New report shows psychological injury claims by WA prison staff have more than doubled

An independent report from the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services shows the number of psychological injury compensation claims lodged by West Australian prison officers has more than doubled in the last six years.

Psychological claims have risen 110 per cent from 81 claims in 2019 to 170 claims last year, dwarfing increases in physical claims related to bodily harm and now accounting for a quarter of all workers' compensation claims.

"We did this report because we're constantly seeing high rates of staff shortages, and one of the reasons commonly given for the staff shortages is high rates of workers' compensation," Inspector of Custodial Services Eamon Ryan told the ABC.

The prisons watchdog also detailed systemic challenges that the Department of Justice needed to address t