Page 3287 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 16 August 2011
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set-and-forget environment. This is an ever-changing environment that requires a constant reflective and evaluative approach which is supported by staying in touch with changes in youth justice, new programs, evaluations of such programs and research into criminogenic trends and how we assist young people to make positive behavioural change.
Something that I found extremely alarming and actually quite shocking was the poor level of record-keeping that the report highlighted, and I quote from the report:
… the Commission notes that the ‘register’ containing segregation directions is a file folder created on 3 May 2010, and contains printed segregation directions dating back only as far as 9 June 2009 …
Even more alarming is that it is not clear to the commission as to whether any formal segregation directions were issued between Bimberi becoming operational in December 2008 and that date. The government submission only reports on figures from August 2009. The dates and inconsistencies in this as one example through the segregation register is just not good enough. It is not good enough because it leaves young people vulnerable, it leaves staff vulnerable and it leaves management vulnerable.
I do find myself asking: where has the minister been on this issue? We had numerous members of the staff coming forward, we had evidence of increasing violence within the centre and a range of other symptoms of poor morale, staff conflict, poor communication practices and a culture of declining care. I have severe concerns about the level of openness with which the Community Services Directorate and the minister are approaching the process, and my concerns lie with the question: how has this youth justice centre gone off the track in less than two years? I am encouraged that the government say they want to work towards making change and reform, but I really believe that, until there is an honest and clear appreciation that there are real problems, this will be an uphill journey.
An example of how blindsided are those in the positions who can make change is included on page 326 of the report, and I quote from the government submission that appears there:
In managing young people who are subject to a segregation direction, staff ensure that minimum living conditions are not affected, in particular food, telephone, mail, visitation, clothing, health and hygiene, education and programming and access to cultural and spiritual observance. In addition, every attempt is made to ensure the child or young person continues to have access to as many opportunities within the centre as possible.
The commission’s response to this says:
To the extent that the Government Submission suggests that young people subject to a segregation order do attend education or programs, or receive appropriate education while in segregation, this is quite simply untrue.
In fact, the commission found that some teachers reported they had never met these young people. The research into segregation suggests that segregation creates a prison
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