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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 7 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 1843 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

As well, Mr Speaker, last year there were a number of other programs, which I gave some community groups grants for, and which, on the feedback I got, went very well. There was a fitness program which the Police-Citizens Youth Clubs use, I understand, for the residents, and there was also a highly effective band program which ran, I think, for 12 weeks. It was basically teaching residents how to be roadies. There was some music tuition in that. It was run by a community group and there was a very good response from the residents. They seemed to really enjoy it and get a lot of benefit out of it. Those programs are there to complement the educational programs that have been put in place and improved upon.

Mr Speaker, before turning to some of the other points the Official Visitor raised, I should say that, in regard to the personal portfolios, the first statement of results was presented to residents there by the Director of the Student Support Service on 29 March 1996. Students have become motivated to participate as value and recognition is being placed on the portfolio and the statement of results. The Department of Education and Training has negotiated with the CIT for Quamby to be a provider of the CAGE - Certificate of Adult General Education - program for the 18-week Year 10 certificate. Students receive full credits for units completed if they seek entry to CIT after their Quamby placement. The department has funded the costs associated with the CAGE program.

I think these types of programs, good supervision and good rehabilitation programs, are the very best approaches one can take in these youth detention centres. They are something that Mr Aldcroft was very keen on. He made a number of points ranging from how you deal with the most difficult young persons in custody to what sorts of programs most of those kids really needed rather than just having them sitting around doing nothing. He was very keen on proper educational programs and I think he will be pleased with the improvements that those programs have brought.

He also mentions in the report, Mr Speaker, something about breaches of the rules. In relation to breaches of the rules, I have instructed the department to the effect that all breaches of the law must receive police attention, as is appropriate. I also have had reason more recently, Mr Speaker, to meet with Quamby staff, who put forward some further very good ideas for improvements. I have since put those forward to the department for consideration and, where appropriate, action. I must say, Mr Speaker, that I was quite inspired to find staff who had such a sense of dedication to duty and such a sense of dedication to their charges there, and a real desire to help out and seek improvements. I am sure that that sort of attitude bodes very well for the future of Quamby as a whole.

Mr Speaker, once again I thank the Official Visitor for his valuable services. I assure this Assembly that the facilities for at-risk children and youth in the Territory continue to be managed in a most able and solicitous manner. As can be seen, a number of very important points raised in the Official Visitor's report for the year 1994-95 have been taken into account and action has been taken. There certainly is more work to do; but at least a very good start has been made, and some of the educational programs, especially, are starting to show some real benefit for the young people at the centre.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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