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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 346 asked in the Legislative Council on 23 June 2021 by Hon Peter Collier

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

BANKSIA HILL DETENTION CENTRE

346. Hon PETER COLLIER to the minister representing the Minister for Corrective Services:

I refer to the 2020 Inspection of Banksia Hill Detention Centre report by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services.

(1) What changes or improvements have been made at Banksia Hill from 2017–2021 to focus on the rehabilitation of offenders?

(2) What changes or improvements have been made at Banksia Hill from 2017–2021 that have been specifically targeted toward the rehabilitation of Aboriginal offenders?

(3) How many offenders were placed at Banksia Hill in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020?

(4) How many of those referred to in (3) were repeat offenders?

Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:

I thank the member for the question. The following information has been provided to me by the Minister for Corrective Services.

(1) Since 2017, the introduction of a new program suite with a strong focus on through care and rehabilitation has taken place. Since this time the program portfolio at Banksia Hill has continued to expand services such as the Army Cadets with the Australian Army, the Youth in Emergency program with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the Hip Hop program with Banksia Beats Music Studio and Banksia Beans hospitality training. The programs taught at Banksia Hill are intended to create educational and vocational pathways. Student outcomes are accredited under the department's registered training organisation, Auswest Specialist Education and Training Services. Current programs taught comply with RTO standards, are recognised nationally and align with the Australian Core Skills Framework.

Banksia Hill currently offers a range of courses, including the following: entry to general education, which focuses primarily on literacy and numeracy skills and assumes that participants have little or no prior formal education; gaining access to training and employment, GATE, which is a bridging preparatory course enabling learners to extend their knowledge and skills in the general education field prior to entering other vocational programs, employment or community participation; and the certificate of general education for adults, which is designed to improve adult literacy, basic maths and general education skills to access further study, employment or to participate in the community. The CGEA is also delivered to young people who have gaps in their educational background and is used in many CARE schools. Youth Justice Psychological Services also provides a number of evidence-based group interventions at BHDC, which addresses the criminogenic needs of young people. Suitability for these programs are based on the young person's rating on the youth level of service.

(2) In addition to the above services, which are available to all young people in detention, a culturally specific group substance use program ''Who's Ya Mob'' has been introduced to the centre. This program continues to be facilitated. Since 2017 four Aboriginal welfare officers have been appointed.

(3)–(4) This answer is in tabular form. I seek leave to have it incorporated into Hansard.

[Leave granted for the following material to be incorporated.]

Year

Distinct Persons Received

Distinct Persons Received With Previous Sentenced Stay

2017

794

135

2018

761

125

2019

748

115

2020

625

104