The Territory Labor Government is delivering a stronger youth justice system that ensures young people face the consequences of their actions while getting the support they need to stop offending and get on a better path for their future.
Today, the Territory Government toured the redeveloped Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre, with final fit-out now occurring.
The centre is a first of its kind in Australia, with high-tech security systems designed to keep young people, staff and the community safe. This includes new body scanner equipment for young people as a direct response to Royal Commission Recommendations.
This is more than just a redevelopment – it’s a world class, high-tech facility designed to deliver a range of programs now and into the future, including:
purpose-built spaces for rehabilitation such as counselling, alcohol and other drugs programs and cultural healing;capacity building and education services to improve job-readiness and life skills;improving the visitors area with children’s playground for families with other children in tow; andmedical, dental and other mental health support services.
Youth Justice Officers are undertaking training in new technologies installed at the Alice Springs Youth Justice Centre, ahead of young people transitioning back to the centre. Young people will be progressively transferred to the centre from March.
The Territory Labor Government has spent the last 7.5 years overhauling the youth justice system to make sure we continue to deliver effective, evidence-based supports and responses in youth justice. A system wide review will also be undertaken, along with residential youth justice facilities being built in Darwin, Alice Springs, and Tennant Creek.
Darwin is also receiving a new Youth Detention Centre, with construction underway and due for completion mid-year.
Tennant Creek currently has bail supported accommodation under construction, to keep children closer to home while they await sentencing.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister Eva Lawler
“The Territory Labor Government is delivering a stronger youth justice system to ensure offenders face the consequences for their actions and are also supported to reduce re-offending in our community.
“This re-developed facility will give young people the chance to turn their lives around, while also helping to keep the community safe.
“The refurbished Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre gets the balance right between ensuring that youth offenders face consequences but also that time spent in detention can be used to get our young people back on track.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Territory Families Ngaree Ah Kit
“We know when kids do the wrong thing and end up on remand or in detention, that locking them up in facilities that don’t provide the ability to deliver evidence-based programs and support doesn’t work.
“The co-designed redeveloped facility will mean these kids can access the health and education services they need and access programs that will make a real difference.
“We’re delivering a youth detention facility that will make it easier for our dedicated youth justice offices to do their job and more attractive for us to recruit new staff. We’re also one of the first jurisdictions in the country to design an accessible facility to cater for people with disability who want to work there.”
Northern Territory Government
