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Christmas cheer came a fortnight early for about 100 Acacia prison inmates who were treated to carols and other songs performed by The University of Western Australia's Winthrop Singers at the Wooroloo medium security facility today.

The Singers ‑ fresh from a visit to China - were invited to perform two concerts by Acacia Prison Chaplain Alan Forsythe as part of the facility's ‘Faith and Beyond' program.

"Some prisoners don't get many visits - if any - and were thrilled to be able to listen to the singing," Father Forsythe said.

"I heard the Winthrop Singers recently at a concert at St George's College at UWA.  It's my old college - I was a student there from 1959.  I was so impressed that I asked them if they'd come and sing for the prisoners.  The choir's Director, Associate Professor Nicholas Bannan, taught music in a UK prison and he agreed to perform today with the 21 choristers.

"They sang songs in Hebrew and Greek, songs from Broadway and Hollywood, and finished with carols.  It was great! It makes a difference to the prisoners to know that people care enough about them to come along."

‘Faith and Beyond' is part of a wider restorative justice program where prisoners have the opportunity to develop life skills for a return to the community.  Acacia's rehabilitation and reintegration ethos focuses on the need for prisoners to address their offending behaviour and demonstrate a level of responsibility.

Acacia Prison Director Paul McMullan said the Winthrop Singers provided the prisoners with much-needed contact with the outside world in an uplifting way consistent with the prison's broader prison philosophy.

"Having a diverse representation from the community is an important part of the overall rehabilitation program, and the Winthrop Singers bring their internationally recognised performance as we prepare for Christmas," he said.

"It is important that prisoners can have an affinity with the community they will return to if they are to succeed in reintegration and not re-offend.  I am very pleased that the singers and all our partners who visit the prison help to play their part in achieving this."

Father Forsythe (71) has just completed a PhD at UWA.  His subject was the development of spiritual capital in prisons.