Aboriginal Youth Justice Supervision

In reply to the Hon. C. BONAROS (13 November 2018).

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): I have been provided the following advice:

There are 12 officers currently employed within the Youth Justice Division of the Department of Human Services who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. An additional two hold substantive positions with the Youth Justice Division but are undertaking temporary roles in other agencies at this time.

Four officers are based in the CBD, with two of these staff travelling to country locations as required, depending on the location of Community Youth Justice clients at any given time. Eight are based at the Adelaide Youth Training Centre in Cavan and work across both campuses as required.

There are currently no vacancies in roles identified specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.

The Department of Human Services currently funds the following programs to address the over-representation of Indigenous young people under youth justice supervision:

Metropolitan Aboriginal Youth and Family Services (MAYFS)

The Making an Impact: Northern Adelaide initiative, which includes:

the Yunga Nungas: Future Leaders program in MAYFS

an early intervention project targeting the point of arrest/contact with the justice system

an Aboriginal community sector collaboration project

a Fathers and Sons project

Justice Reinvestment SA Port Adelaide pilot program