Project overview
The Tasmanian Government has committed funding for the construction of a new modern kitchen, including a new bakery, at the Risdon Prison site. The new kitchen will replace the existing kitchen within the Ron Barwick Prison (RBP), which was built more than 60 years ago.
Stable employment opportunities, such as employment in the kitchen, deliver greater benefits to prisoners who are transitioning out of custody having completed relevant intervention programs, and contributes to their preparation for reintegration.
A contemporary and modern new kitchen creates a safe environment to practise learned skills and provides prisoners with recent employment experience and trade training prior to work release opportunities and transitioning back into the community. The facility will provide opportunities for up to 70 minimum-security male prisoners (up to 50 full time equivalent positions).
The new kitchen will optimise food preparation at the prison enabling the provision of nutritious meals for a larger number of inmates.
The facility has been designed with flexibility and a strategic approach in mind, enabling secure access to the multipurpose space/training area for the use by other prisoner cohorts if the Tasmania Prison Services wish to expand the current operating model to include this.
The Department of Justice’s Project Team worked closely with specialist consultants and key stakeholders from the Tasmania Prison Service (TPS) to finalise a design for the new kitchen with a focus on optimising operational flow, with dedicated training spaces enabling vocational training opportunities for prisoners, reducing the risks of manual handling through providing modern and contemporary kitchen equipment and ensuring the ability for increased meal preparation and capacity.
Project update January 2026
The Department is pleased to advise that the new kitchen at the Risdon Prison site has reached practical completion. This achievement represents a significant milestone in strengthening our Corrections system and enhancing operational capability.
With construction complete, the Tasmania Prison Service will now lead the operational commissioning and transition phase. Bakery operations are expected to move into the new facility early in the New Year, with full kitchen operations anticipated to commence by March 2026.