Western Australia's Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women has made progress and has positive elements, but there is still significant room for improvement, the state's Inspector of Custodial Services said on Tuesday in a new report.

The Inspector's 2024 announced inspection of Boronia – a minimum-security facility helping women in custody successfully reintegrate back into the community - found Boronia "continues to be a high-quality facility providing women with important self-improvement opportunities in the lead up to their release".

The Inspector, Eamon Ryan, found that an experienced senior management team brought "stability and ensured the philosophy of the centre was at the forefront of service delivery".

His office found the facility offered residents a range of programs, employment, and training opportunities to develop their skills and resilience prior to their release.

"The Yirra Djinda employment and training program for Aboriginal women was a highlight," the Inspector's Office said.

However, the inspection did identify "opportunities to do more".

Residents wanted more programs to address grief, abuse, and trauma. There also remained significant delays for women trying to access employment and leave opportunities beyond the bounds of Boronia's perimeter fence.

Mr Ryan said the 2024 inspection of the Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women found it to be "a high-quality facility, with staff working hard to provide support and rehabilitation opportunities for the women who reside there".

"Boronia's philosophy of providing residents with opportunities for self-improvement in preparation for release was evident in most of the areas we examined. This has been bolstered by stability in leadership and improved communication, which has reinforced this approach in day-to-day operations," he said.

"Still, there remain opportunities to improve the services available to residents. We heard that access to education and self-improvement courses were often hampered by limited or no access to online education resources and materials. There also continues to be long delays approving applications for external activities important for helping women transition to community life."

Kurin Minang human rights expert and law academic Dr Hannah McGlade told National Indigenous Times the report found while Boronia is operating positively there is still outstanding need for programs addressing women's experiences of grief, loss and trauma.

"This is especially critical for Aboriginal women who are severely over-represented in WA prisons and related to a history of trauma," she said.

"Aboriginal women-led prison programs, as well as diversion principles, need to be adopted as a matter of priority."

Dr McGlade noted that prison and incarceration "will always be traumatic and should only be a matter of last resort, as the Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody recommended 30 years ago".

"Prisons lead to increased child removals, and trauma to children. Aboriginal mums are less likely to be reunified with their children due to systemic discrimination and failure to respect human rights," she said.

"We need an independent Aboriginal justice body, in WA and nationally, to ensure the Royal Commission and ALRC (Australian Law Reform Commission) Inquiry into Aboriginal incarceration are actually implemented today."

The WA Department of Justice said Boronia is a minimum-security prison for women focused on the rehabilitation of residents in preparation for their reintegration back to the community.

"(The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services) said Boronia's philosophy of providing the residents with opportunities for personal improvement and responsibility ahead of release was evident in most areas it examined during a 2024 inspection," a Department spokesperson said.

Department Director General Kylie Maj said Boronia remained committed to helping the residents realise better outcomes in the future.

"The self-care living environment empowers women to take part in education, work, vocational training and other opportunities that equip them with improved skills and resilience," she said.

"We strive to implement culturally appropriate programs and services including Noongar language lessons and the Yirra Djinda training program, which prepares participants for employment in hospitality.

"Boronia provides strong support to pre- and post-natal women as well as to residents endeavouring to maintain relationships with family."