Youth Justice

The Youth Justice Reform Taskforce (YJR Taskforce), established within the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPAC), plays a key role in driving the Tasmanian Government’s Youth Justice Blueprint 2024-2034 and a number of Commission of Inquiry recommendations. Our aim is to reform the youth justice system through a comprehensive, integrated and therapeutic approach that prioritises the rights of children, rehabilitation and breaking the cycle of offending.

Our Approach:

The YJR Taskforce is a multi-agency group delivering key elements of the Youth Justice Blueprint that require cross-agency collaboration. Our focus areas include:

Reducing the number of children and young people in youth detention: Whilst the Taskforce is not the lead Agency responsible for the implementation of this specific Commission of Inquiry recommendation, the Taskforce will continue to consider and plan for the service system requirements necessary to fulfil the Government’s intent to raise the minimum age of detention to 16 years and increasing the age of criminal responsibility to 14 years by 2029.

Intervening early with children and young people in the youth justice system: We are implementing early intervention, prevention and diversion initiatives and programs in collaboration with the community services sector and guided by the Commission of Inquiry recommendations. We will develop and implement the Youth Justice Model of Care, a Diversionary Services Framework and an Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy.

Design and construct a new Tasmanian Youth Justice Facility: In alignment with the Commission of Inquiry recommendations, we are overseeing the construction of a new youth justice facility that is smaller and incorporates design features that reflect best practice international youth justice facilities. This includes detailed site planning, Aboriginal co-design and cultural safety, defining the scope of works and organising community consultation sessions.

Our Priorities:

• Finalise and commence implementation of a Youth Justice Model of Care
• Implement a range of early intervention, prevention and diversion programs and options
• Implement a range of assisted bail and transition from detention options
• Develop a Tasmanian Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy
• Design and construct a new Tasmanian Youth Justice Facility

Our Structure:

The Taskforce reports to the Keeping Children Safe Chief Reform Officer, who in turn reports directly to the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. The Taskforce supports Expert Advisory Groups established to provide oversight and advice on key aspects of Youth Justice related recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry.

Our Action Plan:

The Youth Justice Reform Taskforce Action Plan 2024-2025 outlines a series of actions that will be taken over the next 12 months. Read the Taskforce Action Plan here.

Our Model of Care:

The Youth Justice Model of Care provides the overarching approach, principles and ways of working for services to support children and young people across the youth justice system. It was developed with input from government, non-government and Aboriginal service providers, and children and young people

Read the Model of Care here.

Read the Model of Care (Summary) here.

Our Model of Care Implementation Plan:

The Youth Justice Model of Care Implementation Plan details how the Government is supporting the change to the new therapeutic youth justice system. It will also assist organisations to implement the Model of Care within their services.

Read the Implementation Plan here.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Strategy:

The Tasmanian Government is seeking your views on reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal children and young people in Tasmania’s youth justice system.

Make your voice heard on Aboriginal-led youth justice actions by contacting your local community organisation or by emailing us at yjreform@dpac.tas.gov.au.

For more information:

Download the pamphlets here.

Download the posters here.

Project overview

The Tasmanian Government will close the Ashley Youth Detention Centre as soon as possible.

The decision to close Ashley Youth Detention Centre and build a new facility aligns with the recommendations of the Youth Justice Blueprint and the Tasmanian Government's Commission of Inquiry. These recommendations prioritise therapeutic approaches. Evidence shows that therapeutic approaches prevent reoffending and keep the community safer.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Youth Justice Reform Taskforce has been working on elements of the Youth Justice Blueprint and youth justice-related Commission of Inquiry recommendations that need agencies to work together. This includes broader youth justice reforms, which focus on improving outcomes for young people and community safety. The new facility’s construction is part of these reforms.

The new Tasmanian Youth Justice Facility Masterplan has now been released for a period of four weeks consultation commencing 1 May 2025 and concluding 25 May 2025.

Further Information

To find out more about the new Tasmanian Youth Facility Masterplan, visit the Department for Education, Children and Young People website www.decyp.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-youth-justice-facility

Contact: New Tasmanian Youth Justice Facility

Address: GPO Box 169, HOBART, TASMANIA 7001

Email: newyjfacility@decyp.tas.gov.au

Phone: (03) 6165 0443