Page 532 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
time. Already, this is reducing the number of young people who are requiring supervision orders, as reported recently in the report on government services.
A range of improvements have been introduced to support young people in the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre. This includes a significant investment in increasing the number of staff at the centre as well as a focus on staff training and development. The key worker model at Bimberi ensures that each young person has an advocate for their needs on a day-to-day basis at Bimberi. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this has been a very successful program and it will be further developed.
Another significant initiative to bring about positive cultural change at Bimberi is the integrated management system. This project brings together all of the elements of operations at Bimberi, including compliance and risk management, communications and data, and record-keeping and reporting.
Improved learning and training outcomes for young people in 2011 point to the significant change at Bimberi. In 2012 a transition program has been established at the Murrumbidgee Education and Training Centre with the appointment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander transition coordinator and a lead teacher. This program will follow and support young people to develop education and training opportunities as they transition from Bimberi into the community.
These improvements are exemplified by case studies like that of a 16-year-old young man who was sentenced to Bimberi for substantial property offences and who had not attended formal schooling for over 12 months. He had chronic cannabis use and a diagnosis of a mental illness. This young man while at Bimberi engaged with the education program and achieved accredited training qualifications. While at Bimberi he developed his musical talents and is now a recording artist. He is currently living independently with the support of a transition program in a place he considers his first home ever, and he is continuing his education. This is a significant success story for the single youth justice case management system.
I could also speak of the progress we have made in the last 12 months in the assessment of young people with drug and alcohol problems. During 2010-11 an interagency working group progressed the development of an evidence-based assessment and referral pathway for young people in the youth justice system who may have alcohol or other drug-related needs. Under the pathway developed, all such youth justice clients are referred to the court alcohol and drug assessment service within the Health Directorate for assessment and referral to the most suitable service for any identified drug or alcohol needs.
Our message is very clear. We recognise the importance of prevention, early intervention and diversion. We understand that, as does the broader community. I would hope that all here understand the benefits of that. Prevention and diversion were established features of the government’s response to children and young people at risk of entering youth justice and young people in the youth justice system.
The ACT youth justice system comprises a range of early intervention and diversion approaches ranging from family support, child and family centres, schools and the
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video