Review of youth custody: Follow-up to 2023 Inspection (Part Two)

Banksia Hill Detention Centre and Unit 18 at Casuarina Prison were last inspected in February 2023. That inspection found young people, staff, and a physical environment in acute crisis. As such, the Inspector made the unusual decision to produce his findings in a truncated and expedited report to focus on the immediate concerns challenging youth …

Wholesale system level reform is required We have consistently recommended significant changes to the management of youth custodial services moving to trauma-informed, child-centred care. We have also highlighted many successful international reform examples, all of which have required long-term or generational change. While the Department has commenced this journey, it is in its infancy and …

There has been some valuable improvement across several areas at Banksia Hill and Unit 18 since our 2023 inspection. The focus on increasing custodial staffing has reduced young people’s time locked in cell and increased their access to a variety of much-needed support services. These ‘green shoots’ are beginning to produce better outcomes for young …

Recommendation 1 Expand the Model of Care to include Unit 18. Recommendation 2 Reimagine and establish a youth care role – separate from youth custodial officers – to support and guide young people in every aspect of their day in custody. Recommendation 3 Develop and implement a mixed-shift system to maximise consistency and continuity of …