❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses education and staffing ratios at Banksia Hill Detention Centre. The response highlights data inconsistencies across jurisdictions and details educational programs and staffing levels.
AnsweredQoN 4952Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Annual Report on Government Services (RoGS) released between 22 January and 1 February 2019, and note that: (a) Unlike all other jurisdictions (other than the Northern Territory who was not reported) Western Australia does not have a 100% proportion of young people in detention attending accredited education or training courses for 2017-18, and ask: (i) What is the percentage of young people in detention currently attending accredited education or training courses including ethnicity and age for 2017, 2018 and 2019 to date (by month); (ii) What type of accredited education or training courses are offered to young people by WA detention centres; (iii) With regards to the education and training offered: (A) Is it mandatory for all inmates; (B) Do the juveniles have to be incarcerated for a specific timeframe before this is made available; (C) Is primary and secondary school education compulsory for young people of school age; and (D) It is available to all schooling levels; and (iv) Are there any future strategies to increase the engagement of juveniles in detention with education and training and if so what are they? If not why; and (b) The ratio of prison staff to offenders was low in Western Australia compared with other jurisdictions, and ask: (i) What is the breakdown of prisoners to prison staff (by numbers and ratio) for all WA prisons during 2017, 2018 and 2019 to date (by month)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 May 2019
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services
Response time
8 days
The Report on Government Services (RoGS) data for different jurisdictions varies as not all jurisdictions use attendance recording systems and exclusions are applied inconsistently across jurisdictions.
Consequently, the indicator is potentially flawed and the intention is the RoGS inter-jurisdictional working party will re-examine the counting rules at its next meeting in July 2019.
(a) (i) Corrective Services does not collate Banksia Hill Detention Centre education data on a month by month basis. Reporting is collated on a four monthly basis in accordance with school terms and this data is averaged over the financial year.
The Department can advise:
(ii) The education centre at Banksia Hill provides a diverse range of accredited education and training options to young people. The main curriculum taught is the Certificate of General Education for Adults (CGEA). The CGEA comprises of four qualifications (Certificates I Introductory, I, II and III) and is designed to improve literacy, numeracy and general education skills. To support and develop young people with little or no literacy and numeracy skills the school offers an alternative curriculum, Entry to General Education (EGE). In addition to this, Banksia Hill Detention Centre delivers Gaining Access to Training and Employment (GATE). GATE is delivered to post-compulsory students by vocational instructors who hold a Certificate IV in Training and Assessing. GATE is designed to prepare young people for further training or employment.
Other accredited units of competency the school delivers includes the White Card – Prepare to Work Safely in the Construction Industry (CPCCWH1001), a skill set from Certificate II in Hospitality (Prepare and Serve Espresso Coffee, Prepare and Serve Non-Alcoholic Beverages and Use Hygienic Practices for Food Safety) and Keys For Life. These courses are available to all young people providing they meet criteria such as age, literacy and numeracy requirements.
(iii)(A) Education is compulsory for all young people at Banksia Hill Detention Centre. There are times however when a young person is not engaged in education temporarily and this is due to either a safety and security concern, court attendance or a medical condition that has them temporarily placed off site.
(B) All young people admitted to Banksia Hill Detention Centre are placed into school immediately, unless they pose a risk to the centre or have a medical condition that requires treatment off site.
(C) Yes.
(D) Yes. Banksia Hill Detention Centre offer different curriculum to meet the needs and abilities of young people. All young people are assessed upon admission and a learning plan is generated based on their performance. Banksia Hill Detention Centre caters for young people with little or no literacy and numeracy, CaLD students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students with diagnosed learning disabilities and difficulties and also students who are performing at their chronological age. Young people who are enrolled and attending a school in the community are supported at Banksia Hill Detention Centre to continue with their school work their mainstream school provides. Teachers are trained to work with all young people and are trained in trauma informed practice and managing complex and challenging behaviours.
(iv) Corrective Services has implemented the Model of Care at Banksia Hill Detention Centre within existing resourcing and this model informs the education needs of young people. Teaching staff have engaged in professional learning to assist them in teaching young people who have suffered complex trauma, have low literacy and numeracy ability and young people who have sensory, attachment and behavioural issues.
(b) Please see tabled paper no .
Consequently, the indicator is potentially flawed and the intention is the RoGS inter-jurisdictional working party will re-examine the counting rules at its next meeting in July 2019.
(a) (i) Corrective Services does not collate Banksia Hill Detention Centre education data on a month by month basis. Reporting is collated on a four monthly basis in accordance with school terms and this data is averaged over the financial year.
The Department can advise:
(ii) The education centre at Banksia Hill provides a diverse range of accredited education and training options to young people. The main curriculum taught is the Certificate of General Education for Adults (CGEA). The CGEA comprises of four qualifications (Certificates I Introductory, I, II and III) and is designed to improve literacy, numeracy and general education skills. To support and develop young people with little or no literacy and numeracy skills the school offers an alternative curriculum, Entry to General Education (EGE). In addition to this, Banksia Hill Detention Centre delivers Gaining Access to Training and Employment (GATE). GATE is delivered to post-compulsory students by vocational instructors who hold a Certificate IV in Training and Assessing. GATE is designed to prepare young people for further training or employment.
Other accredited units of competency the school delivers includes the White Card – Prepare to Work Safely in the Construction Industry (CPCCWH1001), a skill set from Certificate II in Hospitality (Prepare and Serve Espresso Coffee, Prepare and Serve Non-Alcoholic Beverages and Use Hygienic Practices for Food Safety) and Keys For Life. These courses are available to all young people providing they meet criteria such as age, literacy and numeracy requirements.
(iii)(A) Education is compulsory for all young people at Banksia Hill Detention Centre. There are times however when a young person is not engaged in education temporarily and this is due to either a safety and security concern, court attendance or a medical condition that has them temporarily placed off site.
(B) All young people admitted to Banksia Hill Detention Centre are placed into school immediately, unless they pose a risk to the centre or have a medical condition that requires treatment off site.
(C) Yes.
(D) Yes. Banksia Hill Detention Centre offer different curriculum to meet the needs and abilities of young people. All young people are assessed upon admission and a learning plan is generated based on their performance. Banksia Hill Detention Centre caters for young people with little or no literacy and numeracy, CaLD students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students with diagnosed learning disabilities and difficulties and also students who are performing at their chronological age. Young people who are enrolled and attending a school in the community are supported at Banksia Hill Detention Centre to continue with their school work their mainstream school provides. Teachers are trained to work with all young people and are trained in trauma informed practice and managing complex and challenging behaviours.
(iv) Corrective Services has implemented the Model of Care at Banksia Hill Detention Centre within existing resourcing and this model informs the education needs of young people. Teaching staff have engaged in professional learning to assist them in teaching young people who have suffered complex trauma, have low literacy and numeracy ability and young people who have sensory, attachment and behavioural issues.
(b) Please see tabled paper no .
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