OICS Critical Incident Report published 6 May 2025

On 21 May 2024 after evening lock-in, a detained woman experienced what appears to have been a drug overdose from the opioid heroin. It occurred in Woman’s Remand Cottage 1, B-Pod in the Women’s Community Centre precinct at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC). The woman became unresponsive, and several detained women attempted to revive her including by providing CPR.

After some delay Custodial Officers and Justice Health Services nurses responded and rendered first aid including administering oxygen. The detained person regained consciousness shortly after. She was later taken by ambulance to The Canberra Hospital.

This review focusses on the response to the incident and did not consider how the drug or drugs that caused the likely overdose were in the possession of the detained person.

The review makes 10 findings and 8 recommendations.

Read the report here.