Leslie Massey
Prison food in Australia is intended to keep inmates healthy for the duration of their sentence. While it is not as terrible as prison food is often depicted in movies, it is not particularly enjoyable, and former inmates have reported that it is not nutritionally sufficient. Prison food in Australia varies between states and security levels, but generally consists of frozen meals that are heated up before being served. Inmates have the option to supplement their meals by purchasing food through the canteen system or 'buy-ups'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Food quality | Inmates say the food is not terrible, but it is not enjoyable or nutritionally sufficient. |
| Food variety | Inmates are provided with a variety of meal options on a rotating schedule. |
| Frozen meals | Dinners are frozen meals that are heated up before being served. |
| Cold dinners | Twice each week, inmates receive cold dinners, which are typically better because they are fresh. |
| Breakfast | Bread, jam, margarine, cereal, tea, coffee, and milk. |
| Snacks | Muffins, cookies, and bananas. |
| High-quality dinners | In privately owned prisons, dinners are higher quality and prepared by inmates working in the kitchen. |
| Lunch | Freshly-made sandwiches on weekdays and hot food on weekends (e.g., sausage rolls, pies). |
| Perishable food | In some minimum-security prisons, inmates can buy a limited amount of perishable food per week to cook themselves. |
| Buy-up system | Inmates can purchase additional food and drinks through a buy-up system using their jail account. |
| Portion size | Portions are small, and inmates commonly supplement their meals and snacks through the buy-up system. |
| Dietary requirements | Alternative meals are available for inmates with different cultural, religious, and medical needs, except for vegan meals, which do not meet dietary guidelines. |
| Meal preparation | In some prisons, inmates can make their own meals with items bought from the prison canteen. |
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What You'll Learn
Inmates can supplement meals with weekly 'buy ups'
Inmates in Australian prisons can supplement their meals with weekly 'buy-ups'. To purchase buy-ups, prisoners need money in their jail account. If they do not work, they receive about $15 per week, referred to as 'yard money'. If they work, they will earn more, but the wage is very low, typically about $1-$2 per hour, on top of the yard money received. At a working jail, the starting wage for most inmates is around $35 per week (including yard money), and the highest-paid inmates may get close to $100 per week, but they often work 7 days a week (for example, in the kitchen). Family and friends can also send money into an inmate's account, with a limit of $600 per month in NSW.
In some minimum-security prisons, such as Glen Innes, groups of about 10 inmates can live together in units rather than cells, and can fill out forms to purchase up to $30 of perishables. Inmates can buy a limited amount of perishable food per week that they can cook themselves. The food they can buy includes frozen meat and fresh vegetables. Some examples of food available for purchase are chicken drumsticks, chicken wings, rump steak, lamb chops, mince, bacon, eggs, pasta, broccoli, oats, ice cream tubs, and olive oil.
Inmates can also buy food and soft drinks from the canteen system. Inmates at Muswellbrook jail do not have the option to buy meat, vegetables, and similar items until they are moved to a different part of the prison.
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Meals are frozen and reheated
Meals in Australian prisons are prepared and served differently depending on the state and security level of the prison. In New South Wales (NSW), dinners are frozen meals that are sent to every prison (excluding privately owned jails) and heated up before being served. These frozen dinners are served six nights a week, with two nights of cold dinners per week.
The frozen dinners in NSW prisons include Mexican beef, Thai green curry, peri peri chicken meatballs, and chicken wings (called "chicken bites" or "devil wings"). The latter is considered a meal that inmates look forward to, although the portions are small, with only three tiny wings served.
In privately owned prisons in NSW, such as Junee and Clarence, dinners are of higher quality and are prepared by inmates working in the kitchen. Lunches are freshly made sandwiches on weekdays and hot food on weekends, while breakfast consists of bread, jam, margarine, cereal, tea, coffee, and milk. In some minimum-security prisons, inmates can buy a limited amount of perishable food per week to cook themselves, including frozen meat, fresh vegetables, and other items like chicken drumsticks, lamb chops, bacon, eggs, and pasta.
In Tasmania, seasonal menus are rotated every six weeks, while in Queensland, the menu is reviewed every two years. Alternative meals are available for inmates with different cultural, religious, and medical needs, except for vegan meals, which do not meet the required dietary guidelines.
While the food in Australian prisons may not be as undesirable as often portrayed in movies, it is generally not considered enjoyable, and there are concerns about the nutritional sufficiency of the meals.
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Breakfast is the same every day
In some minimum-security prisons, inmates are allowed to buy a limited amount of perishable food per week to cook themselves. For example, at Muswellbrook jail, inmates can purchase frozen meat and fresh vegetables. However, this option is not available to all prisoners, especially those in lower-security jails or those who are not able to work and earn money to put into their jail account.
The quality of food in Australian prisons has been described as "not terrible" but also "not enjoyable" and "not nutritionally sufficient." It is meant to keep prisoners alive and healthy for the length of their sentence, but the portions are reportedly small, and inmates have complained about the quality of the meat provided.
While dinner options in Australian jails vary and include frozen meals like Mexican beef, Thai green curry, peri peri chicken meatballs, and chicken wings, breakfast remains consistent across the board. Some inmates supplement their meals and snacks with items purchased through the weekly 'buy-ups' with their jail account money.
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Alternative meals are available for cultural, religious, and medical reasons
Alternative meals are available across Australia for inmates with different cultural, religious, and medical needs. While vegan meals are available, they fail to meet the required dietary guidelines. Inmates with specific dietary requirements can request alternative meals, which may include beef slices, beef sausages, and omelette with rice. These meals are cooked by the inmates within the NSW prison system.
In some maximum-security prisons, inmates have access to appliances like rice cookers and kettles in their cells and can purchase a limited amount of perishable food to cook themselves. This option is available at some minimum-security prisons like Clarence, Glen Innes, and Muswellbrook. Inmates can buy frozen meat, fresh vegetables, and other items like chicken drumsticks, lamb chops, eggs, pasta, and olive oil.
At privately owned prisons like Junee and Clarence, dinners are of higher quality and are prepared by inmates working in the kitchen. Inmates in low-security areas have more control over their meals, as they can plan, budget, buy, and cook their meals themselves.
While the food in Australian prisons may not be as terrible as what is depicted in movies, it is often described as unappetizing and not nutritionally sufficient. Inmates have reported issues with the quality and quantity of the food, with small portions and concerns about the freshness of the ingredients.
The availability of alternative meals for cultural, religious, and medical reasons ensures that inmates with specific dietary needs can have their requirements accommodated within the prison system.
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In some prisons, inmates can buy and cook their own food
In some Australian prisons, inmates can buy and cook their own food. This is known as a "buy-up", and it is purchased with money from the inmate's "jail account". Inmates who do not work receive about $15 per week, referred to as "yard money". Working inmates earn a wage of about $1-$2 per hour on top of their yard money. The highest-paid inmates may earn close to $100 per week, but they often work 7 days a week. Inmates can also receive money from their friends and family, with a limit of $600 per month in NSW.
Inmates can use their buy-up money to purchase extra food items, such as snacks, soft drinks, and instant noodles. In some minimum-security prisons, groups of about 10 inmates can live together in units rather than cells, and can fill out forms to collectively purchase up to $30 of perishables per week. Inmates at some minimum-security prisons like Clarence, Glen Innes, and Muswellbrook can buy a limited amount of perishable food per week, including frozen meat and fresh vegetables, to cook for themselves. The food they can buy includes chicken drumsticks, chicken wings, rump steak, lamb chops, mince, bacon, eggs, pasta, broccoli, oats, ice cream tubs, and olive oil.
The quality of food in Australian prisons varies. In privately owned prisons like Junee and Clarence, the dinners are higher quality. Instead of frozen meals, the dinners are prepared by inmates working in the kitchen. The lunches are freshly-made sandwiches on weekdays and hot food on the weekends, but the breakfast is the same as in other prisons.
Across states, meal plans vary but are determined by Australian dietary guidelines, with all meals legally "required to have adequate nutrition". In Tasmania, seasonal menus are set for summer and winter and are rotated every six weeks, while in Queensland, the menu is reviewed every two years. Alternative meals are also available for inmates with different cultural, religious, and medical needs.
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Frequently asked questions
Prisoners in Australia are provided with bread, jam, margarine, cereal, tea, coffee, and milk for breakfast. They also get regular snacks such as muffins, cookies, and bananas.
Lunches are freshly-made sandwiches on weekdays and hot food on the weekends (e.g. sausage rolls, pies). Dinners are frozen meals that are heated up before being served. Some exotic options on the menu include Mexican beef, Thai green curry, peri peri chicken meatballs, and chicken wings.
Yes, alternative meals are available for inmates with different cultural, religious, and medical needs.
Yes, prisoners can buy food and soft drinks through the canteen system. In some minimum-security prisons, inmates can also buy a limited amount of perishable food per week to cook themselves.
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