Page 3286 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 16 August 2011
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compliant is not something that you attain once and then forget. Human rights compliance is about constant reflection and understanding of your practices. It is asking questions about how to do things better to improve the system and to make sure that rehabilitation and the wellbeing of young people are our primary focus.
The report is underpinned with a solid and well-researched evidence base and provides a level of understanding about youth justice here in the territory. I believe it is a level of understanding that we have never seen before. This report will become a seminal document that provides us with the evidence that allows informed decision making and effective planning about the future of youth justice.
Something that stood out for me in this report was that we have very different ideas, or perhaps no clearly defined idea, of what rehabilitation is. I would argue that the culture that has been created within the closed community of Bimberi is one of a lock-and-key culture where young people are not able to access proven and evidence-based rehabilitation programs that have the ability to change criminogenic behaviours.
I believe the report shows how some staff have had their hands tied, and this has caused much distress and anguish for them. This report provides us with the evidence of the frustration some staff have felt while working in this environment. I also believe the report provides us with a clear mandate and action plan to make changes that will reform how we support and move forward with youth justice.
In relation to staff, I have read that there is clearly a need for frequent training ranging on topics from the vision of the ACT youth justice system, mandatory reporting and through to relationship-based behaviour management techniques. I believe that supporting staff by providing more training will lead to better outcomes for young people and staff by reducing the need, for instance, for restraining young people. It also provides an opportunity to energise and seek information and support from trainers and others who are working with this challenging group of young people.
Staff also require regular and accessible supervision. The report outlines that the Community Services Directorate, in collaboration with professional experts and directorate staff, develop and implement a critical incident debriefing or support model. The report clearly articulates that all staff should be offered counselling and assistance to manage any ongoing emotional and mental health concerns. This report also recommends that a centre-wide performance appraisal scheme be implemented that clearly articulates when supervision will be conducted, by who and how this process will be evaluated.
I am very disturbed that these recommendations were even necessary, and yet this part of the report clearly demonstrates that the stressful environment within Bimberi goes beyond a lack of staffing. Indeed, a lack of staff has had an impact on the environment; however, I believe a lack of vision, leadership and skilled management has exacerbated the stress that staff have felt.
Throughout the recommendations there is a requirement to develop, implement and review a range of policies in order to improve the work and living environment of the staff and young people in Bimberi. My question is: what work has been going on in Bimberi since it opened its door in 2008? These environments are not stagnant or a
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