Ordered to be published

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER August 2018

PP No 425, Session 2014–18

We have consulted with DJR, DET, YHaRS and PC, and we considered their views when reaching our audit conclusions. As required by section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994, we gave a draft copy of this report, or relevant extracts, to those agencies and asked for their submissions and comments. We also provided a copy of the report to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.

Responses were received as follows:

To meet the needs of incarcerated young people, DJR and PC need to undertake robust planning to ensure they deliver enough services of sufficient quality. Their planning should be based on evidence and analysis of demand to determine service levels and design that meet the needs of all young people. DJR's planning for the new Cherry Creek facility needs to incorporate rehabilitative concepts to ensure that it can be a tool to reduce reoffending and promote positive behaviour.

Following admission to youth detention, young people need comprehensive health and offending behaviour services to enable them to rehabilitate, and to reduce reoffending. In addition, young people are entitled to education, but they often need specialist educational assistance and teaching that meets their developmental needs, including their cultural needs.

When young people enter youth detention, they undergo primary health, mental health and education assessments to establish their individual needs. YJ case managers begin case planning based on the young person's needs and enrol them at PC. Some young people may also receive forensic mental health assessments and drug and alcohol assessments.

These assessments form the basis for health services and education that meet the requirements of the CYF Act. Effective assessments capture developmental needs and enable PC, DJR and YHaRS to tailor services to individual young people.

1.1 Young people in detention

Young people in detention are some of the most disadvantaged in the state. Many have experienced socio-economic disadvantage, family breakdown and drug abuse. Trauma experienced by young people can harm their brain development and impair cognitive growth, creating long-lasting problems.

In 2016–17, the Youth Parole Board reported that many young people have complex needs. It found that:

At any time in Victoria, there are around 200 children and young people aged between 10 and 24 years old incarcerated in youth justice centres. Around 32 per cent are on remand and awaiting trial, and 68 per cent have been convicted of an offence. In 2017–18, 961 young people received a total of 1 332 sentences and 460 young people received 777 remand orders. Between 1 November 2017 and 31 January 2018, young people on remand spent an average of 25 days and young people sentenced spent an average of 58 days in youth detention.

Our audit methods included:

Figure C1
Summary of reviews relevant to school councils