1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: The Northern Territory government launched its youth boot camps, with 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: one held in Darwin over three days from the ninth 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: of August. The camps involved conservation work, a team resilience 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: day at Litchfield National Park and vocational employment skills workshops. 5 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: The program, which is going to continue to run across 6 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory, aims to provide discipline and rehabilitate offenders 7 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: while breaking the cycle of reoffending and equipping youths with 8 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: skills to turn their lives around. Now joining us on 9 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: the line to tell us more is the Deputy Commissioner 10 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: of Youth Justice and Community Corrections, Sasha Dennis. Good morning 11 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: to you, Sasha. 12 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, thanks so much. 13 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: For your time this morning. Now, Sasha, what exactly did 14 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: the youths do during the recent boot camp. 15 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: On the ninth of August, Katie. Our first day, the 16 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: young people learned how to cut hair, assist with cleaning, 17 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 2: and gained insight into how the shop operates out a 18 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 2: business at the Cuts Barbershop. So the focus of that 19 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 2: was around work exposure, encouraging the detainees to step outside 20 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 2: of their comfort zones and support their skill building around 21 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 2: what real world employment expectations are. On the second day, 22 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: the two detainees went with Territory Empowerment and they participated 23 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 2: in a hike in Lichfield which really focused on physical discipline, 24 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 2: decision making, and team resilience. And then on the final day, 25 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: on the Monday, the two detainees attended use Works, which 26 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 2: is all about vocational pathways and young people taking responsibility 27 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 2: for their future and what they aspire to so that 28 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 2: they're able to put in place goals for when they 29 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 2: are released from detention. Because we know that being in 30 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 2: detention does not solve all of those behaviors that have 31 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 2: brought them into the justice system. So it's very important 32 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 2: for us that we provide these youth boot camps and 33 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: these programs so that young people are being able to 34 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 2: participate in communities based interventions and. 35 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: Deputy Commissioner, I would imagine that not every young person 36 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: sort of eligible either or considered suitable, But are you 37 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: expecting that there's going to be quite a number of 38 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: young people able to do these boot camps? 39 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Katie. So all young people are eligible. It's about 40 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 2: their behaviors, It's about their commitment and them demonstrating that 41 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 2: they can be safe. Our absolute priority when we operate 42 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 2: a youth boot camp is to prioritize community safety and 43 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 2: our staff safety. So we do work with all young 44 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 2: people to participate in different programs. They may not be 45 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: suitable for a youth boot camp, but they are always 46 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 2: offered intensive therapeutic interventions while they are in detention. 47 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: And so is it then sort of up to them 48 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: whether they do it or do you go guys decide 49 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 1: whether you think somebody is sort of you know, whether 50 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: they might be the right fit for that particular program. 51 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 2: So each young person undergoes a comprehensive assessment when they 52 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:14,839 Speaker 2: come into detention. Part of that is what we call 53 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 2: through through Care Plan Katie, and we work with young 54 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 2: people to identify what they wish to do when they 55 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:26,119 Speaker 2: are released from detention, how they're going to change their 56 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 2: behaviors and ensure that they don't return to detention, but 57 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 2: also around what are those skills, the work readiness, the 58 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 2: future employment, what do they actually want to achieve And 59 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 2: through that we map out what those skills are that 60 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: we need to support that young person to do. So 61 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 2: we will link them all ready into various different education models, 62 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:55,119 Speaker 2: treatment programs, cultural programs. So that when they are released, 63 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 2: they are able to be part of that community and 64 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 2: reintegrate without difficut call teasing, without trying to build new 65 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 2: partnerships and so forth, without having those skills. 66 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: Deputy Commissioners, some people have been saying, you know, Katie, 67 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: how much can they learn in three days? Or you know, 68 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: really is three days going to make a difference. What 69 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 1: do you say to the people listening this morning that 70 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: are thinking, oh, sounds like it's almost a bit of 71 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: fun for them rather than actually, you know, having to 72 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: become better people or trying to become better people. 73 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 2: The purpose of the youth boot camp being run here 74 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: in Darwin over three days was to have young people 75 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 2: being a part of their community and it's really focused 76 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 2: on addressing criminogenic behaviors. So the length of the camp 77 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 2: is dependent on our staffing and what other businesses and 78 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 2: organizations we can include. So the three days was just 79 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 2: one type of youth boot camp. We have other boot 80 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 2: camps across the territory, such as a land conservation work 81 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 2: skills camp which is longer than three days. So it's 82 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 2: really focused on what is the most successful period of 83 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 2: time that a young person can participate and also work 84 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 2: through those behaviors. We certainly don't treat this as an 85 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 2: opportunity for young people just to go out and participate 86 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 2: and do whatever they want. These are very structured, supervised 87 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 2: activities that young people need to demonstrate a commitment to 88 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: and safe behaviors. 89 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: How many like, what's the staffing ratio to you that's 90 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: needed to hold a camp like the one that happened 91 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: on the nights of August. 92 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 2: With our detention you boot camps. We have a very 93 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: clear star ratio, so it's assessed on the level of 94 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 2: risk of a young person, but we have a minimum 95 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 2: of two huge justice officers who will escort that young person. 96 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 2: So by taking two detainees over those three days, that 97 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 2: meant we had four youth Justice officers with those two 98 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 2: detaining It does like. 99 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 1: To people listening, it would sound like it's quite a 100 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 1: large number of staff needed, you know, when you've only 101 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 1: got a small number of people taking part. I mean, 102 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 1: when you look at the staff ratios that are required, 103 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: how often will the camp sort of be able to run? 104 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: We are aspiring to have a minimum of two camps 105 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 2: per month. But also, Katie, we operate what's called leave 106 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 2: of absences daily, so that allows us to take young 107 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 2: people out of detention and participate in education programs such 108 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 2: as Tria Trade at the Palmerston Education Facility. So we 109 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 2: do this regularly. It's not something that we are able 110 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 2: to facilitate every day because obviously sometimes our staffing fluctuates. 111 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 2: We have sickness just like many PEOPLMP down at the moment, 112 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 2: So it's always assessed on our priorities to operate the 113 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 2: detentions and it safely. So we won't operate a boot 114 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 2: use boot camp if we don't have appropriate staffing. 115 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: And I mean you sort of touched on as well 116 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: the fact that there can be different kinds of boot camps. 117 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 1: What was the other one that you'd spoken about, the 118 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: land conservation was it? 119 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 2: That's correct, Katie. So that's where we work with different 120 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:30,239 Speaker 2: organizations and young people learn skills such as yard work, 121 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 2: maintenance skills, fencing, irrigation. Part of that is also looking 122 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: at skills suitability for employment roles in ranger programs, outdoor 123 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 2: adventure guiding, teamwork, leadership, working with others in outdoor scenarios, 124 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 2: so managing conflict. It's very much a structured work routine 125 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 2: as well, so young people learn about work ethic and punctuality. 126 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 2: We have a number of different category is of youth 127 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 2: boot camps because what we have identified from previously operating 128 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 2: similar camps is that not one type of camp is 129 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 2: appropriate for every young person. Each young person has identified 130 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 2: needs and criminogenetic behaviors, and that's why we have a 131 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 2: variety of different types of youth boot camps, Katie. And 132 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 2: they all have intended outcome skills. So it's not about 133 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 2: going fishing and swimming and having a great time. They 134 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 2: are very clear intended outcome skills for those detaining. 135 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:36,599 Speaker 1: Deputy Commissioner, do you find and I know, like particularly 136 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: with the boot camp that happened on the ninth of 137 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: August its early days, but with some of these different camps, 138 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: with some of these different programs, I mean, then when 139 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: you look at the recidivism rates, do you feel as 140 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: though or you know, is there evidence to support that 141 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: these kind of programs you know, lower the risk of recidivism. 142 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 2: What we do o, Katie, is that does not change 143 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 2: these behaviors alone. That's why these boot camps have to 144 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 2: hold young people to account while giving them skills and 145 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 2: responsibilities to try and break that cycle. That is absolutely 146 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 2: fundamental to every program that we deliver as part of 147 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 2: the Department of Corrections, and it is very much about 148 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 2: giving young people the tools and discipline to choose a 149 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: better path. 150 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 1: And to anybody listening this morning, that's thinking to themselves, 151 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,959 Speaker 1: So it sounds a bit like a school excursion. I mean, 152 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 1: what would you say to those people listening this morning? 153 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: Are there? You know? Is this tougher and teaching these 154 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: you know, in some cases, I'm assuming we're talking about 155 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: young people who've been involved in serious crime to end 156 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 1: up in the youth detention center. You know, that's a given. 157 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: I mean, what would you say to anybody listening this 158 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: morning that's sort of thinking. It sounds like they're going 159 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: out on a school camp. 160 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:58,959 Speaker 2: What I would say, Katie, is that it is very 161 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 2: much not a school camp. It is far from a 162 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 2: soft option, and the youth boot camps are about developing 163 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 2: practical skills that can help these young people tend their 164 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 2: lives around so that we do lower the recidivism rate. 165 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 2: It's not a soft option. It's not a school camp. 166 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 2: It is a discipline focused, structured intervention that is absolutely 167 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 2: focused on changing these young people's behaviors. 168 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: Well. Deputy Commissioner of Youth Justice and Community Correction, Sasha Dennis. 169 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time this morning. Thank you for 170 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: having a chat with us. Thanks very much, Katie, thank you.