Youth Justice Reform Taskforce Action Plan launched

An action plan to progress youth justice reform over the next 12 months has been launched today by the Tasmanian Government.

The Youth Justice Reform Taskforce Action Plan 2024-25 outlines the actions and approach the Tasmanian Government will take to advance a number of Commission of Inquiry recommendations that align with the Youth Justice Blueprint 2024-2034.

Minister for Children and Youth, Roger Jaensch, said the action plan focuses on immediate and short-term priorities to progress crucial infrastructure, prevention and diversion activities, and support therapeutic practice to advance reform across the youth justice system.

“The priorities of the action plan are to reduce the number of children and young people in youth detention, to intervene early with children and young people in the youth justice system, and to construct a new Tasmanian youth justice facility,” Minister Jaensch said.

Five actions form the foundation of the plan, which will deliver an integrated and connected youth justice system and improve outcomes for children and young people.

• Action 1: finalise and commence implementation of a youth justice model of care.
• Action 2: implement a range of early intervention, prevention and diversion programs and options.
• Action 3: implement a range of assisted bail and transition from detention options.
• Action 4: develop a Tasmanian Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy.
• Action 5: design and construct a new Tasmanian Youth Justice Facility.

Minister Jaensch said implementation of the actions are already underway, including efforts to divert young people away from offending behaviour and provide prosocial pathways.

“As part of our 2030 Strong plan for Tasmania’s Future we have committed $6 million over three years to support early intervention for at risk youth,” Minister Jaensch said.

“We are investing $3.7 million in JCP Youth’s innovative model that offers a community-based response to high-risk youth 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We are delivering on our commitment to spent $2.3 million to support local initiatives and partnerships around the State that target the root causes of youth offending in local communities.

“Hobart’s Northern Suburbs will be the first site to trial these innovative local initiatives which aims to reduce the involvement of young people in the youth justice system and keep our communities safe.”

It is anticipated there will be several action plans over the 10-year life of the Youth Justice Blueprint and the final Change for Children Strategy.

The Youth Justice Reform Taskforce Action Plan is a companion document to the Keeping Kids Safe 2024-2026 in Detention Action Plan that outlines actions the Tasmanian Government is progressing to keep children safe in detention settings.

The Youth Justice Reform Taskforce Action Plan can be viewed at the Keeping Children Safe website.