Transitioning from juvenile justice settings back to community is a significant step for young people, yet it can also be a difficult one. Young people released from detention commonly face difficulties re-integrating into the community, returning to unstable home settings, struggling to remain in school, and lacking the skills needed for employment. Too often, young people are transitioned home with limited planning and insufficient support. 54 reasons (part of the Save the Children Australia Group) aims to change this through our ‘Back to Community’ program.
In this presentation, we will demonstrate how a rights respecting approach, with tailored and holistic support that includes young people’s voices, improves outcomes. Drawing on examples from our work with young people returning back to their home and community from Cleveland Detention Centre in Townsville, we will share how we apply key elements of the program to successfully transition young people with the right support and ensure they do not return to custody.
For young people who are from the remote communities of Mt Isa, Doomadgee and Mornington Island, incarceration is a long way from family, cultural connections and their peers. By fostering improved family relationships and functioning, reintegration into school or employment pathways, and mastery of independent life skills, we improve the odds for these young people. Most importantly, this unique program ensures young people’s rights are upheld. Through taking their voices seriously, we maximise young people’s reintegrating to their community feeling safe, supported, connected and empowered.
Presenters
Oliver is a Practice Developmemt Manger for 54 reasons, leading support for the Youth and Community Development portfoilios. He provides support to 54 reasons teams with pracitce advice, training and coaching. He has 20 years experience in the children welfare sector through Australia and New Zealand, both in Government and non-Government departments and holds undergraduate and post-graduate qualifiactions in psychology.
Prior to joining 54 reasons, Oliver worked for OzChild in a national practice role. He has also worked as an Implementation Specialist for Parenting Research Centre and has led teams in the evidence-based Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and Treatement Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) programs as well as leading practice in a youth custodial centre. He has seen the trauma this can lead to for young people firsthand and is a big advocate and believer for a rights-respecting justice system where we continue to strive for better outcomes for children and young people, doing what we know works.
Ryan started his career in the youth sector in 1999 at what was then Lifeline Community Care NQ– working as a youth worker across various programs facilitating groups and camps for disadvantaged youth. 2005 he moved into a role with QLD youth services as youth support coordinator within several of the Townsville schools supporting young people to remain engaged in education or training. 2010 he moved into the Youth Justice system as youth justice as a Conference convenor – Bringing victims of crime, families and anyone affected by the young person’s offences together to reach a meaningful outcome, where the young person can make amends for the harm done. This position provided the opportunity to travel to remote QLD communities and build relationships with community and stakeholders across the youth justice space. Most recently I Ryan spent 6 years working in Intensive family Support leading a team who were supporting families with children at risk of statutory intervention.
Ryan is currently the Team leader – NQ Youth Services. This position encompasses his passions for the betterment of First Nations people, advocating for children to have a voice in their outcomes, and influencing workplace culture. It is an honor to work for an organisation that is committed to the same.
