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The newest report focuses on staff shortages
The Cleveland Youth Detention Centre inspection report: Focus on separation due to staff shortages, prepared by the Inspector of Detention Services, was tabled by the Honourable Curtis Pitt MP, Speaker of the Queensland Parliament on Tuesday 27 August 2024.
Under the Inspector of Detention Services Act 2022 (IDS Act) the Queensland Ombudsman, Mr Anthony Reilly, is also the Inspector of Detention Services (Inspector).
The report makes 15 recommendations for improvement at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre on issues including staffing levels, approval processes for separations and the provision of basic facilities in separation rooms and holding cells.
This is the first Inspector’s report released under the IDS Act.
The Inspector’s report finds staff shortages have been experienced for many years at the centre and, as a result, the centre regularly locks children in their rooms alone. This practice is known as ‘separation’.
Mr Reilly said, “Separation can affect children’s psychological wellbeing and raises significant human rights issues.
“While the use of separation in response to staff shortages reduced at the centre during 2023, it has not been eliminated.
“Until more staff are available, the centre needs to identify how it can improve the amount of meaningful contact and time out of rooms that children have while separated.
“The Department of Youth Justice also needs to undertake broader reform of the centre’s workforce, infrastructure and systems.”
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Source: Queensland Ombudsman, Australia
