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Across developed countries, up to one in four prisoners are considered “older”. As Australia’s prison population ages, an increasing number of people are being released into the community with complex health needs, often having spent long, and/or repeated periods in institutional care. These individuals frequently encounter barriers to health care access, low levels of health literacy, and limited support in managing their health post-release.

The qualitative study explored the experiences of older people leaving prison in New South Wales, along with insights from frontline staff and service providers. The study was led by Dr Jane Hwang – Research Fellow at the Justice Health Research Program (School of Population Health, �鶹��madou Sydney) and member of the �鶹��madou Ageing Futures Institute. The study was also partly funded by the Institute.

Findings revealed that most individuals felt ill-equipped to manage their health, with many describing the transition as chaotic and overwhelming. Digital illiteracy, unfamiliarity with Medicare and other advancements in health systems, and limited access to personal medical records were key barriers identified. Participants also expressed a strong reliance on support from others - such as caseworkers or family members - to understand health information and access care.

“Older prisoners are a largely forgotten and marginalised group of people with distinct health and social challenges. Particularly, older people leaving imprisonment experience rapid, overlapping changes in their lives and require a unique and tailored level of support,” says Dr Hwang.

“The research highlights a clear need for structured, person-centred health literacy support before and after release. By prioritising this need and ensuring better care continuity, we can provide such individuals with a better chance at healthy reintegration and independence.”

Read the full study .