The over-representation of First Nations peoples in Australian prisons continues to rapidly climb at disproportionate rates. It is apparent that the criminal justice system as a whole is failing to meet the needs of First Nations prisoners despite efforts such as the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (1991). The situation in Australia is dire and requires an urgent response towards a system that meets the cultural needs of First Nations prisoners. In order to achieve this, it is essential to have a better understanding of what this means for First Nations prisoners in order to improve the lives of incarcerated First Nations peoples. Gaining further insight into this area will achieve a deeper understanding of how cultural factors influence prison social climate/prison quality. The literature has demonstrated that prison social climate/prison quality has attracted extensive global research interest however, there is a paucity of research specific to the prison experience and in particular, how First Nations prisoners survive and transcend prison. The present thesis addresses this problem through exploring the history of the assessment of prison social climate/prison quality such as the Measuring Quality of Prison Life (MQPL), as well as actuarial assessment tools that are designed to assess risk factors. It is crucial that in researching a First Nations specific prison social climate/prison quality model, the focus is on decolonising perceptions and approaches to carceral detention. The unabashed purpose of this thesis is to deliver custodial services in a form safer for First Nations peoples and, in doing so, contribute to decarceration and lower recidivism. In no way should this thesis be seen as a legitimisation of prison for the over-representation of First Nations peoples.

My research examines the factors that impact on incarceration and, in particular, the experience and survivability of First Nations prisoners. The aim of the research is to conceptualise First Nations prison social climate/prison quality and the factors that contribute to this, whilst understanding how cultural aspects impact on the experience of incarceration in understanding prison social climate/prison quality for First Nations peoples. As a First Nations researcher, and in line with First Nations research methodology, this thesis adopts a decolonising approach by incorporating First Nations knowledge and worldviews that is led by First Nations peoples to inform how prison is delivered in Australia. As such, I have incorporated a combined method of western qualitative research methods, integrated with the core constructs relevant to First Nations research methods. The adopted research approach ensures the recognition and inclusion of First Nations knowledge systems and values. In an attempt to identify alternative incarceration models to improve prison social climate/prison quality that can arguably lead to better outcomes, I have turned to Canada given it shares a similar incarceration history to Australia. Through an Endeavour Indigenous Research Fellowship, I explored an alternative culturally sensitive incarceration model, namely, First Nations healing practices through Canadian Healing Lodges. As with Australia, the First Nations rates of incarceration in Canada are overrepresented, however, the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Peoples (1996) was the impetus to the establishment of Healing Lodges in partnership with government agencies (Trevethan et al., 2002). The intention of Healing Lodges is to deliver holistic services that are based on Indigenous law for Indigenous prisoners within the Canadian corrections system.

As a result of undertaking qualitative based interviews in both the Northern Territory, Australia and Canada, the conceptualisation of prison social climate/prison quality as experienced by First Nations prisoners was identified through the emergence of dimensions and themes. Furthermore, distinctive from previous research, the data evidenced the critical need to incorporate cultural aspects into the carceral system that directly impacts on the experience of prison for First Nations peoples. For example, maintaining a strong sense of connection to culture, country, family, and community contributed to positive social and emotional wellbeing, including mental health.

The data from my research revealed how systemic racism in the carceral system has significantly continued to oppress First Nations peoples, whether this be through the structural racism created through legislation, and policies and procedures, or individual racism. The high rates of First Nations deaths in custody suggest the prison experience adversely impacts an individual's wellbeing, precipitating in some cases major depression and successful suicide. The findings from my research not only demonstrate the vital need to develop culturally appropriate methods of assessing prison social climate/prison quality for First Nations prisoners, but also highlight the way in which colonisation has shaped and influenced prison social climate/prison quality today, and in particular, underscore the importance of decolonising prisons in order to achieve improved outcomes for First Nations prisoners.

The findings reveal those factors that contribute to and improve First Nations prison social climate/prison quality. However, the development of a unique culturally appropriate assessment tool applicable to First Nations prisoners would be a significant improvement in developing a more sophisticated understanding of the experience of prison, and potentially improve lives and reduce the number of First Nations deaths in prison.