robinsons Road, Palmers Road, Dohertys Road to Port Phillip Prison. It then travels via Dohertys Road, Fitzgerald Road, Old Geelong Road, Bladin Street, Wright Street, Thomas Street, Woods Street, Lohse Street and Maher Road to the terminus at Laverton Railway Station.

To Sunshine railway station
Bus will travel in the reverse direction.
Westrans (Altona) operates this service.
Contact Westrans (Altona) on 03 9398 2712.

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

Persons visiting prisoners need to check a visit has been booked.

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

All visitors need to follow the COVIDSafe visiting procedures.

Legal visitors (solicitors, barristers and law clerks) can visit on any day between 9am and 4pm.

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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 comply with prison rules, may result in sanctions, such as refusal of entry to the prison; a non-contact visit or even a visit ban.

Property

People can leave authorised property at the gatehouse for prisoners. The following guidelines are provided:

Clothing accepted

•  7 sets of clean underwear - briefs, & boxer shorts in any colour. No G-strings or otherwise revealing and/or inappropriate underwear
•  4 bras - must not have removable inserts, straps or pockets. Can include crop top/racer back style (not active wear)
•  7 pairs of socks - any colour, pattern and/or branding
•  3 singlets - white only, with thick straps
•  3 t-shirts - white only, long or short sleeve. Must be cotton and crew neck. No logos, collars, pockets or buttons
•  1 t-shirt (black, only for swimming) long or short sleeve. Must be cotton and crew neck. No logos, collars, pockets or buttons
• 3 thermal - white only, plain long sleeve (to be worn as undergarment only)
• 2 nighties - cotton t-shirt style or similar accepted  
• Runners will not be accepted.

Items accepted 

• 3 reading books, softcover or paperbacks are accepted (no dust covers). Prisoners on a management regime are not allowed hardcovers. Items can be placed with property until moved or released
• 3 magazines - R-rated publications are not permitted
• 3 newspapers
• 6 photographs - standard size only 6x4, no photo frames or polaroids accepted
• legal papers - unlimited quantity
• 4 balls of wool
• Calendars & Diaries (no larger than A4, limit of one calendar and diary per prisoner).

Items not to be accepted at the gatehouse

• Handkerchiefs
• Leggings - leggings are supplied by the DPFC.
• Pyjamas - see nighties above
• Runners - runners are issued by the DPFC or purchased via a Special Spend process
• Shorts - shorts are issued by the DPFC
• Sunglasses - Cancer Council approved sunglasses can be purchased at the DPFC canteen
• ¾ pants (approval provided previously has been rescinded)

Visitors to note

• Items will not be accepted at the gatehouse if they exceed the quantity requirements listed above
• Property (other than court clothes) can only be received from people listed on a prisoner's valid visitors list
• Property must be left at the gatehouse prior to attending a visit (if a visit is booked). Alternatively, property can be dropped off anytime while the property desk is open
• Remand prisoners must have approval for clothing items that fall outside the above guidelines as per section 3.5 of LOP 4.08.1
• A signed and approved property application must be completed and approved by Mother & Child Support Worker before any baby items can be accepted. In the instance where approval has not been received, baby items will not be accepted. The items will be held by property until approval is granted/ provided to the property office.

Court clothes

• Court clothes are accepted for pending court matters
• Court clothing items will be returned to the prisoner’s store property or dispatched upon request and completion of a property dispatch application.

Money

Refer to the Sending Money section of the contacting and visiting a prisoner page for details about how much money can be provided to a prisoner and in what format.

Security level

Maximum

Accommodation

Single cells with ensuite facilities.

Self-contained units.

Two special cell blocks housing 20 prisoners each designed for protection prisoners and prisoners with a history of poor behaviour.

Medium security units house ten prisoners in separate rooms while minimum security units house only five prisoners. Each unit has individual kitchen and dining facilities and prisoners are required to cook and prepare their own meals and do their own washing, ironing and housework. Groups of prisoners share activity areas and a quiet area for reading and writing.

History

The prison facility, originally known as the Deer Park Metropolitan Women's Correctional Centre (MWCC), opened on 15 August 1996 and received its first prisoners that same month. It was the first prison in Victoria to be privately designed, financed, built and operated.

On 3 October 2000, the government took control of the facility and appointed an administrator under section 8F of the Corrections Act, and section 27B of the prison contract to operate the prison. On 2 November 2000, the Minister for Corrections announced the transfer of ownership and management of MWCC to the public sector.

The facility is now being managed and operated by Corrections Victoria and is called the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre after the well-known campaigner for women prisoners. In the 1950s, Dame Phyllis Frost persuaded the State Government of the day to set up a Consultative Council for Female Prison Reform. Until her death in 2004, she worked tirelessly with governments, prison administrators and non-government agencies for improved conditions, rehabilitation and education for women in prisons.