OVER the last three years there has been a 47 per cent drop in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in detention in Canberra.

This means more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young men and women growing and developing into strong, proud members of their community.

As a Gamillaroi man, this is particularly heartening to me. But these results aren’t limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth detention.

For young people to reach their full potential they need to be supported by their community.

Keeping young people, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, out of the youth justice system means we contribute to a safer, more inclusive community and can prevent that young person falling into a negative spiral.

I attended Patrick Dodson’s recent speech to the National Press Club where he spoke powerfully about the tragedy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander over-representation in our nation’s prison and youth detention networks. It is a national issue that all governments must take seriously.

The ACT government is currently three years into a 10-year reform program called the “Blueprint for Youth Justice”. Key to it is an aim to help young people get their lives back on track before it’s too late.

Already, the benefits of these reforms to Canberra are substantial. In the last three years we have seen:

• a 20 per cent reduction in the number of young people apprehended by ACT Policing?
• a 28 per cent reduction in young people under youth justice supervision?
• a 29 per cent reduction in the number of young people under community based supervision?
• a 35 per cent reduction in the number of young people in detention? and
• a 60 per cent reduction in the average number of days young people spent in detention.

These are incredible figures. We’ve achieved significant reductions in the level of youth offending and the number of young people in contact with or becoming further involved in the youth justice system.

The figures show our restorative justice based policies are working. This concept of restorative justice is central to what the ACT government is setting out to do with our youth justice system. It is evidence based, informed by the views of stakeholders and includes the voices of young people and families.

Our focus on restorative justice is having a real effect in reducing the number of youths offending and – importantly – the numbers reoffending.

Those who have offended are being reintegrated into society more effectively than ever before.

I’m sure all Canberrans would be happy with this news.

It is clear that the “Blueprint for Youth Justice” is delivering great results for Canberra. One of the fundamental reasons has been the understanding that youth justice outcomes must not be seen in isolation.

Instead, shared efforts and a shared responsibility involving services and supports across health, education, justice and the community are recognised as being the most effective way to getting better outcomes for young people involved in or at risk of coming into contact with the youth justice system.

Building on these improvements is the next step. This means delivering a youth justice sector that builds on the government’s commitment to provide better services and reinvest in community based crime prevention to contribute to a socially inclusive community.

Dr Chris Bourke is the Minister for Children and Young People.