Volume 224 - Issue 1

The Need for National Minimum Healthcare Standards in Australian Custodial Settings

Authors:  Thileepan Naren, Damien Linnane, Dallas Widdicombe, Jocelyn Chan, Stuart Kinner

Correspondence: thileepan.naren@monash.edu

Med J Aust 2026 || doi: 10.5694/mja2.70116
Published online: 19 December 2025

Abstract

Healthcare in Australian custodial settings is hampered by fragmented care, a lack of consistent standards and a lack of accountability. Creating national minimum standards for healthcare in custodial settings, with the aim of equivalence to community standards, will be an important step in reducing health inequalities for some of Australia's most marginalised people.