Harmful restrictions for young people involved in the youth justice system have significant negative consequences and offer little chance for a supportive pathway back into the community, especially the earlier a young person is involved with this system. Adolescence is a vital growth period and a time of opportunity for young people as they learn to make decisions, manage emotions and create deeper connections with their peers and others in their community. Punitive responses are only likely to cause more trauma to a young person, which impacts their development and capacity to function in these key areas as they progress towards adulthood.
54 reasons’ Bail Support program in Mackay, Queensland, sees these collateral consequences for young people on a daily basis as a result of their conviction history, exposing them to further trauma. The Youth Specialists in the bail support program use a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach to respond to the impacts that harmful restrictions have on young people.
Meet Ashton, a 19-year-old Aboriginal male. In this presentation we hear from Ashton, who has been part of the Bail Support program and will talk to the impact of his negative experiences in custody and through the youth justice system. Ashton will discuss how 54 reasons has helped his rehabilitation in healing from these past negative experiences. Ashton, along with his Youth Specialist, will discuss his journey and the evidence-based practices that were implemented and how an individualised approach helped him along his pathway to rehabilitation.
Presenters
Renae Johns
Renae Johns is a Senior Practitioner in youth programs with 54 Reasons Mackay QLD and has been part of the program since its inception in 2019. Renae previously spent 13 years working with adult offenders in the community with the Department of Justice in Victoria and ran successful community work programs that focused on skill and capacity building that have been recognised by the Minister and Commissioner for Corrections. Renae is passionate about assisting people to heal who have been through traumatic / stressful experiences and supporting people to find a healthy perception of themselves.
Ashton Raciti
Ashton is a proud young Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander man who has lived experience in the youth justice and child safety systems. Despite his tough journey in his younger years, Ashton has managed to break the cycle with support and is now working on creating a stable and fulfilled life. Ashton has aspirations to become a community mentor and support other children and young people who are faced with similar situations that he has experienced.
