Interim Commissioner for Children and Young People Isabelle Crompton said today all Tasmanians want our State to be a place where our children can thrive and have a sense of belonging, and for our communities to be safe for all.
“When it comes to realising this vision, evidence matters,” Ms Crompton said.
“The evidence shows that:
- fewer than 2% of Tasmania’s children encounter the criminal justice system in connection with their own behaviour
- most children discontinue anti-social behaviour spontaneously without intervention or just one or two encounters with police
- of the very small number of children who engage in harmful behaviour, many have experienced the toughest start to life and require earlier and needs-based support to effectively address the underlying causes of their behaviour.”
Ms Crompton said evidence also shows that punitive responses to children’s harmful behaviour do not work and can lead to less safe communities.
“Prevention, early intervention, and individualised therapeutic responses are key.
“I urge the Government to hold the course on its nation-leading and contemporary commitments to prioritising and investing in addressing the underlying causes of youth offending.”
Ms Crompton said this is what was promised by the Government through its groundbreaking whole-of-government and whole-of-community Youth Justice Blueprint and related Model of Care.
“This uniquely Tasmanian approach is founded in evidence, is rights-based, and progresses the recent Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations, including that the government:
- develop and provide a range of community-based health, welfare and disability programs and services that are tailored to meet the needs of children and young people under the age of 14 years who are engaging in antisocial behaviour, and to address the factors contributing to that behaviour.
“Tasmania can lead the nation by doing things our own way, based on what we know works in our communities for our children.”
“It’s important we hold the course for the sake of our children, and our community.”
Ms Crompton said to ensure Tasmania is the safe and inclusive community we want it to be, it needs substantial and sustained investment in community-based programs, services and supports for children and their families.
“This will ensure that recourse to the police to ‘manage’ the complex needs of children doing it tough in our communities is truly a measure of last resort.”
“This is the conversation we need to be having.”
Ms Crompton also said a critical gap in the current Tasmanian service system is a lack of safe, child-centred community spaces for children to access.
“Many young people I speak with talk about needing safe places to spend time together in their communities.”
Media Contact:
Mark Thomas, M&M Communications
0422 006 732