The ACT Inspector of Corrective Services’ first healthy centre review of Bimberi Youth Justice Centre has found it performed well over the four areas in which it was assessed.
ACT Inspector of Correctional Services, Neil McAllister said the Healthy Centre Review of Bimberi Youth Justice Centre 2020 assessed the Centre on safety; respect and dignity; purposeful activity; as well as rehabilitation and preparation for release.
“The small number of young detainees in Bimberi presents unique challenges, but also great opportunities,” Mr McAllister said.
“The Review team saw some excellent examples of Bimberi taking individualised approaches to the care and management of young detainees, including in positive interactions between staff members and young detainees,” he said.
“However, one challenge caused by small numbers is accommodation placement.”
Mr McAllister said that during his Review, a young detainee was housed in an accommodation unit by themselves and, while he believed the situation was managed appropriately by the Centre, there was no policy that set out what safeguards were in place to minimise the negative effects separation from peers could have on young detainees.
“The information sharing and cooperation between the three Directorates working at Bimberi was an issue by multiple sources,” he said.
“This is impacting on young detainees receiving consistent and tailored care and support in education, health care and day-to-day care.”
The Inspector made 27 recommendations for improvement, including the immediate removal of a CCTV camera that had the potential to record a young detainee unclothed while being strip searched, changing clothes or showering.
Mr McAllister said another area of concern was throughcare, a way to prepare young detainees to re-enter the community which could reduce the likelihood of them returning to the Bimberi Centre.
He said that in 2019, the ACT Human Rights Commission recommended the Centre implement a systemic program of throughcare, but there was no throughcare program available at the time of his Review.
“We have recommended urgent action be taken on implementing the ACT Human Rights Commission’s recommendation.”
The Inspector’s 117-page Review Report can be accessed at this PS News link and the 10-page Executive Summary at this link. Further summaries can be accessed at this link.
