1. Welcome to Ashley Youth Detention Centre
Presentation for South Pacific Council of Youth and Children’s Courts Conference
Bill Smith, Centre Manager and Jane Douglas, Assistant Centre Manager

2. Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania
MINISTER
Children's
Commissioner
SECRETARY
Executive and
Portfolio Services
Internal Audit
Human Services
and Housing Division
Corporate and
Strategic Support
Community, Population
and Rural Health
Hospital and
Ambulance Services
Primary Health
Oral Health
Services
Housing Tasmania
Population Health
Disability Services
Community Support
Children and
Families sub Division
Mental Health
Services
Correctional
Health Services
Alcohol and
Drug Services
Community
Partners
Family, Child and
Youth Health
Child and Family
Services
Youth Justice
Child and Family
Service Centres
Community
Youth Justice
Custodial
Youth Justice
(Ashley Youth
Detention Centre)
Care and Protection
Our Kids Program
Domestic Violence
Crisis Service
Adoption and
Information Service

3. Ashley Youth Detention Centre
CENTRE MANAGER
Assistant
Centre Manager
Manager
Professional Services
Operations Manager
FSS Manager
Manager Business Operations
Psychologist
Training Officer
Program Coordinator
Coordinator Case Management
Admin Spt Officer
Executive Assistant
Operations Supervisor
Medical
Practitioner
Project Officer
Maint/Grounds Officer
Admin Officer
Program Officer
Case Manager
Operations Coordinator
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Site Services Officer
Stores Officer
Technical Programs Officer
Conferencing Coordinator
Team Leader
Catering Officer
Operations Support Officer
Caseworker
Admissions Officer
Sport & Recreation Officer
Youth Worker
Youth Worker Casual Pool

4. Ashley Youth Detention Centre
Tasmania’s only youth custodial facility
Young men and women aged 10 – 17 years inclusive
Remand and Detention orders
Gazetted as a Youth Detention Centre under the Youth Justice Act 1997 in February 2000
Practice shift from “welfare” to “restorative justice” model
Changing Client Profile
$7m capital works project 1999 – 2001
Ongoing capital works and service improvement

5. Our Purpose and Vision Purpose Vision
To provide secure care and custody for young men and women who are remanded or sentenced by the courts, through the provision of rehabilitative programs in accordance with the principles of the Youth Justice Act 1997.
Vision
Working Together to Enhance a Young Person’s return to the Community

6. Our Clients – Statistical Overview 2004/05
There were 200 admissions to the Centre, an increase of 14% on 2003/04 and 35% on 2001/02
Remands accounted for 93% of all admissions
20% of young people admitted were aged 10 – 14 years
50% of young people admitted were aged 15 – 16 years
30% of young people admitted were 17 years or older
17% of admissions were females
Average length of stay on remand is 38 days
Average length of stay on detention is 96 days

7. Our Clients – Social Overview
Young Aborigines continue to be over represented in detention (6.5% of admissions)
A large proportion of young people in custody are affected by neglect or physical, emotional or sexual abuse
Many detainees have committed serious offences involving violence
Some suffer depression and emotional instability
A significant number of young people in custody report having attempted suicide or self harm
Many leave school before year 8 and have low literacy skills

8. Key Service Outcomes
Provision of a high quality secure care environment for young people
Rehabilitation of young people in custody to enable them to become more responsible citizens
Improved health and well being outcomes for young people in custody
Improved capacity for reintegration of young people
Promotion of organisation and management structure that provides “best practice” service for young people in custody
Promotion of the five principles of restorative justice:
Responsibility
Rehabilitation
Reparation
Diversion
Deterrence

9. Case Management at Ashley Youth Detention Centre
Responsibility
Developing a sense of responsibility is critical to learn pro social behaviour
Rehabilitation
Addressing the risk factors of re offending
Cultural Factors
Unemployment
Literacy/Numeracy
Drug/Substance Abuse
Developmental stage
History of Child Abuse/Neglect/Domestic Violence
Mental Health Issues
Family Background

10. Case Management at Ashley Youth Detention Centre
Reparation
Repairing the damage that has been done through engaging in programs and services and reducing the risk of re offending
Deterrence
Once the young person is returned to the community, deterring the incidence of re offending through heightened social responsibility
Diversion
Strengthening family, community and cultural relationships to minimise the social impact of detention

11. Programs at Ashley Youth Detention Centre The “What Works” Model
TARGET FOR CHANGE
Psychiatrist
Psychologist
Counselling
Drug & Alcohol
Violence/Anger Mgt
Therapeutic Art
TYPE OF PROGRAM
Direct Therapeutic Intervention for
Clinical Conditions
Change of Ideas and Behaviours that
influence Offending Behaviour
Intensive Programs for
Serious and Persistent Offenders
Direct Offending Focus
Responsivity
Psychoeducation
Identified Criminogenic Needs
Victim Empathy
Challenging Offending Behaviour
Therapeutic Wilderness Program
Offence Focussed,
Criminogenic Programs
For Medium to High Risk
Offenders
Education
Vocational and Educational Training (VET)
On site/Off site Work Experience
Skills and Attitudes that support living within an External Social
Environment
Social Integration
Programs
Parenting, Personalised Training, Internal Project Hahn
Off site Recreational and Community focussed Activities
Gardening, Maintenance, Art, Sport, Leisure/Negotiated Activities
Skills and Attitudes that support living within an Internal Local Environment
Local Integration Programs
Sentence Administration

12. Behaviour Development
Young people learn that they can make choices about their behaviour and that those choices may lead to consequences that are either rewarding or produce sanctions.
This will help them develop behaviours that will assist them to successfully move back into the community.
Behaviour development is comprised of two schemes designed to support positive behaviour and manage negative behaviour. They are:
THE INCENTIVE SCHEME
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
Behaviour development therefore puts into operation several principles of restorative justice.

13. The Incentive Scheme
The purposes of the Incentive Scheme are to reward desirable behaviour and increase the likelihood of its reoccurrence.
Punishment is not the purpose of the incentive scheme.
Earned rewards should not be taken away to inhibit negative behaviour.
Behaviour that is rewarded should be realistic and achievable for the client.
Rewards should apply to behaviour that lead to acquisition of social, educational and organisational development.
The Young Person is to be provided with opportunities to learn to make choices, manage their own behaviour responsibly and is to be encouraged to take responsibility for their actions.
Desirable behaviours should be concrete, specific and operational.
Rewards must be what young people want and value.
Rewards do not include clients entitlements, rights and obligations.
Solutions must be practical.
The Scheme must be simple and clear.

14. Incident Management
The purpose of this scheme is to restore the Young Person and the Detention Centre to the healthy state that existed before the incident occurred. In this sense incident management constitutes a practice of restorative justice in a custodial setting. It is used to ensure the SAFETY of all residents and staff at the Centre at all times.
Incidents are categorised as
REPORTED INCIDENTS
MINOR INCIDENTS
DETENTION CENTRE OFFENCES
The Incentive Scheme and Incident Management Schemes are interrelated. There may be some consequences to the Young Persons level within the Incentive Scheme if their behaviour warrants detention offence or minor incident proceedings.
Isolation cannot be used as a punishment. Isolation is used to manage behaviour. There are statutory provisions concerning for what reason and the secretary’s instruction for how long isolation can be used.

15. Are there any questions?
Thank you for visiting
Are there any questions?