Page 2052 - Week 07 - Thursday, 24 June 2021
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The 15 segregation directions made to the end of December 2020 include five safety and security segregation directions, and 10 health segregations. All young people tested for COVID-19 have returned a negative result. These data points tell an important story, and tracking and sharing this data is key to ensuring transparency within our youth justice system.
In updating the Assembly, I would also like to tell some stories about some of the young people in Bimberi, their interests, hobbies and what they do on a daily basis. Access to education, vocational training, work experience, rehabilitation programs and recreation is a focus in Bimberi, and young people consistently report that they highly value participating in the Murrumbidgee School.
During the 2020-21 financial year, 100 per cent of young people residing at Bimberi engaged in educational programs. Two young people completed modules towards their year 12 certificate. Participating in a range of programs and services to meet individual needs also ensures young people are well prepared when they return to our community.
On a recent visit to Bimberi, I attended a Friday lunch, where children and young people in Bimberi eat communally with the Bimberi and Murrumbidgee School youth workers and staff. The young people I sat with told me they like learning maths and playing music, and we chatted about chess and guitar. I also spoke to some of the teachers about the value of making strong and early connections with their schools or colleges back in the community.
Following that visit, the young people in Bimberi participated in a charity chess tournament that the centre organised and ran. I visited to hear from the young people about the tournament and the tutoring they have been receiving from a national chess champion. On my visit, I had the pleasure of playing against the two young people who had made it to the grand final. Despite practising, I lost both games—pretty overwhelmingly. They were tough competitors who had clearly been working hard, and it was wonderful to see how chess was helping them to develop their patience, their perseverance and their positive sportsmanship. Almost $1,000 was raised for Lifeline, the young people’s charity of choice.
Each of my visits to Bimberi has been valuable in affirming to me that the ACT government continues to ensure that the centre is as restorative, beneficial and as safe as possible.
The children and young people in Bimberi are supported to pursue their interests and their goals, attend school and make friends. In many ways this re-creates essential, normal parts of life, but there should never be anything normal about a child or a young person being in a youth justice centre. While I am pleased by the reduced numbers of children and young people in Bimberi on an average day, I still look forward to the day that the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre is empty. I look forward to having a discussion about chess with young people at a tournament in the community. I look forward to attending music performances at a local community school or youth centre.
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