Page 3429 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 17 September 2019
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Bimberi’s capacity to assess information and manage emerging risks; development of a strategy to ensure that all staff have refresher training on the use of force when it is due; the fact that there is currently no protocol with ACT Policing for situations where police assistance is required and a lack of operational preparedness for an event requiring police attendance; improvements to emergency planning, including scenario planning and drills; and improvements in the effectiveness of the work health and safety system at the centre, including improvements to the WHS risk register that better identify the controls in place over the behaviour of young people in custody, noting that these controls are currently better reflected in the operational risk register.
I would note that, in relation to a number of these issues, Mr Muir also finds that, based on the evidence he has reviewed, the areas for improvement or discussion did not necessarily adversely impact on the evening’s events. Since the incident, considerable effort has occurred to continue the safe operations of the centre, support staff involved in the incident, facilitate the review and the two investigations underway, and keep key stakeholders informed.
This has included providing an individualised and tailored response to staff who were involved in the incident; providing health, psychological and practical assistance; providing Mr Muir with unfettered access to the centre, staff and all relevant material to inform his consideration of the incident; providing information and briefings to ACT Policing and WorkSafe in support of their investigations; briefing all oversight agencies, including the official visitors, the Children and Young People Commissioner and Public Advocate and the Inspector of Correctional Services, even though he does not yet have any formal role in youth justice oversight; and undertaking some preliminary rectification works on issues identified through the incident—for example, immediate changes to access into the facilities area in the centre.
The day after the incident, the client services manager and the family engagement officer also contacted the families of the young people at Bimberi to reassure them that all the young people were safe and that Bimberi’s operations would return to normal as soon as possible. On the advice of senior staff in the children, youth and families division of the Community Services Directorate, neither I nor the director-general visited Bimberi on the day after the incident.
However, I subsequently attended the morning briefing on Thursday, 29 August to offer my support to staff and to thank them for their work, and the directorate has contacted all staff who were involved in the incident to check in with them personally. The Community Services Directorate also continues to work closely with the Community and Public Sector Union on issues raised by their members and any potential improvements that can be made to address these.
Madam Speaker, Bimberi staff undertake one of the most challenging roles in the ACT government. Sometimes they are called upon to intervene and respond when there are incidents of violence in order to ensure the safety of young people and staff within the centre, and at times this means placing themselves at risk of harm.
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