Annual Reports

Annual Reports

Department of Justice and Community Safety

1999/2000
ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS) is committed to placing youth in culturally specific programs, and Gugan Gulwan's offline education program, the Aboriginal Health Service, and Aboriginal Legal Services are utilised.  Quamby offers indigenous art programs and cultural programs.  Identified positions in the ACTCS Community Unit provide resources for case management of Indigenous offenders, and support for young Indigenous offenders in Quamby.  Targets for 2000/01 include employment of an Indigenous Liaison Officer and establishment of supported Indigenous youth accommodation (for homeless youth).

2000/01
One of the stated goals for ACTCS is to forge a strong relationship with the Indigenous community.  Youth Justice Services (amalgamated with ACTCS in 1999) reported that individual tutors were now available for Indigenous residents at Quamby in the Hindmarsh Education Centre.  Indigenous programs at Quamby are to be extended to include participation in Indigenous Youth Forums.  In terms of adult corrections, a part-time Indigenous Liaison Officer commenced work in this reporting period.  Targets for 2001/02 include employment of two Indigenous case managers within Community Corrections.

2001/02
An Indigenous Services and Cultural Diversity Unit was established in 2001.  The Unit provides advice in relation to the effects of existing policy on Indigenous clients and the community, as well as convening a network of Indigenous staff within ACTCS.  It has developed partnerships with Indigenous organisations and works to foster confidence within the ACT Indigenous community. The aforementioned Unit was established as part of the ACTCS' Strategic Plan's commitment to ‘forge a strong relationship with the Indigenous community'.  Relevant strategies to achieve this goal include the following:

• continue a commitment to addressing the priorities identified in the recommendations
of the RCIADIC and the Bringing Them Home report, as well as other relevant national guidelines and international standards;
• ensure the level of resources allocated to Indigenous people within ACTCS reflects
their level of risk and need, and are culturally appropriate;
• continue the emphasis on building and improving Indigenous people's access to both
mainstream and Indigenous specific services and facilitating a coordinated approach to
service delivery;
• facilitate joint planning processes which allow for Indigenous participation in decision
making and the determination of priorities in matters which may impact on Indigenous
peoples;
• ensure the transparency of, and regular reporting on, all services and programs available
to Indigenous people and to ensure increased clarity with respect to the roles and
responsibilities of key stakeholders;
• ensure the use of a comprehensive assessment process that allows the identification of
Indigenous risks and needs, and links to the case management systems.
• recognise that cultural identity is important to Indigenous peoples and to ensure this
identity is not infringed;
• provide opportunities for Indigenous people in custody to meet their cultural needs;
and
• devise strategies to recruit and retain Indigenous staff.

As noted above, the Unit seeks to foster confidence within the Indigenous community, and has participated in forums organised by the local Indigenous community and agencies.  It is suggested that strong working relationships with the Belconnen Remand Centre have been developed through the Indigenous Unit and the engagement of an Indigenous Liaison Officer and Indigenous Custodial Officers.  The Unit assists ACTCS to ensure compliance with the recommendations of the RCIADIC, Bringing them Home, and the 1997 Ministerial Summit on Deaths in Custody (especially the development of rehabilitative and preventative programs).

It is also noted that the ACTCS Community Service Work program administers to ATSI organisations in the ACT.  AJAC has responsibility for developing an Aboriginal Justice Strategic Plan (to be released in 2002 (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Strategy 2003-2005?)).

2002/03
The Indigenous Services section of the aforementioned Unit has liaised with the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service in developing a Family Violence Program, as well as assisting the Training Unit to develop strategies around recruitment of Indigenous Custodial Officers.  It has also assisted in the development of an Indigenous database utilising Court statistics to help measure recidivism and effectiveness of rehabilitation programs; participated in Indigenous forums; and worked in conjunction with the ACTCS Rehabilitation Unit to establish Indigenous Reference Focus groups (which will address issues such as sexual offending and family violence). Targets for the Unit include improving relationships with Indigenous organisation such as AJAC; collecting information on NSW Indigenous Corrective Services Programs; networking with NAJAC and related organisations; and development of guidelines for probation and parole staff who deal with Indigenous clients. 

2003/04
The Unit assisted ACTCS to enhance its services by advising when cultural conflicts occur with clients; reviewed Standing Orders and Procedural Manuals in terms of their effectiveness and relevance; provided information to various Indigenous Reference Groups (such as ACT Homelessness Strategy); and sought to engage Indigenous communities in planning and consultation of the new prison project.  Departmental activities included participating in the development of circle sentencing; and a commitment to appointing an Indigenous male and female as Indigenous official visitors for both male and female detainees in Belconnen Remand Centre, Periodic Detention Centre, Quamby and detainees in NSW.

2004/05
Alcohol and drug programs and case management were provided to Indigenous remandees.  The Aboriginal Liaison Officer provides case management to Indigenous detainees, and also assists these clients with referral to Alcohol and Other Drugs rehabilitation programs.  The aforementioned Unit continued its work.

2005/06
The aforementioned Unit continued its work, including providing assistance to family members in relation to the welfare of offenders and actively participating in the development of the Alexander Maconochie Centre.  The Department also expects to negotiate a service agreement with the Aboriginal Justice Centre in the next financial year.

2006/07
The aforementioned Unit continued its work, including participating in development of the new prison in the ACT (providing input into relevant culturally appropriate programs); collecting important statistical data on Indigenous offenders population in the ACT to assist with the development of appropriate programs and to deliver effective services; and supporting strong working relationships between government and non-government organisations as part of the Department's focus on Indigenous issues.