Page 364 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 20 February 2018
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ACT Corrective Services employs a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in both identified and non-identified positions. As of 23 August 2017, 5.12 per cent of the total ACT Corrective Services workforce identified themselves as being from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. In addition, the ACT government also engages an Indigenous official visitor to visit and interact with detainees within ACT correctional facilities to ensure cultural needs are being met.
The observations and conclusions that comprise recommendation 9 of the Moss review will continue to inform ongoing efforts across government so that changes are implemented in a culturally safe way. These span several directorates and will inform future reforms and service delivery arrangements. Additionally, the advice of the steering committee continues to help inform the implementation of recommendation 9 and to assist the government to increase its cultural proficiency to more effectively manage the welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees.
A detailed status report on all the recommendations and conclusions has been provided to the Assembly. An information brochure has also been created especially to assist the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to understand how the Moss review recommendations are being implemented to improve detainee health and wellbeing. Copies of the information brochure will be available online via the JACS website and hard copies will be provided to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, Winnunga and the Aboriginal Legal Service, as well as being made available to visitors and detainees at the AMC.
I commend the work of all directorates involved, including the support and advice being provided by the independent chair, Mr Russell Taylor AM. I also recognise and thank the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community representatives on the steering committee, namely Ms Jo Chivers, Ms Julie Tongs OAM and Mr Anthony Longbottom, for their strong contributions in this process. I also acknowledge the remarkable resilience of, and strong advocacy for change by, Mrs Narelle King following the death of her son. The changes being implemented through the Moss review recommendations will help improve the safety and wellbeing of people in custody at the AMC, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and ensure Steven Freeman’s legacy is a positive one for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees.
I present the following papers:
Moss Review—
Implementation—Ministerial statement, 20 February 2018.
Annual report, February 2018.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the ministerial statement.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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