Killara Youth Support Service — Closure
Extract from Hansard
5612. Hon Alison Xamon to the Minister for Finance representing the Minister for Corrective Services
I refer to the recent closure of the Killara Youth Support Service, and I ask —
(1) Why was the decision made to close the service?
(2) How much funding did the service receive in —
(a) 2010–11; and
(b) 2011–12?
(3) How many full time equivalents (FTE) were employed in Killara Youth Support Service in —
(a) 2010–11; and
(b) 2011–12?
(4) How many police cautions did the service follow-up in —
(a) 2010–11; and
(b) 2011–12?
(5) Has the Metropolitan Youth Bail Service been granted extra funding to take on the role of Killara Youth Support Service?
(6) If yes to (5), how much?
(7) Will the Metropolitan Youth Bail Service employ extra FTE to take on the role of Killara Youth Support Service?
(8) If yes to (7), how many?
(9) Is it the department’s policy to follow up all youth police cautions?
(10) If no to (9), what percentage of cautions are followed up?
(11) How is the decision made regarding which cautions will be followed up?
(12) How many cautions are followed up by way of a —
(a) letter;
(b) home visit;
(c) phone call; or
(d) any other way?
(13) Is counselling or other support offered to the families of all youths receiving a police caution?
(14) If no to (13), what percentage of families are offered counselling or other support?
(15) On what basis does the Minister determine which families will be offered this support?
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied:
(1) An evaluation of Killara Youth and Family Support Services was completed by the Department of Corrective Services (the Department) in October 2011. The review found that the Department had moved towards a broader strategy for youth diversion and that Killara services would be more effective if subsumed into that strategic direction. The review recommended that the Department consider co-locating the existing Killara staff with the Metropolitan Youth Bail Service (MYBS) to strengthen the early intervention and prevention services provided by both services. As a result, the Department closed the existing Killara Youth and Family Support Services and amalgamated existing Killara staff into the MYBS on 27 April 2012.
(2) (a) $1 599 906
(b) $2 214 382
(3) (a)–(b) 20
(4) (a) 3651
(b) 2643 from 1 July 2011to 28 May 2012.
(5) Due to the amalgamation of Killara staff with the MYBS, the Department reallocated the 2011/12 Killara funding to the MYBS.
(6) $2 214 382
(7)–(8) As advised in (1) the existing Killara FTE have been incorporated into the MYBS.
(9) In the metropolitan area the Department does not follow up on all cautions received from the Police. The MYBS will follow up with the families of young people assessed as being most likely to have further involvement with the formal criminal justice system. This assessment is based on best practice research that indicates these young people are more likely to be prevented from further entrenched offending by receiving prevention and diversion services. In the regional areas the Department will follow up on all cautions received from the Police.
(10) The Department cannot currently advise what percentage of cautions will be followed up in the metropolitan area by the amalgamated MYBS as the service only commenced on 30 April 2012. All cautions received from the Police in regional areas are followed up by a home visit, letter or telephone call.
(11) As advised in (9), the Department screens all young people who receive a Police caution in the metropolitan area to assess whether they are at risk of further involvement with the formal criminal justice system. All young people who receive a Police caution in regional areas are followed up by the Department.
(12) (a) In 2010/11 the previously existing Killara Youth and Family Support Service followed up on 2556 cautions by letter.
(b) In 2010/11 the previously existing Killara Youth and Family Support Service followed up on 393 cautions via a home visit.
(c) In 2010/11 the previously existing Killara Youth and Family Support Service followed up on 702 cautions via a phone call.
(d) Not applicable.
The Department’s data system does not allow for statistical analysis on the number of cautions followed up by a letter, home visit or phone call for regional areas.
(13)–(14) In the metropolitan area the Department only works with young people assessed as requiring caution follow up as outlined in (9) and (11). Of those who are assessed as meeting the requirements for follow up the Department can only engage with families who accept the assistance of the MYBS. For those families who do accept the assistance of the service, all are offered a referral to counselling and support services. In regional areas all young people and their families who have received a Police caution and accept the assistance of the Department are offered a referral to counselling and support services.
(15) As advised (13) all families of young people receiving a Police caution in the metropolitan area and assessed as being at risk of further involvement with the formal criminal justice system will be offered a referral to counselling and other support services. In regional areas all young people and their families who have received a Police caution and accept the assistance of the Department are offered a referral to counselling and support services.