Search
Close this search box.

We are creating some awesome events for you. Kindly bear with us.

AI-Based Monitoring in NSW Correctional Facilities

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

An AI-based health monitoring project, aimed at suicide prevention in NSW corrections centres, has secured funding from the NSW Government’s Small Business Innovation & Research (SBIR) programme for a group of researchers from the University of Wollongong (UOW), led by Professor Bronwyn Everett, Dr Rebecca Bosworth, and Professor Wanqing Li. This initiative falls under the SBIR programme, which offers competitive grants to small and medium-sized enterprises to develop innovative solutions for challenges identified by NSW Government agencies.

The interdisciplinary team, comprising members from UOW’s School of Nursing and School of Computing and Information Technology, as well as collaborators from Western Sydney University and 3Aim Solutions, will explore the feasibility of utilising radar-based technology combined with AI to monitor the vital signs of individuals within NSW correctional centres, particularly those deemed at-risk of self-harm or suicide.

Professor Bronwyn Everett emphasised the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in tackling pressing public health issues like self-harm and suicide prevention within correctional facilities. She highlighted the necessity of expertise spanning healthcare, technology, and firsthand experience in correctional environments to develop effective solutions.

The prevalence of self-harm and suicide attempts among individuals entering NSW prisons underscores the urgency of addressing mental health issues within correctional settings. Current monitoring systems, such as cell cameras and routine physical checks by officers, have limitations in effectively identifying at-risk individuals and preventing self-harm incidents.

Throughout a three-month feasibility study, the research team aims to devise a real-time, contactless monitoring system capable of providing advanced surveillance of vital health signs in high-risk settings. This technological advancement could significantly enhance the capability of Corrective Services NSW to identify and respond to potential self-harm incidents promptly.

Dr Rebecca Bosworth, drawing from her clinical experience as a Registered Nurse providing healthcare in prison settings, emphasised the project’s potential to improve the health outcomes of incarcerated individuals. She highlighted the importance of investing in preventive measures through digital technologies to complement existing monitoring methods and address the complex healthcare needs of individuals in contact with the justice system.

The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Dr. Bosworth emphasised the significance of recognising prison health as a public health issue and the importance of developing solutions that cater to the diverse needs of incarcerated populations.

If the feasibility study proves successful, the research team will have the opportunity to seek further funding for a proof-of-concept phase in 2024. The NSW Government has expressed interest in procuring successful solutions developed through the SBIR programme, underscoring the potential impact of innovative approaches in addressing critical public health challenges within correctional facilities.

The efforts of the research team reflect a commitment to leveraging technology and interdisciplinary expertise to safeguard the well-being of individuals in contact with the justice system and contribute to broader efforts in achieving sustainable development goals related to health and well-being.

Nearly 70% of Australians with known mental health conditions avoid seeking professional help due to various barriers, including stigma, cost, and limited access to care, despite nearly half of the population experiencing mental ill health at some point in their lives, highlighting the crucial need for early detection and intervention, particularly among individuals aged 14-24. Apart from the human toll, mental illness imposes a substantial economic burden, with AU$10.6 billion spent on mental health services annually and reported productivity losses in the industry amounting to $39 billion per year. Recognising this pressing societal issue, CSIRO proposes a collaborative effort involving 20 PhD and Masters students from Melbourne, Monash, and Monash Malaysia Universities to explore AI-driven solutions for mental health challenges, leveraging real-world industry priorities to make a meaningful impact.

PARTNER

Qlik’s vision is a data-literate world, where everyone can use data and analytics to improve decision-making and solve their most challenging problems. A private company, Qlik offers real-time data integration and analytics solutions, powered by Qlik Cloud, to close the gaps between data, insights and action. By transforming data into Active Intelligence, businesses can drive better decisions, improve revenue and profitability, and optimize customer relationships. Qlik serves more than 38,000 active customers in over 100 countries.

PARTNER

CTC Global Singapore, a premier end-to-end IT solutions provider, is a fully owned subsidiary of ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation (CTC) and ITOCHU Corporation.

Since 1972, CTC has established itself as one of the country’s top IT solutions providers. With 50 years of experience, headed by an experienced management team and staffed by over 200 qualified IT professionals, we support organizations with integrated IT solutions expertise in Autonomous IT, Cyber Security, Digital Transformation, Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure, Workplace Modernization and Professional Services.

Well-known for our strengths in system integration and consultation, CTC Global proves to be the preferred IT outsourcing destination for organizations all over Singapore today.

PARTNER

Planview has one mission: to build the future of connected work. Our solutions enable organizations to connect the business from ideas to impact, empowering companies to accelerate the achievement of what matters most. Planview’s full spectrum of Portfolio Management and Work Management solutions creates an organizational focus on the strategic outcomes that matter and empowers teams to deliver their best work, no matter how they work. The comprehensive Planview platform and enterprise success model enables customers to deliver innovative, competitive products, services, and customer experiences. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, with locations around the world, Planview has more than 1,300 employees supporting 4,500 customers and 2.6 million users worldwide. For more information, visit www.planview.com.

SUPPORTING ORGANISATION

SIRIM is a premier industrial research and technology organisation in Malaysia, wholly-owned by the Minister​ of Finance Incorporated. With over forty years of experience and expertise, SIRIM is mandated as the machinery for research and technology development, and the national champion of quality. SIRIM has always played a major role in the development of the country’s private sector. By tapping into our expertise and knowledge base, we focus on developing new technologies and improvements in the manufacturing, technology and services sectors. We nurture Small Medium Enterprises (SME) growth with solutions for technology penetration and upgrading, making it an ideal technology partner for SMEs.

PARTNER

HashiCorp provides infrastructure automation software for multi-cloud environments, enabling enterprises to unlock a common cloud operating model to provision, secure, connect, and run any application on any infrastructure. HashiCorp tools allow organizations to deliver applications faster by helping enterprises transition from manual processes and ITIL practices to self-service automation and DevOps practices. 

PARTNER

IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.