Australia's newest maximum security prison has no cells and inmates can make late night telephone calls or watch their own touch-screen televisions - but they are under extreme scrutiny.

This is the Hunter Correctional Centre (HCC), north of Sydney, and jail authorities believe it may be the future of rehabilitating some of our worst murderers, rapists and career criminals.

While the prison's 400 male inmates have privileges not found in other maximum security facilities, they all work and undergo education programs, readying them for life outside.

They are also under some of the most intense surveillance of any prison in the country and an elite armed immediate action team is stationed within the facility providing a constant response capability for any incident.

There is a panic button inside the cubicle and an alarm system is activated if more than one person enters the bathroom or if an inmate spends too long inside.

While the security arrangements for accommodation differ from other maximum security prisons, the outside perimeter appears traditional, if more technologically advanced.

Two 5.1m anti-climb fences are separated by a sterile zone which is monitored by a visual motion detection system incorporating infra-red cameras which make night appear almost like day.

There are more than 600 CCTV cameras watching over the entire prison with the capacity to zoom in so close the operators can read newsprint in an inmate's hands.

The pods are overlooked by a mezzanine walkway which is patrolled by officers including members of the immediate action team who are armed with gas-shooting guns.

Credits: Daily Mail