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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (2 December) . . Page.. 4308 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

I turn to youth justice. The situation regarding indigenous youth gives some cause for concern. There were 14 indigenous young people being supervised on community-based orders during 1996-97, representing a decrease of 30 per cent compared with 1995-96. There was, however, an increase of 77 per cent in indigenous young people held on custodial orders. In terms of numbers, this was an increase from 18 people in 1995-96 to 32 in 1996-97. Youth justice programs aim to divert indigenous young people from the criminal justice system. Programs include alternative correctional schemes for those who do not enter the system and community programs to strengthen young people's links with their communities.

The Hindmarsh Education Centre at the Quamby Youth Detention Centre was officially established in 1996-97. It is an accredited educational facility adjacent to the main campus and managed by a teacher from the ACT Department of Education and Training. The centre uses an innovative project and program base enabling many residents, including Aboriginal children, to pass the various modules leading to school certificates. This official recognition of their achievements often facilitates their return to mainstream school.

Programs available to Quamby residents during the last year included the industrial arts program; permaculture; a theatrical production with Big hArt Theatre Company; a project facilitated by staff from Woden Youth Centre in the design and completion of murals which were displayed at the National Reconciliation Convention that was held in Melbourne - the Quamby murals were presented by the residents to the ACT Legislative Assembly for display at various Canberra public buildings; a driver awareness course; a first aid course, music and drama classes; and sport.

Addressing the underlying issues is the fourth theme of the report. I would like to outline some key initiatives in this area. One of the major events of the past year was the release of the Bringing them home report by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families. I am pleased to say that this is one issue that has received support from every MLA. The Assembly unanimously moved a motion of apology on 17 June 1997 and another motion on 19 June 1997 inviting representatives of the ACT's indigenous community to appear before the Assembly on 26 August 1997. Six representatives, including two who had been forcibly removed from their families, addressed the Assembly on that day. They were the first witnesses ever to be called to the bar. We will all remember the impact on all members of the Assembly and everyone listening of hearing the stories told by those Aboriginal people.

The Government is currently preparing a response to the Bringing them home report. I would like to report that over the past 18 months a number of Aboriginal people have accessed the special agreements made through the Adoption Information Service to trace links with families or communities. In recognition of the need for close liaison with the Aboriginal community concerning the care of Aboriginal children, Family Services has established four Aboriginal-identified permanent child protection/youth justice caseworker positions which are in the process of being filled. The Aboriginal child placement principle is a formal policy guiding all child protection actions. If it is considered

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