❓ I refer to the growing number of complaints about the failure to reinstate the Aboriginal Visitor Scheme (AVS), and I ask: (a) why was the AVS cancelled or not continued with in the fir
AnsweredQoN 8727Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the growing number of complaints about the failure to reinstate the Aboriginal Visitor Scheme (AVS), and I ask:
(a) why was the AVS cancelled or not continued with in the first place;
(b) will the Minister reinstate the AVS and if not, why not;
(c) if the AVS is to be reinstated, when will it be fully operational;
(d) what was the total cost of the AVS at the time it was cancelled or not continued with;
(e) what steps have the Department of Corrective Services taken to recruit AVS officers for the Greenough Regional Prison;
(f) if the Department has had difficulties in recruiting AVS staff for the Greenough Prison, what were those difficulties;
(g) with reference to the Minister's statement that other non-Aboriginal programs are adequate when compared with the AVS, what are those programs and why does the Minister deem them adequate when it appears clear they are not suitable for aboriginal prisoners from remote and non-English speaking backgrounds?
(a) why was the AVS cancelled or not continued with in the first place;
(b) will the Minister reinstate the AVS and if not, why not;
(c) if the AVS is to be reinstated, when will it be fully operational;
(d) what was the total cost of the AVS at the time it was cancelled or not continued with;
(e) what steps have the Department of Corrective Services taken to recruit AVS officers for the Greenough Regional Prison;
(f) if the Department has had difficulties in recruiting AVS staff for the Greenough Prison, what were those difficulties;
(g) with reference to the Minister's statement that other non-Aboriginal programs are adequate when compared with the AVS, what are those programs and why does the Minister deem them adequate when it appears clear they are not suitable for aboriginal prisoners from remote and non-English speaking backgrounds?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 November 2012
Responded by
Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
41 days
(a) The Department of Corrective Services (the Department) has not cancelled or discontinued Aboriginal Visitor Scheme (AVS) services across the State.
AVS services to Greenough Regional Prison (GRP) were suspended due to the inability to attract and retain two Aboriginal Visitors on roster for sustained periods, which is an operational requirement of the AVS and the prison. The Department continually sought expressions of interests from the Geraldton Aboriginal community during this period of suspension.
(b) The Department advises that the AVS service to GRP was only suspended due to staffing issues which have now been resolved.
(c) The Department advises that the AVS service recommenced operations at GRP on Thursday, 27 September 2012.
(d) Not applicable. Refer to the response provided for part (a).
(e) The Department approached the Department of Indigenous Affairs and the Midwest Aboriginal Organisations Alliance (MAOA), which represents 15 peak regional Aboriginal Chief Executive Officers and Deputies. This approach was to promote the AVS service and to canvass expressions of interest for prospective employees from within the community.
(f) The Department advises that in view of a number of AVS staffing issues at GRP, there had been difficulties in recruiting staff on a permanent basis.
(g) The Department has a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy for offenders in custody - the At Risk Management System (ARMS) - which is premised in duty of care obligations and formalised in policy and procedure.
The support provided by AVS complements what is provided by other services such as the Prisoner Counselling Service and the Peer Support Scheme which also focus on providing support to Aboriginal prisoners who are at risk of self-harm, new young offenders and those not receiving visits.
Prison staff including AVS staff undertake complementary training in suicide prevention. The Gatekeeper training program provides a range of skills and knowledge which teaches staff how to identify and respond to people who are at risk of self-harm.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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AVS services to Greenough Regional Prison (GRP) were suspended due to the inability to attract and retain two Aboriginal Visitors on roster for sustained periods, which is an operational requirement of the AVS and the prison. The Department continually sought expressions of interests from the Geraldton Aboriginal community during this period of suspension.
(b) The Department advises that the AVS service to GRP was only suspended due to staffing issues which have now been resolved.
(c) The Department advises that the AVS service recommenced operations at GRP on Thursday, 27 September 2012.
(d) Not applicable. Refer to the response provided for part (a).
(e) The Department approached the Department of Indigenous Affairs and the Midwest Aboriginal Organisations Alliance (MAOA), which represents 15 peak regional Aboriginal Chief Executive Officers and Deputies. This approach was to promote the AVS service and to canvass expressions of interest for prospective employees from within the community.
(f) The Department advises that in view of a number of AVS staffing issues at GRP, there had been difficulties in recruiting staff on a permanent basis.
(g) The Department has a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy for offenders in custody - the At Risk Management System (ARMS) - which is premised in duty of care obligations and formalised in policy and procedure.
The support provided by AVS complements what is provided by other services such as the Prisoner Counselling Service and the Peer Support Scheme which also focus on providing support to Aboriginal prisoners who are at risk of self-harm, new young offenders and those not receiving visits.
Prison staff including AVS staff undertake complementary training in suicide prevention. The Gatekeeper training program provides a range of skills and knowledge which teaches staff how to identify and respond to people who are at risk of self-harm.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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