Page 3222 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 17 September 2013
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ACT I believe we are on the right track to fundamental, once-in-a-generation, life-changing reform. I want to thank all those involved in the transition to DisabilityCare in the ACT—gratitude and appreciation for their efforts. I present a copy of the following paper:
National Disability Insurance Scheme—Ministerial statement, 17 September 2013
I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Throughcare extension initiative
Ministerial statement
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo—Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Housing, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Minister for Ageing) (10.37), by leave: I thank the Assembly for the opportunity to outline this very significant development in dealing with some of the people in our community who have been detained by ACT Corrective Services. With the commencement of our throughcare initiative, the ACT is seeking to break new ground in addressing the behaviour of individual offenders, improve the safety of the ACT community and, over time we hope, reduce the numbers of those who reoffend and return to detention.
The concept of throughcare is not new and nor is it a concept invented in the ACT. The goal of reducing the detainee population is not unique to the territory. Every state and territory is working hard to respond to the increased demands placed on corrections, some by building bigger jails, some by focusing on community corrections, and some, like us, exploring every possible avenue.
Throughcare is the concept that corrections authorities should manage offenders in a continuous, coordinated and integrated manner. The throughcare concept says that this should happen from the offender’s first point of contact with correctional services through to their reintegration into the community. The idea that you can and should manage behaviour change throughout a person’s time in custody is something done not only in Australia but also overseas and, as a best practice concept, has existed for many years.
The special thing we are doing in the ACT is extending the provision of throughcare assistance to a period of 12 months after release from custody. This is unusual in Australia. When combined with the significant partnership between community and government in developing and implementing this initiative, the ACT has produced something unique, and something of which we as a community should be proud. We think that by providing assistance for a period of 12 months, we will really enhance the capacity of individuals to turn around their lives in those crucial months after release from custody.
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