Bringing-Them-Home-Report-Web

oys will have no family visits for long periods of time … boys are forced to sit around all day inthe centres with few programs to attend and nothing meaningful to do … they have very fewrights and suffer because of racism (submission 427 pages 1-2).The TAC criticised the standards of care at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre inTasmania (submission 325 page 122). The Government advised that all complaints havebeen investigated and a review of the Centre has been completed (TasmanianGovernment submission page D-29). Most detention centres now have some type ofspecific art, educational or cultural program for Indigenous detainees. Some detentioncentres have Aboriginal Support Groups who visit detainees. 16 However, the extent towhich these programs can compensate for removal from family, community and countrymust be questioned.The provision of Indigenous specific cultural education and support programs within the centrecan in no way compensate her for the loss of culture which is the result of her removal to ajuvenile justice detention centre. The unique impact that removal has on Indigenous youngoffenders when considered in the context of Indigenous culture and the long history of removalpolicies which have specifically affected Indigenous people and their social structures and culturecannot possibly be dealt with by the superficial provision of ‘cultural’ programs within a centre(Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner quoted by NSW Ombudsman1996 on page 75).Cultural programs are important but they need to be evaluated in terms of theirquality and in terms of staff commitment to ensuring their success. They should not beseen as compensating for the effects of removal.A related issue is the employment of Indigenous youth workers in detention centres.Indigenous young people find it easier to relate to Indigenous workers. A survey of NSWdetention centres found that the proportion of Aboriginal workers in detention centresvaried between 1% and 6% of each detention centre workforce while the proportion ofIndigenous inmates varied between 12% and 50% (NSW Ombudsman 1996 page 77).The Ombudsman recommended a review of employment strategies for Indigenousworkers as well as greater cross-cultural training for staff.The Inquiry was told in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania that thereis a need to establish Aboriginal-run facilities as alternatives to detention centres(Broome and Derby Working Groups submission 518, confidential submission 289 WA,Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre supplementary submission 325 page 4). The TACenvisaged that such an alternative facility would deal with both young offenders andchildren in cases of breakdown in family support (submission 325 page 4).Juvenile deaths in custodyThe death in custody of an Indigenous young person constitutes the final andabsolute removal of that young person from his or her family and community.Fifteen Indigenous young people died in custody in the eight years between May1989, when the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody ceased