By HOLLY HALES

A Victorian ombudsman’s report has revealed how Indigenous people in the State’s prisons deal with deeply confronting and distressing conditions behind bars.

A report by the watchdog tabled in the State Parliament on Wednesday found a lack of input by Indigenous people into health-related policy in jails has a devastating impact.

Ombudsman Deborah Glass said the findings made it clear Aboriginal people’s needs were not being met despite government efforts to create community-led solutions.

“Some of the things we heard were deeply confronting and distressing,” she said.

“What we heard also reflected that for Aboriginal people, health is holistic and includes not only physical but mental, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual wellbeing.”

Deborah Glass says little or at least not enough has changed despite previous reviews. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Ms Glass said the level of family and cultural support Indigenous people have behind bars often has a direct impact on their health.

“We heard about a yearning for cultural connection,” she said.

“About the devastating impact a lack of cultural and family connection in prison can have, and what a huge difference it makes when they do receive cultural support with their healthcare needs.”

Major facilities, Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, the Melbourne Assessment Prison and Ravenhall Correctional Centre were visited during the investigation.

Stories of prisoners’ experiences included being unable to access drug use programs, being abruptly denied medications and having to resort to performing their own ‘surgery’.

This involved one inmate using a pencil sharpener and tweezers to treat an ingrown toenail due to delays in seeing a doctor.

The report also detailed how Indigenous people said they suffered as a result of being unable to access mental health support.

Seeking help often made things worse as they would be placed in observation cells in inhumane conditions, according to the findings.

“Observation cells are usually monitored by camera and people in them wear no clothes, just a canvas gown or canvas blanket,” the report read.

“Prison officers or health staff are required to sight people in observation cells at regular intervals.

“This is designed to prevent people self-harming but does not address their underlying distress or therapeutic needs.”

Victoria’s Department of Justice and Community Safety said many of the inmate interviews involved took place in May before significant changes to healthcare provision in public prisons came into effect in July.

“Many of the quotes and case studies relate to experiences under the previous service model and/or providers and that a number of substantial changes have since been made,” a statement read.

Recommendations from the report aim to ensure Indigenous people are more involved in decision-making, policy and the healthcare delivery.

Ms Glass acknowledged previous reviews over the past several decades failed to resolve issues or people’s experiences.

“These reviews made multiple recommendations to improve healthcare in prisons, some repeated over the years, and various governments made multiple commitments to implement them,” she said.

“Yet little has changed, or at best, not enough.”