In conjunction with Closing the Gap Day, the Close the Gap Campaign Alliance Group launched its 2024 Close the Gap Campaign Report. The report outlines strategic priorities for the year ahead and reflects on achievements to date. Key priorities progressing local and state-based commitments to the goals of the Uluru Statement from the Heart; building leadership, governance and economic opportunities within Aboriginal communities, building Aboriginal workforces and Cultural Safety within institutions of such as health and justice. Alongside these recommendations the Alliance calls on governments to fully implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
The report re-iterates a recent review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the Agreement) which concluded that priority reforms have been slow to be realised and uncoordinated in their approach and that this has stalled progress against outcomes. ACSO supports the Alliance’s call for acceleration of the implementation of the Agreement and recommendations from the Productivity Commission’s review, particularly those that seek to reduce the incarceration rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and improve access to appropriate healthcare for incarcerated First Nations people.
Closing the Gap initiatives such as the Justice Policy Partnership which were intended to provide a “joined-up approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice policy” in order to reduce incarceration have yet to have affect and as the Productivity Commission notes, recent approaches by state governments indicate a lack of commitment to listening to First Nations communities when it comes to justice.
ACSO notes the recent trend amongst states to make youth justice legislation more, rather than less, punitive are in direct contradiction to the principles of the Agreement on Closing the Gap.
These changes are likely to see any improvements made to youth incarceration rates quickly reversed.
Rather than punitive responses to youth offending, ACSO supports initiatives that focus on primary prevention, diversion and justice re-investment in First Nation communities. ACSO recently piloted BOOST, a mentoring program operating in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. The program targeted young people between the ages of 14-17 in breach or “at risk” of breaching an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) providing an intensive intervention to address violent behaviours. The program worked with young people to identify strategies to replace old behaviours with new prosocial and respectful behaviours; and practice new skills in a safe and supported environment.
In a recent evaluation the program was shown to have contributed to a lower AVO breach rate among young people in the program when compared with the ‘comparison group’, and particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants. Whilst not an Aboriginal Community Controlled program BOOST was committed to providing a culturally safe service, including a First Nations-specific program content, ensuring there were First Nations mentors and working closely with First Nations community representatives. These strategies, and the relational focus of the program were considered to be particularly effective in address the violent behaviours of Aboriginal young people in the program.
ACSO supports the Close the Gap Campaign Alliance in calling for self-determination, community control and co-design in policy, legislation and interventions impacting First Nations communities and their young people, particularly those in contact with the justice system.
News & Events
Closing the Gap on Youth Justice
March 22, 2024
In conjunction with Closing the Gap Day, the Close the Gap Campaign Alliance Group launched its 2024 Close the Gap Campaign Report. The report outlines strategic priorities for the year ahead and reflects on achievements to date. Key priorities progressing local and state-based commitments to the goals of the Uluru Statement from the Heart; building leadership, governance and economic opportunities within Aboriginal communities, building Aboriginal workforces and Cultural Safety within institutions of such as health and justice. Alongside these recommendations the Alliance calls on governments to fully implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
The report re-iterates a recent review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the Agreement) which concluded that priority reforms have been slow to be realised and uncoordinated in their approach and that this has stalled progress against outcomes. ACSO supports the Alliance’s call for acceleration of the implementation of the Agreement and recommendations from the Productivity Commission’s review, particularly those that seek to reduce the incarceration rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and improve access to appropriate healthcare for incarcerated First Nations people.
Closing the Gap initiatives such as the Justice Policy Partnership which were intended to provide a “joined-up approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice policy” in order to reduce incarceration have yet to have affect and as the Productivity Commission notes, recent approaches by state governments indicate a lack of commitment to listening to First Nations communities when it comes to justice.
ACSO notes the recent trend amongst states to make youth justice legislation more, rather than less, punitive are in direct contradiction to the principles of the Agreement on Closing the Gap.
These changes are likely to see any improvements made to youth incarceration rates quickly reversed.
Rather than punitive responses to youth offending, ACSO supports initiatives that focus on primary prevention, diversion and justice re-investment in First Nation communities. ACSO recently piloted BOOST, a mentoring program operating in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. The program targeted young people between the ages of 14-17 in breach or “at risk” of breaching an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) providing an intensive intervention to address violent behaviours. The program worked with young people to identify strategies to replace old behaviours with new prosocial and respectful behaviours; and practice new skills in a safe and supported environment.
In a recent evaluation the program was shown to have contributed to a lower AVO breach rate among young people in the program when compared with the ‘comparison group’, and particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants. Whilst not an Aboriginal Community Controlled program BOOST was committed to providing a culturally safe service, including a First Nations-specific program content, ensuring there were First Nations mentors and working closely with First Nations community representatives. These strategies, and the relational focus of the program were considered to be particularly effective in address the violent behaviours of Aboriginal young people in the program.
ACSO supports the Close the Gap Campaign Alliance in calling for self-determination, community control and co-design in policy, legislation and interventions impacting First Nations communities and their young people, particularly those in contact with the justice system.
For more information about BOOST and other initiatives, contact our Communications Manager:
media@acso.org.au
0499 309 916