Released 25/07/2017
The Government has partnered with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community provider Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service to develop a family-focused response to address the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our justice system, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety, Shane Rattenbury announced.
Mr Rattenbury and Winnunga Nimmityjah chief executive officer Julie Tongs today launched Yarrabi Bamirr, the ACT’s first Justice Reinvestment Trial.
Yarrabi Bamirr, Ngunnawal words for Walk Tall, responds to the need for a whole of government and community service system response in addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system.
A collaborative partnership between Winnunga Nimmityjah and the Justice and Community Safety Directorate, the Yarrabi Bamirr trial places particular focus on families at risk, assisting them to become self-managing, healthy and safe. As part of the program, social health team workers from Winnunga Nimmityjah will work together with families to co-design unique family plans to address their goals related to matters such as housing, health, justice, education and employment. Cross-government support will then be provided to families to address identified needs.
“Justice Reinvestment is one of the ways we are striving to develop smarter, community and family-focused, inclusive and cost-effective outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Mr Rattenbury said. “Justice Reinvestment also looks to reduce crime by diverting those at risk from the criminal justice system. The evidence shows that where justice reinvestment measures are put in place, families and the wider community benefit.”
“In establishing Yarrabi Bamirr, the Government reaffirms our commitment to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to deliver programs that respond to the needs of communities by being inclusive, family-focused and culturally appropriate,” Mr Rattenbury said.
The Yarrabi Bamirr program has been co-designed with a range of stakeholders, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service providers, community groups, academics and those with lived experience of the justice system. Other agencies providing critical support to the trial include the Aboriginal Legal Service, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service and ACT Policing.
The Justice and Community Safety Directorate has also employed an Aboriginal trial coordinator to oversee the operational and evaluation requirements of the trial. The trial will also seek to build upon the successes and lessons of related programs, such as the Strengthening Families program.
Where appropriate, clients will also be provided with timely and relevant legal advice, support in dealing with statutory agencies (including Care and Protection), support prior to, during, and following the serving of a sentence, and referrals to relevant diversionary programs.
The Australian National University has also been commissioned to develop an evaluation framework to measure the trial’s success in improving life outcomes and preventing future contact with the justice system.
“The Government is committed to justice reinvestment as a way forward in addressing these very real concerns in relation to the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our criminal justice system. This work is further strengthened by our commitments in the Labor-Greens Parliamentary Agreement, to reduce recidivism by 25 per cent by 2025.
“Only by listening to, and working collaboratively together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, can we comprehensively address the troubling over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system,” Mr Rattenbury added.
- Statement ends -
Shane Rattenbury, MLA | Media Releases
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