Inmate on 305-day mental health waitlist died at Junee prison
Alexander Gavranic waited 305 days for mental health care at Junee prison before his death in February 2023.
Alexander Gavranic died at Junee prison on February 5, 2023. He had waited 305 days for mental health care.
The 40-year-old from the Albury area had asked for mental health help in June 2021 but never got it. Coroner Derek Lee investigated his death.
He found that many ways to get help existed. Gavranic tried them all but never saw a mental health nurse.
The coroner said limited records survived because the prison changed management between GEO Group and Corrective Services NSW. Gavranic's diary showed he tried many times to get help.
The coroner said correctional officers need training in recording mental health requests. He urged the prison to hire more mental health staff to handle inmate demand.
- 305 days
- Days on waitlist
- February 5, 2023
- Death date
- June 18, 2021
- Request date
- Junee Correctional Centre, Riverina
- Prison location
Why it mattersThe coroner's findings expose a system failure that left an inmate without care for nearly a year before his death, raising urgent questions about prisoner mental health across NSW jails.
AustraliaNSW inmates seeking mental health treatment in prisons face significant delays and gaps in care, with the Junee case highlighting system-wide shortcomings that affect many prisoners.
Corroborated bydailyadvertiser.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
