The WA First Nations Advocacy Alliance, a large and diverse group of Western Australian Aboriginal community leaders, has invited Premier Mark McGowan to meet with them to pursue fundamental and Indigenous-led change to the state's troubled youth justice system
Four significant disturbances this year, including a riot overnight on May 9-10, at Banksia Hill Detention Centre, in which First Nations youth are radically overrepresented, sparked the renewed call for change.
The Alliance wrote:
"We, the WA First Nations Advocacy Alliance, are deeply disturbed by the way our Premier and his Ministers have responded to the escalating issues in the Youth Justice system and Banksia Hill Detention Centre.
The Premier's hurtful, divisive and poorly judged comments last week show that his Government is not facing up to the fundamental changes required to improve the lives of the children in custody at Banksia Hill.
We are calling for change that is consistent with the voices of Aboriginal experts, of Aboriginal Community, and of the Aboriginal children involved. We must be heard.
We cannot keep repeating the mistakes of the past and expecting different results. History will tell us that Aboriginal people have the solutions for Aboriginal people. Please listen to us.
We are not excusing or condoning our children's behaviour. This is not about fault or blame. The system does not work and requires serious reform. The continued decay of the Youth Justice system in W.A. cannot be hidden by a smokescreen of inflammatory language and political grandstanding.
We will continue to draw attention to these failings and advocate for change in line with Labor's stated values and international best practice.
Banksia Hill must change, the policy and procedures must change. They must acknowledge that child and youth incarceration is often underlined by poverty, inequality, marginalisation and trauma, particularly in relation to Aboriginal children.
We agree that the safety and protection of our children and the staff at Banksia Hill also needs to be a priority, before we see any loss of life.
The community are not made safer by the system. The children are not made safer by the system. Instead, traumatised children are being re-traumatised.
We call on the Premier to meet with the First Nations Advocacy Alliance to discuss realistic solutions for our children.
We urge him to lead with compassion and humanity to ensure that our children can lead safe and healthy lives. Change is desperately needed.
It is time for the Government to face the reality that their current policies are failing and to accept the help being offered to develop better solutions."
A WA government spokesperson told National Indigenous Times that the government is "delivering on practical measures that improve youth detention and the quality of care provided to detainees".
"The State Government's priority is the safety of our community, and to provide opportunities and support to young detainees which help prevent reoffending.
"The Premier met with youth justice stakeholders, including members of the alliance, late last year to discuss these issues. The meeting resulted in many initiatives being funded and implemented.
"More than $100 million has been provided for infrastructure upgrades, increased staffing, expanded services and the transition to a new model of care at the Banksia Hill Detention Centre.
"The State Government is in the process of delivering a new model of care at Banksia Hill, which is founded on best practice in youth justice in Australia and overseas, focusing on rehabilitation and reducing reoffending behaviour through a trauma-informed, therapeutic approach, in turn enabling the safety of all staff."
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WA First Nations Advocacy Alliance:
Jim Morrison Chairman: West Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation
Hannah McGlade: Member, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Devon Cuimara: Founder and CEO, Aboriginal Males Healing Centre
Richard Walley: Danjoo Koorliny
Gail Beck: Executive Manager RUAH Community Services
Alira Kelly: Co-Chairperson WA First Nations Advocacy Alliance
Elisha Jacobs-Smith: Cultural Immersion Facilitator, Curtin University
Colleen Hayward: Danjoo Koorliny
Narelle Thorne: Grandmother
Tony Hansen: Aboriginal Co-Chair, Bringing them home WA
Martin Smith: CEO Ebenezer Aboriginal Corporation
Rene Dingo: Operational Lead Gurama Yani U
Renna Gayde: Cultural and Community Engagement Coordinator, Foundation for Sustainable Health
Nick Abraham: Nyoongar Maaman
Megan Krakouer: National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project
Daniel Morrison CEO: Wungening Aboriginal Coordination
Carol Innes: Danjoo Koorliny
Richelle Douglas: Medical Director, Derbarl Yerrigan
Tracey Brand: CEO Derbarl Yerrigan
Lorraine Pryor: Nannas4kids
Mick Gooda: Former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
Shirley Harris: Nannas4kids
Dot Bagshaw: Nannas4kids
Danny Ford: Chairperson Wungening
Cheryl Colbung: Nannas4kids
Martin Smith: CEO Ebernezer Aboriginal Corporation
Jackie Oakley: Nannas4kids
Mandy Gadson: Director Think Culture
Doreen Nelson: Noongar Elder
Marie Pryor: Nannas4kids
Marilyn Morgan: President, National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Physiotherapists
Peter Yu Vice: President First Nations, The Australian National University
Joanne Della Bonna
Jolleen Hicks: Ngarluma Traditional Owner
Jacqueline McGowan Jones: Grandmother
Kim Farmer: Principal Lawyer Farmer Legal
Violet Bacon: Board Director
Glenda Kickett: Co-chair Social Reinvestment WA
Wayne Bynder: WASGAC
Corina Martin: Aboriginal Family Legal Service
Supported by
Rachel Siewert: Acting CEO, WACOSS
Denis Reynolds: Former President of the Childrens Court
Alan Carter: Non-Aboriginal Co-Chair, Bringing Them home
Dr Carmen Lawrence: Former Premier
Professor Fiona Stanley: Former Australian of the Year
Michael Liu
Yuet Choo Townsend
