ISSUE NO. 20
March 2026
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Letters

We Want to Get Healthy in Prison – So Why Can’t We Buy Protein Powder?

By
Joeby

Joeby writes from a prison in QLD.

Aleksander Saks via Unsplash

I’m an inmate at MCC. I am writing in hope my opinion may reach a broader network. It seems MCC is outdated in regards to basic facilities.

We come to prison in the hope we can get sober, healthy and fit.

While all other prisons in Queensland allow prisoners to not just have access to usable gym equipment that isn’t outdated and damaged but also allow prisoners to purchase basic health supplements and equipment related to training gloves, creative and protein powders.

Here at MCC we are limited to weight bags and medicine balls. We cannot purchase creatine or protein powders, training gloves or any other essential items that other prisoners at other centres can purchase.

I don’t see this as fair – these items are allowed elsewhere, why can’t we buy them here?

These basic things lift morale and give us prisoners that want to train and see results a little more motivation.

At the end of the day, the centres that do allow these supplements are also run via QCS.

We are all entitled to the same buy-ups but not the same fitness-essential items.

Thank you.

I’m an inmate at MCC. I am writing in hope my opinion may reach a broader network. It seems MCC is outdated in regards to basic facilities.

We come to prison in the hope we can get sober, healthy and fit.

While all other prisons in Queensland allow prisoners to not just have access to usable gym equipment that isn’t outdated and damaged but also allow prisoners to purchase basic health supplements and equipment related to training gloves, creative and protein powders.

Here at MCC we are limited to weight bags and medicine balls. We cannot purchase creatine or protein powders, training gloves or any other essential items that other prisoners at other centres can purchase.

I don’t see this as fair – these items are allowed elsewhere, why can’t we buy them here?

These basic things lift morale and give us prisoners that want to train and see results a little more motivation.

At the end of the day, the centres that do allow these supplements are also run via QCS.

We are all entitled to the same buy-ups but not the same fitness-essential items.

Thank you.

Lessons from Bees

By Muhamed

Prison teaches people to hold back. To keep to themselves. To give as little as possible. To protect what little energy or hope they have left. When everything feels limited – time, freedom, trust – it makes sense to think that giving more will leave you with less. But the bee lives by a different rule.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Albany Prisoners on Lockdowns

By Prisoners at Albany Prison, WA

We are not sure who to write to or who we can talk to about theses matters. We are hoping someone reads our letter and can point us in the right direction to have our voices heard.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

1 MIN READ

Rights for Foreign Prisoners

By Luiing

If foreign prisoners have been sentenced under same law as Australians, then it’s extremely important that they have right to be treat equally in their imprisonment – on humanitarian grounds.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Not Cool: Heat and Overcrowding in TMCC

By Dane

The following is in response to the article by Denham Sadler titled “Sweltering Behind Bars: Stifling Heat in Australian prisons”.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 22

2 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

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