REVIEW OF PARRAMATTA PILOT PROJECT · stakeholders and support persons of the Parramatta...

Youth Koori Court Review

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YOUTHKOORICOURTREVIEWOFPARRAMATTAPILOTPROJECT

WESTERNSYDNEYUNIVERSITYABORIGINALANDTORRESSTRAITISLANDER

EMPLOYMENTANDENGAGEMENTADVISORYBOARD

REPORTPREPAREDBYMELISSAWILLIAMS,DAVIDTAIT,LOUISECRABTREE,MYTHILYMEHER,

WESTERNSYDNEYUNIVERSITY


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWithrespectforAboriginalculturalprotocolandoutofrecognitionthatitscampusesoccupytheirtraditionallands,theWesternSydneyUniversityacknowledgestheDarug,Tharawal(alsohistoricallyreferredtoasDharawal),Gandangarra,WiradjuriandBandjalungPeoplesandthanksthemfortheirsupportofitsworkintheirlands(GreaterWesternSydneyandbeyond).1Thisreportdrawsondataandmethodsco-createdwithAuntySandraLee,UncleDavidWilliams,AuntyThelmaQuartey,UncleRexSorby,UncleGregSimms,AuntyMichelleMoore,AuntyJenny,AuntyPearlWymarra,theAboriginalLegalService,withtheyoungpeople,stakeholdersandsupportpersonsoftheParramattaChildren’sCourtYouthKooriCourtPilot,andtheWesternSydneyUniversityAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagementAdvisoryBoard(EldersonCampus).TheauthorsacknowledgetheimportantcontributionsmadetothisreportbytheyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplewhoparticipatedintheprogramandgaveuspermissiontoobservetheirhearings,theEldersonCampus,EldersandotherrespectedpersonsfromtheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunity,MagistrateDuncombe,Children’sCourtExecutiveOfficerRosemaryDavidson,staffattheParramattaChildren’sCourt,lawyersfromtheAboriginalLegalServiceandtheLegalAidCommission,policeprosecutors,communityandsocialworkersfromJuvenileJustice,DaramuandotherorganisationswhosupportedparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourtprogram.ThankyoualsoforvaluableinsightsfromDonWeatherburn(DirectorofBOCSAR),JudgePeterJohnstone(PresidentoftheChildren’sCourt),PeterSeverinandLukeGrant(CommissionerandAssistantCommissionerofCorrections)andJudgePaulCloran(NSWDrugCourt).Theerrorsareourown.CoverpageshowsthesmokingceremonycelebratingtheopeningoftheYouthKooriCourtinParramattainFebruary2015.ItshowsUncleGregSimms,UncleWesMarne,UncleDavidWilliams,AuntySandraLee,UncleRexSorby,MagistrateSueDuncombe,TheHon.BradHazzard,andDanielDaylightatthelaunchofthepilotforaYouthKooriCourt.PhotographcourtesyofNSWChildren’sCourt.

1‘AcknowledgmentofTraditionalOwners’,borrowedwithpermissionfromtheWesternSydneyUniversityOfficeofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagement,availableonlineat:http://www.uws.edu.au/oatsiee/aboriginal_and_torres_strait_islander_employment_and_engagement/acknowledgement_of_country(accessed22July2016)


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TABLEOFCONTENTS

Acronyms...........................................................................................................................................6

Terminology.....................................................................................................................................6

ExecutiveSummary.......................................................................................................................8Methodology&protocols....................................................................................................................10AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderYoungpeople’sAction&supportplansandoutcomes...................................................................................................................................................11Roles,responsibilitiesandwork-flow............................................................................................13InteractionsanddynamicsofYouthKooriCourthearings......................................................14Criminaljusticeoutcomes...................................................................................................................17

Chapter1.Introduction..........................................................................................................19

Chapter2.Background...........................................................................................................24AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplesandincarceration........................................24Innovativejusticeprocesses..............................................................................................................31Special-purposelegalforums...........................................................................................................................31FirstPeoplesjusticeprocedures.....................................................................................................................33

RationaleforFirstPeoples’sentencingcourts.............................................................................37NSWYouthKooriCourtpilot..............................................................................................................39

Chapter3.Evaluation.............................................................................................................43Aims............................................................................................................................................................43ResearchQuestions...............................................................................................................................44

Chapter4.ResearchDesign..................................................................................................46Summary...................................................................................................................................................46Decolonisingresearch..........................................................................................................................46Co-creation................................................................................................................................................................47InvolvementoftheWesternSydneyUniversityEldersAdvisoryBoard.......................................48Cross-culturalmentorship.................................................................................................................................49Story.............................................................................................................................................................................49

Chapter5.Methods..................................................................................................................50Overview...................................................................................................................................................50Proposedmethodsfordatacollection..........................................................................................................50Actualmethodsfordatacollection.................................................................................................................50

Enactingthemethodologyontheground......................................................................................51ObservationsofYouthKooriCourtmeetings............................................................................................51CulturalinterpretationofYouthKooriCourtmeetings........................................................................51ObservationsofWorkingPartymeetings...................................................................................................52InterviewswithYouthKooriCourtstakeholdersandparticipants.................................................52InterviewswithAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersinvolvedinYouthKooriCourt........................................................................................................................................................................................53InterviewswithyoungpeoplewhohaveparticipatedinorareparticipatinginYouthKooriCourt............................................................................................................................................................................54


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ReviewofActionandSupportplans..............................................................................................................55AnalysisofsentencingtranscriptsforoutcomesofActionandSupportplansattimeofsentencing.................................................................................................................................................................55Criminaljusticeoutcomes..................................................................................................................................55ProtectingConfidentiality..................................................................................................................................56

Reflectionsonproposedmethodology...........................................................................................56

Chapter6.Structure:TheYouthKooriCourtModel........................................................58StagesoftheYouthKooriCourtprocess........................................................................................58Eligibility....................................................................................................................................................................58Referrals.....................................................................................................................................................................58Screeningtool..........................................................................................................................................................59Suitability..................................................................................................................................................................59Conferencemeeting..............................................................................................................................................59ActionandSupportplans...................................................................................................................................60Reviewmeetings....................................................................................................................................................61Sentencing.................................................................................................................................................................61Graduation................................................................................................................................................................62

Aculturallycongruentcourt..............................................................................................................63RegularChildren’sCourtspace........................................................................................................................63TheYouthKooriCourtspace............................................................................................................................63RangatahiCourts:SettingandLanguage.....................................................................................................66

Conclusion................................................................................................................................................67

Chapter7:RolesandProcessesinRunningtheYouthKooriCourt...........................69WhomakestheYouthKooriCourtwork?Roles,responsibilitiesandqualities..............69Magistrate.................................................................................................................................................................70AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderElders.............................................................................................71Howisthisroleenabled/supported?............................................................................................................73PoliceProsecutor...................................................................................................................................................73ALS(AboriginalLegalService)Lawyer........................................................................................................75YouthKooriCourtOfficer(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer).........................................................................77Children’sCivilLawService,LegalAid.........................................................................................................80CommunityServiceproviders..........................................................................................................................84

Discussionpoints...................................................................................................................................87Themodelwithoutthepersonalities?..........................................................................................................87Gapsintheprocess................................................................................................................................................90Fundingmodel........................................................................................................................................................92

Chapter8:ActionandSupportplansandlifeissuesforparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourt....................................................................................................................................93Culturalconnection...............................................................................................................................94Accommodation......................................................................................................................................95Educationandemployment................................................................................................................97Healthandsubstanceabuse...............................................................................................................98Civiljusticematters...............................................................................................................................99Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................100

Chapter9:SocialOutcomesoftheYouthKooriCourtprocess..................................101


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Introduction..........................................................................................................................................101Housingandaccommodation..........................................................................................................102Culturalconnection............................................................................................................................104EducationandEmployment.............................................................................................................107Healthanddruguse...........................................................................................................................110Civillawissues.....................................................................................................................................112Conclusions...........................................................................................................................................115

Chapter10.InteractionsanddynamicsoftheYouthKooriCourtmeetings.........116Overview:Whatdomeetingsdo?..................................................................................................118AritualanalysisofYouthKooriCourtmeetings......................................................................123Affirmingyoungpeople’sidentity...............................................................................................................124Affirmingyoungperson’sidentityasayoungAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderpersonconnectedtokinshipandcountry...............................................................................................................126Conversationaldynamics................................................................................................................................128Emotionalintensity............................................................................................................................................129Threatstoorder...................................................................................................................................................130Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................................132

KeyfeaturesofinteractionsinYouthKooriCourtmeetings................................................133Comprehensionandengagement................................................................................................................133Accountability.......................................................................................................................................................137Changingrelationshipsbetweenyoungpeopleandthejusticesystem......................................140Responsivetoshiftingpriorities..................................................................................................................143Inspirationtwinnedwithstructuralsupport:........................................................................................144

Discussion..............................................................................................................................................146

Chapter11:Criminaljusticeoutcomes..............................................................................147Conclusions...........................................................................................................................................152

Chapter12.Policyimplications............................................................................................153Selectionofparticipants...................................................................................................................153Jurisdictionalconstraints.................................................................................................................154Residentialfacilities...........................................................................................................................156Developingculturalconnections...................................................................................................159Agreaterroleforvictims?................................................................................................................161Resourcingthecourtandprogramsforyoungpeople...........................................................162Transitionissues.................................................................................................................................165Collectiveoutcomesandlegitimacy..............................................................................................166Recommendations..............................................................................................................................168NSWState-levelpolicies..................................................................................................................................168measurestoaddresshighlevelsofjuvenilecustody..........................................................................169SettingsforhearingsofYouthKooriCourt..............................................................................................169Managementofhearings.................................................................................................................................169Funding....................................................................................................................................................................170Casefilemanagementandstatistics...........................................................................................................171Culturalparticipation........................................................................................................................................172

References...................................................................................................................................173


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ACRONYMSAH&MRC AboriginalHealthandMedicalResearchCouncilALS AboriginalLegalServiceATSIEEAB WesternSydneyUniversityAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmployment

andEngagementAdvisoryBoardBOCSAR NewSouthWalesBureauofCrimeStatisticsandResearchCCLS Children’sCivilLawService,partofLegalAidNSWFACS NSWstateDepartmentofFamilyandCommunityServicesJJ JuvenileJustice,partoftheNSWDepartmentofJusticeMLC MacquarieLegalCentreNSW NewSouthWalesOATSIEE OfficeofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagementWSU WesternSydneyUniversityYKC YouthKooriCourtYP Youngperson

TERMINOLOGYInkeepingwithitsdecolonisingresearchapproach(seeChapter4)thisreportcomplieswiththeWesternSydneyUniversityOfficeofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagement’sGuidelinesfortheuseofterminologyrelatingtoAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoples.2Althoughmostoftherelevantliteraturedescribesthecourtmodelsunderreviewhereas‘Indigenouscourts’thepreferredtermusedhereis‘FirstPeoples’courts’.InNSWandVictoria,thecourtsarereferredto,bothofficiallyandbyparticipants,as‘Koori’,inSouthAustralia‘Nunga’andinQueensland‘Murri’,sothesetermsareusedinreferencetothosestates.Terminologyreference“Koori”isgenerallyusedinNSWandtheACT“Goori”isusedinNorthEasternNSW“Murri”isusedinQueenslandandNorthinlandNSW“Koorie”isgenerallyusedinVictoria

2WesternSydneyUniversityOfficeofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagement‘WorkplacerelationsGuidelinesfortheuseofterminologyrelatingtoAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoples’,availableonlineat:http://www.westernsydney.edu.au/oatsiee/aboriginal_and_torres_strait_islander_employment_and_engagement/workplace_relations(Accessed10August2016)


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“Nunga”isusedinpartsofSouthAustralia“Palawa”isusedinTasmaniaIntheNorthernTerritorytraditionalnamesareusede.g.“Yolgnu”or“Walpiri”or“Anangu”WesternAustralia“Nyoongah”,“Yamagi”,“Wongai”ThetermFirstPeoplesisusedinsteadof‘Indigenous’withrelationtocollectiveInternationalFirstPeoplesandprojects(e.g.:‘Indigenousresearchmethodologies’becomes‘FirstPeoplesresearchmethodologies’).WhenspeakingaboutAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeople,specificallyofcountryandclan(e.g.:‘Tribe/clanoftheBurramattagaloftheDarug)isprioritised,orifaperson’scountryisnotknowntotheauthorsorcannotberevealedasthatpersonisde-identified,then‘Aboriginal’and/or‘TorresStraitIslanderPerson’isused.Naturallywehavenotchangedthetermsusedbypersonsinterviewedfortheprojectoremployedinwrittendocumentsthatwequote.


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EXECUTIVESUMMARYThisreviewoftheParramattaYouthKooriCourt(YouthKooriCourt)pilotprogramlooksathowtheprogramworks,howitisorganizedandhowitaddressestheneedsofprogramparticipants.Inthisreport,wedescribetheapproach,people,processes,systemsandpracticesthatmakeuptheYouthKooriCourtandthenetworkofrelationshipsthatmakeitpossible.ThestudyalsoprovidesapreliminaryassessmentofitsimpactonaddressingthepersonalandsocialissuesfacingtheyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplewhocomebeforethecourt,reducingriskfactorsrelatedtore-offending,andkeepingtheyoungpeopleoutofcustody.Wealsolookathowitaddressesitslonger-termobjectivesofinvestinginAboriginalcapacitybuilding,andincreasingAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoples’confidenceinthecriminaljusticesystem.ToputtheYouthKooriCourtincontext,wereviewarangeofspecial-purposeforums,whichshareacommitmenttoimprovingaccesstojustice,makingtheirprocessesunderstandable,andgivingjusticeparticipantsavoice.FirstPeoples’courtsadditionallygiveprioritytostrengtheningculturalconnections,anddosobyincludingEldersandothermembersofthecommunitiesinquestion.However,FirstPeoples’courtsfocustheirenergieswheretheythinktheycanhavemostimpact.Aswithsomerestorativejusticeandtherapeuticjurisprudenceprograms,theygenerallydonotdealwithsexualoffences,andwiththeexceptionofoneCanadianAboriginalcourtandonepilotprojectintheNorthernTerritorytheylimittheircoveragetoparticipantswhopleadguilty(orarefoundguiltybyanothercourt).Thismeansthatsuchcourtsarelimitedintheirformalmandatetosentencing,thusexcludingbydefinitionpersonsonremandaswellasthosewhodecidenottopleadguilty.TheYouthKooriCourtfurtherlimitsitstargetgrouptoyoungpeoplewhoareseriousoffenders–thosewhofaceseriouspenalties,suchasyouthdetentionorsupervisionorders.TheyoungpeoplewhocomebeforetheYouthKooriCourtarethereforehighriskbyalmostanydefinition–mostofthemexperienceeducationalexclusionandlimitedjobprospects;manydonotevenhavebasicidentitydocumentslikeabirthcertificateorMedicarecard;theyalsotendtohaveinsecurehousing,poorhealthandfamiliesinwhichmanymembersalsoexperiencethesamedifficulties.AnotherperspectiveoftheFirstPeoples’court,isthatsomeyoungpeoplehavelosttheirculturalconnectionswiththeirfamilyclanandcountry.ToaddressthiscomplexrangeofchallengestheYouthKooriCourtdelayssentencetoallowtheidentifiedriskfactorstobeaddressed.Thedeferredsentencemodelhasprovedeffectiveindrugcourts,communitycourtsandotherspecial-purposecourts.TheYouthKooriCourtdeferssentenceforbetweensixmonthsandayear,althoughtheyoungpersoncanchoosetobesentencedbeforethis–theprogramisvoluntary.Theteamthatcomestogetherinahearingdevelopsandmonitorswhatareknownas‘ActionandSupportplans’.Theseplansarethekeydocumentofthecourt’soperations.Theyprovideacomprehensivelistoftheyoungperson’sneedsintheareasofaccommodation,health(includingmentalhealth),drugs,educationandemployment,civillawissues(suchasidentitydocumentsandunpaidfines)andcultural


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connection(creatingopportunitiesforyoungpeopletobewiththeirfamilyclanandconnectwithcountry).TheActionandSupportplansaredevelopedandendorsedataninitialhearing,reviewedregularlyinreviewhearingsandthenfinallyatthetimeofgraduationusedtojudgetheprogressmadeoverthecourseofthejourneyasaYouthKooriCourtparticipant.TheregularChildren’sCourtconfigurationofthecourtroomismodifiedtoprovideculturalperspectivesthatreflectaspectsofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderculture,includingsymbolssuchasflagsandartwork.Ateachhearingthereareusuallybetweensixandadozenpeoplesittingaroundtheovaltable.TheMagistratesitsnotattheBenchbutononesideofthetableflankedbyEldersandotherrespectedpersonsfromtheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunity.OppositetheMagistratesitstheyoungAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderperson,alongsidealawyerfromtheAboriginalLegalService.Apoliceprosecutortypicallysitsatoneendofthetable,andacivillawyerfromtheLegalAidCommissionattheother.Atotherplacesatthetableoneormoreofthefollowingoftenalsocome:supportpeoplesuchasapartner,relativeorfriend,aJuvenileJusticeofficer,arepresentativeofasupportagency,anemployer,orasocialworkerataresidentialfacilityordrugandalcoholservice.

TheYouthKooriCourtlayout,viewfromtheBenchPhotographcourtesyofChildren’sCourtofNSW

TheRangatahicourtinAotearoaNewZealanddealswithasimilarpopulationtotheYouthKooricourt.WhiletheexperiencesofFirstPeoplesinthetwocountriesaresomewhatdifferent,therearealsosomedifferencesinhowthecourtsoperatethatprovideusefulpointsof


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comparison.InAotearoaNewZealandtheactionplanisdevelopedinafamilygroupconference.Inthissettingvictimsareexplicitlyincluded,andtheyoungpersonhasanactiveroleinshapingtheplan.TheplanismonitoredbytheRangatahicourt,chaired,asintheYouthKooriCourt,byajudicialofficer.Thehearingsareheldinaculturallysignificantsetting,amarae(meetinghouse).Traditionalrituals,includingsharingoffoodanddrink,openthemeetings.Thedemandsplacedontheparticipantsarequitehigh–theyhavetolearntheirlanguagesufficientlytodeliveragreetingandpresentastatementabouttheirownlinktolandandpeople.InsteadofalawyerbesidethemincourttheyhaveaMāorimentorwhocoachestheminculturalknowledge.Itisanticipatedthatthisresearch,supportedbyotherresearchandadvice,canbeusedtoinformthemodelofYouthKooriCourts,learningfromexperienceselsewhere.ThisreporthasthepotentialtoshapethedevelopmentofotherNSWYouthKooriCourts,andrefineandemphasisetheinfrastructuresupportrequiredtomakethecourtsworkeffectively.ThisreportislikelytobeofinteresttocurrentandfutureYouthKooriCourtstaffandstakeholders,FirstPeoples,Advisorygroups,potentialfunders,potentialcollaboratingorganisations,aswellastogoverningbodies.

METHODOLOGY&PROTOCOLS

Theresearchinvolved

• QuarterlymeetingswiththeAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagementAdvisoryBoardwhichincludedtheEldersonCampusAdvisorygroup(12)

• ObservingYouthKooriCourthearings(31)• InterviewswithElders(5),someyoungpeople(7),theMagistrate• Interviewswithotherparticipantswhowereinvolvedinthecourt’sactivities:lawyers,

caseworkers,representativesofNGOs,religiousorganisationsandfamilymembers(19)• ExaminingActionandSupportplansforoneyear(33)• CodingtranscriptsofgraduationhearingstoidentifyoutcomesfromActionandSupport

plansforasixmonthperiod(19)• Comparingdaysincustodyandnumberoftimesincustodyforyoungpeoplebeforeand

duringYouthKooriCourt(18)ThesedifferenttypesofinformationtogetherprovideasnapshotoftheYouthKooriCourtpilotprojectasitcompletesitssecondyearofoperation.Itenablesustodescribehowthecourtworks,howitseekstomeettheneedsoftheyoungpeoplewhocomebeforeit,and–atleasttosomeextent–withwhatsuccess.ThestudydidnotmatchindividualinformationfromobservationsontheonehandandActionandSupportplansorcustodyrecordsontheother,inaccordancewithguidelinesofresearchethicscommittees.Thisprecautionwasdesignedtoprotecttheanonymityoftheparticipants.Furthermore,theconversations,yarningandstoriesusedtoillustratetheissuesatvariouspointsofthestudyinvolvecompositeaccountsinwhichdemographicdetailsarechanged,andpseudonyms.ThisstudycapturestheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeople’s


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voicesintext.However,toprotecttheidentityoftheyoungpeopleandconfidentialinformationabouttheirlivesstorieshavebeende-identified.ThisprojectoriginatedthroughcollaborationbetweentheChildren’sCourt,WesternSydneyUniversityOfficeofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagementandresearchersbasedintheSchoolofHumanitiesandCommunicationArts,theOfficeofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagementandtheInstituteforCultureandSocietyatWesternSydneyUniversity.IthasethicalclearanceandongoingoversightfromtheWesternSydneyUniversityHumanResearchEthicsCommittee(HREC)andtheNSWAboriginalHealthandMedicalResearchCommittee(AH&MRC)EthicsCommittee.Theformalethicalandmethodologicalprotocolsforthisstudyhavebeendevelopedinthecontextofco-creativepartnershipswiththeWesternSydneyUniversityOfficeofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagementAdvisoryBoard,(includingtheEldersonCampusAdvisoryGroup).ThereportgivesprioritytothevoicesofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeople,whichmaynotalwaysalignwithpolicypositionsoftheNSWGovernmentortheChildren’sCourt.InparticularweexaminethecaseforexpandingthejurisdictionoftheKooriCourt,ratherthanjustassumingthecurrentmodelofthecourtisthebestone.

ABORIGINALANDTORRESSTRAITISLANDERYOUNGPEOPLE’SACTION&SUPPORTPLANSANDOUTCOMES

ActionandSupportplanswereanalysedfor33individualswhocompletedsentencingin2016.Theplansoutlinedtheissuesidentifiedbythecourt,specifiedwhatshouldbedoneabouttheseproblemsanddesignatedapersonororganisationtotaketheleadinaddressingtheissue.

• Culturalconnection:connectingwithculturalheritagewasidentifiedasimportantfor26ofthe33youngpeople.ThirteenoftheyoungpeoplewererecommendedtoparticipateinanAboriginalculturalactivity(suchasaculturalcamp)andnineyoungpeoplewereexplicitlylistedaspotentiallybenefittingfromculturalmentoringeitherbyanElderorarelative.

• Educationandemployment:26ofthe33youngpeoplehadaproblemwithschoolorwork.For13ofthemtheissuementionedwasgettinganapprenticeshiporapplyingforTAFE,for9itwasgettingbacktohighschool,andfor9itwasapplyingforjobs.Theissueswereconnected–withoutsomequalifications,oratleastfinishingschool,theprospectsforfindingajobwerelimited.Almostnoneoftheyoungpeoplehadcompletedhighschoolandseveralofthemhadbeensuspendedorexpelledfromschool.

• Accommodation:Athirdoftheyoungpeople(13outof33)wereclassifiedashavingdifficultygettingsuitableaccommodation,with9ofthesereportedashomelessatsomestage,13neededhelpfindingindependentaccommodationorplacementwithsuitablerelativesand3wereclassifiedasinneedofcrisisaccommodation.

• Healthissues:Twooutofeverythreeyoungperson(22outof33)hadatleastonehealth-relatedissue.Theseincluded:needforgeneralhealthordentalcheck-ups(8),hospitalcareorattentiontoacurrentinjury(7),disabilitysupport(6),aswellasneedforparticipationinmorephysicalactivity(5),oranothertypeofintervention(10).Atleastonepersonmentionedahearingproblem,severalmentionedmentalhealthissuesandthreeweresuspectedofhavingattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderADHD.


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• Substanceabusewasidentifiedasanissueforalmostalloftheyoungpeople,28outof33.SixoftheseexplicitlymentionedmethamphetaminesincludingIce,speedandecstasy,while16reportedusingcannabisand12alcohol.

• Civiljustice:Morethanathird(13outof33)oftheyoungpeoplecomingtotheYouthKooriCourtlackedbasicidentitydocumentslikeabirthcertificate,while18hadunpaidfines.Another5neededhelptogetabankaccount,10toregisterwithCentrelinkand4togetaMedicarecard.

MostoftheyoungpeoplehadmanyproblemsthatneededaddressingandcomplexsupportneedsintheirActionandSupportplans.Housinginsecurity,forexample,wasoftenaccompaniedbyproblemswithfindingemploymentorfinishingeducation–9ofthe13peoplewithahousingissuewerealsorecordedashavingaproblemwitheducationoremployment,while11ofthe13peoplewithahousingproblemalsohadapersonalhealthissue.Thiscompoundedthechallengetofindingsuitableaccommodation.Oneyoungmanlivedwithhisgrandmother,whowasseriouslyill,sohehadbecome,ineffect,hercarer.Anotheryoungmantriedlivingwithhisfatherfortwomonths,buthisfatherwasaddictedtoiceandthearrangementbrokedown.Formostoftheyoungpeople,considerableprogresshadbeenmadeinmeetingtheobjectivesspecifiedintheActionandSupportplansbythetimeofgraduation.Detailsoftheseoutcomeswereobtainedbyexamining19transcriptsofthegraduationhearingsinthesecondhalfof2016.

• Culturalconnection:7ofthe19wererecommendedtoattendaculturalcampofsomesortinordertobearoundandlearnfromtheirmob.Inthegraduationhearing,only1wasrecordedashavingattendedsuchacamp,2hadnotattendedacampandfortheothersacampwasnotmentioned.InformationprovidedbytheExecutiveOfficeroftheParramattaChildren’sCourtindicatedthatmostofthemdidinfactattendacamp,butinmostcasesaftertheygraduatedfromtheprogram.

• Educationandemployment:18hadsomegoalsspecifiedinthisarea,7inschooling,7insomeformofapprenticeship,and9inapplyingfororobtainingajob.(Somehadmorethanoneobjectiveidentified).3hadresumedtheirschooling,4hadtakenupanapprenticeship,3hadsecuredajobandanother3wereintheprocessoflookingforone.Thisleaves6wherenoprogresswasreported.

• Accommodation:10wereconsideredtohavesomesortofaccommodationissuewhentheActionandSupportPlanwasdeveloped,including2whowereincustodyandneededsomewheretostayontheirrelease.Ofthe10,4hadhadtheirproblemsortedoutbythetimeofthegraduationfromYouthKooriCourt,for3aresponsewasinprocess,while3wasclassifiedasbeingunsuccessfulatthetimeofgraduation.

• Health:12ofthe19wererecordedashavingahealthissuethatneededaddressing.Ofthese5wererecordedasbeingsuccessfullycompletedbythetimeofgraduation–mostlygettingahealthcheck-2wereontrack,whilefortheremaining5informationwasnotavailable.

• Drugs:15ofthe19wererecordedashavingsomeissuewithdrugsoralcohol.Bythetimetheygraduatedfromthecourt,progresswasreportedfor13.5oftheyoungpeoplewerereportedashavingdesistedcompletely,atleastfromdrugslike


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icethathadbeenassociatedwithoffending.Sometimestheyoungpersonreportedsomeongoinguseofmarijuanaoroccasionalbingedrinking.

• Civillawmatters:18hadatleastoneissueinthisarea.Ofthe9whoneededbirthcertificates,7hadbeenabletogetonesuccessfully,andfortheother2theprocesswasstillunderway.All5ofthosewhoneededaMedicarecardhadreceivedone,thesamewastrueforthe3whoneededtosetupabankaccount.2ofthe3whoneededproofofAboriginalityhadreceivedthisbythetimeofgraduation.

TheoverallpatternisoneofconsiderableprogresstowardsthegoalssetdowninActionandSupportplans.TheachievementsmadeinhelpingtheyoungpersongetbirthcertificatesandMedicarecardsmeanttheycouldtakepartinsocietyinawaythathadpreviouslyexcludedthem.Intermsofdrugs,thesuccessachievedwouldbelikelytoreduceriskbothofseriousharmtothepersonandpotentiallytofamilymembersandmembersofthepublic.Inareaslikeeducationandaccommodation,theachievementsmadeduringtheYouthKooriCourtperiodwerefirststepsonalongerjourney,andfutureprogresswoulddependonongoingsupportoutsidethecontrolofthecourt.

ROLES,RESPONSIBILITIESANDWORK-FLOW

IftheActionandSupportplansprovidetheroadmap,itisthesupportnetworkofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderElders,courtworkers,lawyersandserviceagenciesthatmovetheplanforward.NoneofthesegroupsarefundedspecificallytocontributetotheadditionaldemandontheirresourcesandtimerequiredtosupporttheYouthKooriCourt.But,atleastforthedurationofthepilotproject,thesupportnetworkmentionedhavebeenwillingtoinvestintheideaofhelpingAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeopletomovetowardsamorepromisingfuture.Giventhecomplexneedsidentifiedbythecourt,co-ordinationofthefollow-throughfortheActionandSupportplansisimportant.Sometimestheco-ordinationisundertakenbyJuvenileJusticeofficers,theassignedagency(forexampleLeadership,Empowerment,AbilityProsperity(LEAP)orDaramu)orthecivilLegalAidlawyer(forthematterstheymayhaveresponsibilityfor),buttherehaveremainedgapsthatthecourt’sAboriginalLiaisonOfficerortheAboriginalLegalServicelawyerfrequentlystepintofill.Thistypicallyinvolvessettingupmeetings,negotiatingwithserviceproviders,remindingtheyoungpersonaboutthearrangementsandoftendrivingtheyoungpersontothemeeting.Whiletheeffectofthisclosecontactbetweentheyoungpersonandcourtstaffandlawyerswasreportedtoincreasetrustintheprocessandprovidecontinuity,thoseinterviewedfortheprojectdidnotregarditassustainableinthelongterm.Staffburnoutwasseenasalikelyoutcome,andfutureincumbentsofthepositionsmightnotbewillingtowork12-hourdaystocarryoutworkthatfelloutsidetheirjobdescription.Dedicatedcase-coordinatorsattachedtothecourtweregenerallyfelttobeamoreappropriatelonger-termsolution.Thisisanimportantculturalrespectprotocolandneedstobeconsideredinfutureinfrastructuresupportrequirements.Centraltothecourt’soperationsareAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersandotherrespectedmembersofthelocalAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunity.Theywere


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acknowledgedastheexpertsinculturalmatters,aswellasrelationshipswithpolice,andsometimesemploymentopportunitiesforyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeople.ThepresenceandcontributionofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderElderswaspubliclyvisibleinhearings.Behindthescenestheyalsoactedasmentors,confidantsandsometimesdriversfortheyoungpeoplewhocamebeforethecourt.YetElderswerenotfinanciallycompensatedfortheirroleintheprocess.Thediscrepancybetweenpayingthe(mostlynon-FirstNations)professionalswhoparticipatedinhearingsandnotadequatelyremuneratingtheElderswasfeltbymanytobesendingthewrongmessagetothecommunity.SomeagenciesidentifiedintheActionandSupportplansassuitableforprovidingtheappropriateserviceswerenotabletofollowthroughonallocatedtasks,orunabletoprovidetheintensivecasemanagementthatwouldberequiredtoensurethattheyoungpersonwasabletotakeadvantageoftheservice.Fromthecourt’sperspective–communicatedathearings–theagenciesweresometimesnotdeliveringwhattheypromised.Fromtheagency’sperspective,theyhavetobalancearangeofdemandsandcannotpayundueattentiontoclientsfromanysinglesource.Howtofundservicesispartofawiderdebate,reflectedinthedevelopmentoftheNationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme(NDIS).TheoptionusedintheNDISistofundindividuals,allocatingthemasetpaymentbasedonneed,allowingtheindividualtochoosetheservicemixtheyrequire.Thesecondoption,usedintheNeighbourhoodJusticeCentreinMelbourne,isforthecourtitselftohavedirectcontroloverresourcesthatitcanbringtogetheraccordingtoneedasdeterminedbythecourt.Thethirdmodel,usedbytheYouthKooriCourt,isthepowertopersuade–agenciesarefundedandassessedaccordingtotheirownvaryingsetsofrules,andthecourtmustconvincethemthattheclientssentbythecourtbothmeettheagency’scriteriaandarehighpriority.Whichofthesemodels–orperhapswhichcombinationofmodels–istobeusedisapolicymatterforgovernment.However,peopleinterviewedfortheprojectthoughtthatasaminimumthereshouldatleastbededicatedcasecoordinatorsattachedtothecourt.Thecourt’spowertopersuadewouldbemoreeffectiveifitwasfollowedupbysomeonewhobothhadprofessionalunderstandingoftheservicesandhadaspecificmandatetokeeptrackofprogress.Relationshipswithagencies,someofwhommayhaverotatingstaffpositions,needtobenurturedandmaintained,ourintervieweesreported.Thestudyhighlightstheparticularqualitiesofcommitment,consistency,trustandrelationshipsthatarekeytofacilitatingcollaborationbetweenAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeopleandthecaseworkers,serviceprovidersandAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersthattheyworkwithandaresupportedbyinordertocompletetheYouthKooriCourtgoalsidentifiedintheirActionandSupportplans.

INTERACTIONSANDDYNAMICSOFYOUTHKOORICOURTHEARINGS

Hearingsmarkthestagesofayoungperson’sjourneythroughtheYouthKooriCourtprogram:theyfirstattendtheirfirsthearingforasuitabilityassessment,followedbyameetingtodeveloptheirActionandSupportplan,severalreviews,and,finally,sentencingandgraduationfromtheYouthKooriCourt.Thissectionaddressesthequestionofhowthesehearings—whichwasrequireconsiderabletime,courtresources,co-ordination,andemotionalinvestment—contributetotheoverallprocess.


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Toaddressthisquestion,webroughttogetherinformationfrominterviewswith33participantswithobservationsof82YouthKooriCourtmeetings(thesecamefromattending18YouthKooriCourtdaysovera7monthperiod),plustranscriptsofgraduationhearingsfor19participants.Tosomeextentthehearingsfollowwell-establishedpracticesofspecial-purposecourts.Theprocessisinformal,participantsspeakinplainEnglishnotlegalese,everyonegetsachancetohavetheirsayandthereisaminimumofhierarchy.Andyet,fromanotherperspective,hearingsoftheYouthKooriCourtinvolveanelaborateceremony:theyfollowacarefully-scriptedritual.Everyhearingbeginswithawelcometocountry,andparticipantsintheroomintroducethemselves.Inreviewhearings,theMagistrateinvitestheyoungpersontoreportonhowtheyare,thepoliceprosecutorreportsonwhetheranynewoffenceshavebeenrecorded,theotherprofessionalparticipantsprovideanupdateonprogressinrelationtotheActionandSupportplan,andfuturestepsareidentifiedtoachievetheobjectivesoftheplan.Theritualsofthehearingmayalsohelptheyoungpersontodeveloptheirsenseofself-worth,theiridentityasa‘proudKooriyoungman’forexample(astheMagistratewouldsometimessay).Theyoungpersonisgiventheopportunitytospeakfreely,definetheirownpreferredcareeroptionsandaddressanycommentsmadeaboutthem.WhiletheformalbusinessofthemeetingmightbeaboutActionandSupportplansthesymbolicpurposeofthemeetingcouldbeseentobetoaffirmtheworthanddignityoftheyoungpeoplethemselves,aswellastheimportantroleplayedbyotherAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplesittingaroundthetable.Thehearingthereforeservesinasmallwayaspartofatrainingincitizenship–developingskillsinlistening,respondingtocommentsmade,providingjustificationsorapologies,engagingwithothersasanequal,andaffirmingtheroleofFirstPeoplesinAustraliansociety.Ingeneral,theyoungpeopledisplayedanincreasedwillingnesstotakepartinthesedifferentwaysduringthehearingsoverthecourseoftheirtimeontheprogram.Whetherthesepositiveritualscanbeshowntohaveapositiveimpactonbehaviourorperceivedlegitimacyofthejusticesystemissomethingthatishardtomeasureconclusively,butincreasedwillingnesstoengageintheprocesscouldbeseenasonepossibleindicatorofthis.Aswellasperforminganimportantritualfunction,themeetingsserveseveralpracticalpurposes.Participantsformateamaroundeachyoungperson,andpoolresourcesandknowledge(AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderknowledgesystemsandwaysofknowingfromtheElders)duringthecourseofthehearinginordertodealwiththingsthathavecomeup(suchasaccommodationdifficulties,healthissues,pregnancy,bailvariations,acknowledgingyoungpeople’sefforts,andtechniquesforstayingoutoftrouble).Themeetingsarealsoasiteinwhichbothyoungpeopleandtheservices/caseworkerstheyareconnectedtocanbeheldaccountablefortheActionandSupportplanitemstheyhavecommittedtoandworkthroughobstaclesthatmayhaveariseninseeingthisthrough.Besidesconnectingyoungpeoplewiththeappropriateservices,theYouthKooriCourthasinsomeinstancesenabledyoungpeoplewhoarealreadyinvolvedwithmultipleserviceinterventionstohavetheircasesmanagedinamoreintegratedmanner.


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OneimportantchangeinthewayhearingsareorganisedfromwhatwasinitiallyanticipatedisanincreasingrolefortheMagistrate.TheoriginalplancalledforsomehearingstobechairedbyaChildren’sCourtRegistrar,andforreviewstobelessregularfortheyoungpeoplewhowereseentobedoingwell.Inpractice,allhearingsarechairedbytheMagistrateandreviewsareheldregularly,onaverageonceamonth.Thischangetointensivejudicialsupervisionpartlyreflectsthehighthresholdforentryintothecourt–theyoungpersonneedstobefacingaseriouspenalty,whichmeanstheoffendinghistoryislikelytobeextensive–butalsotheuncertaintyaboutwhetherserviceagencieswerecarryingouttheirrequestedtasks.Intensivejudicialsupervisionhasprovedeffectiveindrugcourts,andsomejurisdictions,suchastheVictorianCountyCourt,havemovedtoajudicialsupervisionmodelpost-releaseforsomecategoriesofoffenders.Intensivejudicialsupervisionmaybelessnecessaryifthecourthaddedicatedcasecoordinatorstoensureplanswerekeptontrack.Ontheotherhand,forsomehigh-riskyoungpeople,evenmorefrequentreviewsmaybebeneficial,suchasthetwo-weeklyreviewsthatdrugcourtsimposeintheearlystagesofengagementwiththatcourt.Graduationceremonieswerepositiveandlivelyaffairs,withhandshakesandhugs,clapping,congratulationsandtears,andpresentstotheyoungpersonofacakeorevenafootball.Includedinthegraduationceremonywasaformalelement–sentencing.ForthistheMagistratelefttheroom,robedandcamebacktodeliversentencefromtheBench.Lawyersmadeformalsubmissions,usinglegallanguagethattheMagistrateexplainedwasnecessary,evenifnotentirelyintelligibletomostofthepeoplepresent.TheMagistratesimilarlypassedsentence,followingthewordingoftherelevantlegislationclosely.Giventhatthecourt’sjurisdictionwasprimarilythatofasentencingcourt,thisconcessiontotheformaljusticesystemwasprobablynecessary.Comparedtorestorativejusticeprocesses,where‘outcomes’negotiatedbythepartiescansometimesexceedwhatacourtwouldimpose,thisrelativelyshortincursionofformallegalitycanbeseenasprotectingtheyoungperson’srightstoafairandproportionatesentence,basedontheruleoflaw.Whethersomeofthelegalesecouldbeprovidedinwriting,orplainEnglishversionsofthelegalrulingscouldbeprovided,couldbesomethingthatthecourtcontinuestoexplore.Oneissuethereportraisesiswhetheradditionalculturalelementscouldbebuiltintotheritualsofthecourt,particularlyonesthatgettheyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplethemselvesactivelyinvolved.TheMagistratesometimesinvitesgraduatesoftheprogramto‘comebacktoseeus’inanunspecifiedway.OnepossiblewayisforsomeofthemtoreturntotakepartinAboriginalculturalritualsthatarepartoftheYouthKooriCourtprocessforsubsequentparticipantsintheprogram.Thiswouldreflecttheinvestmentthecourthadmadeintheyoungpeopleandprovideanotherformofrolemodelfortheparticipants.Anotherpossiblepracticecouldbeforyoungpeopletoidentifytheirclanandcountry,andtheirlinktocountryintheirownlanguagefortheirgraduationceremony,whichissimilartowhatyoungpeopledointheRangatahicourtinAotearoaNewZealand.Thiscouldbeanopportunitytoassistyoungpeoplewithculturalpreservationoftheirlanguages.Effortstodosowouldneedtotakeintoconsiderationthat,asAboriginalsocietyhasover250orsolanguages3andTorres

3AustralianInstituteofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderStudiesandFederationofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderLanguages(2005)NationalIndigenousLanguagesSurveyReport2005.Canberra:DepartmentofCommunications,InformationTechnologyandtheArts


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StraitIslandersocietyhasover6dialects4,withnumerousanddiverseclansanddisfranchisementthatoccurredwithcolonisation.Severaloftheparticipantsdisclosedartisticabilities,whetherinperformingorvisualarts,soagraduationceremonycouldpotentiallyprovideanopportunityfortheseskillstobeappreciatedbyothermembersoftheirYouthKooriCourtteam.Overallthehearingswereconductedinarespectfulmannerthattookadvantageoftheteamgatheredaroundthetable,providedaffirmationtotheyoungpersonandfocusedonthekeyissuesfacingtheyoungperson.

CRIMINALJUSTICEOUTCOMES

Reducingtheharmdonetothecommunitycausedbyre-offendingisoneofthegoalsoftheYouthKooriCourt.Measuringthetimetore-offendingorthenumberofnewoffencescouldbeausefulmeasureofthis,butitnotrealistictomeasuretheseinapilotstudy,giventhesmallsamplesizeandthewaitingperiodrequiredtogetstatisticallysignificantresults.Further,thereportsuggeststhatre-offendinglevelsshouldbemonitoredinrelationtooutcomesofinterventionsinrelationtokeyriskfactorssuchashomelessness,unemploymentandfamilystability.Forthepurposesofthisstudyacomparisonwasmadebetweenperiodsincustodyduringtheyoungperson’stimeontheYouthKooriCourtandanequivalentperiodafterwards.Weusedfilesfor18ofthe20youngpeoplewhograduatedfromtheYouthKooriCourtintheJuly-December2016period.Generalisingfromsuchasmallgroupisproblematic,neverthelesstherearesometentativeconclusionsthatcanbedrawnfromtheirexperience,usingtwomeasuresofcustody.First,thenumberofdaysthepersonspentincustodyduringtheperiodtheywereintheYouthKooriCourtcomparedtoanequivalentperiodbeforehand.TheaverageyoungpersoncomingbeforetheYouthKooriCourtspent25daysincustodyduringtheirYouthKooriCourtperiod,comparedto57daysincustodyintheequivalentperiodbeforehand.Expressedinpercentageterms,theaverageparticipantspent9percentoftheirtimeinYouthKooriCourtincustodycomparedto20percentbeforehand.ThenumberofdaysincustodyduringYouthKooriCourtrangedfrom0to141;beforeenteringYouthKooriCourttherangewasfrom0to279duringanequivalentperiod.Thesecondmeasureisthenumberoftimesthepersonenteredcustody.Ofthe18youngpeople,14hadexperiencedaperiodofcustodybeforeenteringYouthKooriCourt(2ofthemforlessthanaday),while7hadbeenincustodyatsomestageduringtheirperiodinYouthKooriCourt.

4StateLibraryofQueensland(2016)LanguagesoftheTorresStraitIslands,availableat:http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/atsi/languages/torres-strait(accessed24October2017)


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ThecomparisonprovidedaconclusionthatwasconsistentwiththeclaimthatparticipationintheYouthKooriCourtreducesre-offending,specificallythemoreseriousformsofoffendingthatresultindetention.ReducingtheharmthatthecommunitydoestotheyouthoffenderwasalsoaddressedbytheYouthKooriCourt,inkeepingwiththeprinciplesestablishedbytheRoyalCommissionintoAboriginalDeathsinCustody.FeweryoungpeoplewerelockedupinyouthdetentionasaresultoftheYouthKooriCourtthanwouldhaveotherwisebeenthecase.Daysincustodywerereduced,diminishingriskofharmtotheyoungpeoplethroughincarceration.EvenwhentheyoungpeopledidspendtimeindetentionduringtheirYouthKooriCourtjourney,theyknewtheyhadasupportteammonitoringtheirwelfare.Fromanotherperspective,thefactthatmanyoftheyoungpeoplecontinuedtospendtimeincustodydidnotmeanthatbeingontheprogramprovideda‘getoutofjailfree’card.Onthecontrary,notonlydidmanyofthemservetimeindetention,theyalsohadanadditionalsetofresponsibilitiesandexpectationstodealwith.Whileitisrelevanttomeasurenegativeindicatorslikedaysindetention,thecourt’sphilosophysuggeststhatasmuchattentionshouldbegiventodevelopingprecisemeasuresofpositiveindicatorsforitsclients.Examplesincludebeinginasafelivingenvironment,engaginginproductiveactivitiesandrestoringcontactwithClanandCountry.Thesearethetypesofindicatorthatthereportsuggeststhecourtshouldcontinuetodevelop,measuresthatcanalsobeseenasriskfactorsrelevanttore-offending.Aswellasmanagingtheoffendingbehaviourofindividuals,andhelpingtheseyoungpeoplegettheirlivesintosomesortoforder,didtheprogramcontributetowiderobjectivesofimprovingrelationshipsbetweenpoliceandtheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunity,andenhancingthelegitimacyofthejusticesystem?Wedidnotcollectdirectevidenceaboutsuchissues;indeed,itwouldbehardtofindrelevantdata.However,theprogramdidappeartocontributetosomeintermediateoutcomesthatwouldbeexpectedtocontributetothelonger-termgoalsoftheYouthKooriCourt.StrongerbondswithintheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunityweredeveloped,thankstotheactiveroleEldersplayedasmentors.Thepoliceofficerswhoservedasprosecutorstendedtocomeawaywithagreaterappreciationofthechallengesfacingtheyouthpeopleandtheirresilienceinmeetingthechallenges.TheyalsosawtherespectshownEldersandthevalueplacedontheircontribution.Itwouldbeanticipatedthatastheseofficersriseupthroughtheranksthisenhancedmutualrespectwouldbereflectedinchangesinpolicebehaviour.NeverthelessaslongasyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeoplearelargelyexcludedfrommeaningfullyparticipatinginsociety,manyofthemwillcontinuetofeelmarginalisedandactinwaysthatothersconsideranti-social.WhattheYouthKooriCourtdoesthroughitsActionandSupportplansisofferthepossibilityofabetterfuture,onethatprovidesopportunityfortheyoungpeoplethemselvesandincreasedsafetyforthewidercommunity.Increasedlegitimacyissomethingthepoliceandthejusticesystemitselfhavetoearn.


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CHAPTER1.INTRODUCTIONTheYouthKooriCourtinParramattaisasmallbutimportantinnovationwithintheNSWJusticesystem.OperatingaspartoftheChildren’sCourtofNSWitprovidestargetedsupervisionandsupportforsomeofthemostdisadvantagedyoungpeopleinwesternSydney.ItdoesthisbyidentifyingtheissuesthatconfronttheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeople,writingtheseintoActionandSupportplansand,throughregularreviewmeetingsthatkeepserviceagenciesinconversation,triestobringaboutpositivechangefortheyoungpeopleandtheirfamilies.Themoststrikingfeatureofthecourtisthewayitcarriesoutitshearings.EachhearingbeginswithawelcometocountryceremonyperformedbyEldersorotherrespectedmembersoftheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandcommunities.Theparticipantssitaroundanovaltable,withaMagistrateactingaschair.Allparticipantsareabletocontributeinformation,adviceorsuggestions.Onepersonisthecentreofthehearing,ayoungpersonofAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderheritage.Aroundtheyoungpersonaregatheredrepresentativesofdifferentcommunitygroups,governmentagenciesandcourtofficials.TwoofthekeyplayersarealawyerfromtheAboriginalLegalServiceandanAboriginalcourtliaisonworker.Thisdescriptionwouldsuggestthatthecourtoperateswithinaprotectivejurisdiction,thatitsprimaryjobistoprovidecareandsupportforchildrenwhoareneglected,abusedormarginalised.Yetitscentraltaskistoactasasentencingcourt,ormorespecificallytocasemanagematterswithinthesentencingphaseofcriminalproceedings.Itdoesnothandlechildprotectionapplications,nordoesitruntrialswheremattersarecontested.Itsjobistomanagecaseswheretheyoungpersonhasalreadybeenfoundguiltyofacriminaloffence.Asentencingcourtnormallyhandsdownsanctions–punishments,warnings,exclusionfromcertainareasorcurfews,forexample-withinalegislativeframeworkprovidedbyParliament.Butadeferredsentencingcourt,basedonthedrugcourtmodel,delayssentenceuntiltheendoftheprocess,andfocusesonaddressingtheunderlyingissuesthatgaverisetotheoffencesinquestion.Further,children’sjurisdictionsarerequiredtogivegreaterprioritytothedevelopmentneedsandwelfareofthechildthanequivalentadultcourts5.Soeventhoughthecourtoperateswithinacriminaljurisdiction,itspracticesemphasisecare,protectionandeducation.Anynewprogramtakesawhiletofindsitsfeet.Carryingoutareviewlikethiscandocumentsomeofthelessonslearnedandframesomepolicyissuesthatwillallowtheprogramtoberolledouttootherpartsofthestate.Itisusefultodistinguishseveralfeaturesofthecourt’soperation:

1. TheFirstPeoples’courtmodelitself,onethatissharedwithslightvariationsbetweenmostAustralianstatesandterritories

5Seesection6oftheChildren’s(CriminalProceedings)Act1987


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2. ThecharacteristicsoftheParramattaYouthKooriCourtthatdistinguishitfromotherequivalentcourts

3. Thepersonalitiesoftheprofessionalparticipants4. Thesocial,economicandculturalcontextofwesternSydney

Withanyinnovation,theremaywellbeenthusiasticleaderscommittedtothenewprogram,andsomeofthesuccessesoftheprogramcouldbeduetothecharismaofthefirstgenerationofleadersratherthantheprogramdesignitself.Someofthemostcommittedparticipantsmayalsoburnout,workingbeyondthecallofdutytoprovetheconcept.Thegeographicalsettingoftheinnovationmeanwhileislikelytoshapethewayitdevelopsandthewayprioritiesareshaped.Astudythatlooksonlyattheorganisationitselfrunstheriskofmissingtheimportanceofcontext,whileastudythatacceptsuncriticallythevalueofthemodelcanmisssomeofthelessonsthatacarefulexaminationoftheexperienceoftheinnovationcanteachus.Inthisreview,wehavetriedtoconsidertheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofthemodelofFirstPeoples’courtsinAustralia,featuresthatcharacterisethemodelitselfratherthanbeinguniquetoParramatta.Inexaminingthemodel,wehaveplaceditwithintheframeworkofspecial-purposeforumsmoregenerally,includingthedrugcourtmodelthattheYouthKooriCourtpartlyborrowsfrom.Intheintroductiontothischapterwesuggestthatthecourttakesonaprotectiverole,asindeeddoesoneofitscounterpartsthatwereview,theScottishChildren’sPanels.WealsocomparethemodeltoitscounterpartinAotearoaNewZealand,theRangatahicourtforMāoriyoungpeople.Whilethereareimportantdifferencesinnationalcontext,itissuggestedthatacomparisonlikesthisatleastprovokesimportantquestions,inthiscaseabouthowtogiveAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeopleafullervoiceinhearingsandwhethertoplacegreateremphasisonculturaleducation.


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CardspreparedbytheYouthKooriCourtfeaturingimagesoftheartworkshungforYouthKooriCourtmeetings.TheoriginalartworksweremadebyyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderartistsinjuvenilecustody(weareunabletodisclosetheirnames),anddonatedbytheartiststotheYouthKooriCourtprogram.PhotographcourtesyofNSWChildren’sCourt.

ThegeographicaldiversityofwesternSydneycomesintohearingswhenyoungpeopletalkabouttheirfamily,theircountryandtheirheritage,althoughmanyhavealsocomefromcountryNSW.Suburbsareidentifiedwherethetemptationtocommitcrimeisgreatest,whererelationshipswithpolicearemostfraughtorsimplywherefriendsandfamilygather.ThehugegeographicaldistancesacrosswesternSydneyfeatureinmanyoftheyoungpeople’sstories,inexplainingwhytheyturneduplatetohearings,orhowtheycouldnotgettoappointmentsorjobsbecauseoftransportproblems.AdefiningmomentinunderstandinghowthecriminaljusticesystemimpactedonAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleswastheRoyalCommissionintoAboriginalDeathsinCustody(1987-1991).ThisplacedtheissueofAboriginalcustodyfirmlyonthenationalagenda,andsoFirstPeoples’courtshaveidentifiedloweringdetentionratesasakeyobjective.WethereforedevoteachaptertomeasuringhowsuccessfultheYouthKooriCourtwasinkeepingtheirclientsoutofdetention.Wehavealsoattemptedtoplacethisattemptwithinawiderpoliticalcontextinwhichbaillawshavebeentightened,increasingtheproportionofpersonsindetentionwhoareonremand.Thewidercontextisalsorelevanttounderstandingthesocialandeconomicconditionswhichaffectcrimeratesandopportunitiesfordesistance.Wereviewthesortsofoutcomessuchacourtcouldrealisticallyaimfor,particularlylifestyleandsocialinclusionoutcomesfortheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungperson,whichcaninturnreduceriskfactorsforcrime.Soonechapteroutlinesthetypesofsocialoutcomethecourt


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outlinesinActionandSupportplans,thenextchapteraskstowhatextentthesegoalswererealised.Anotherimportantcontextualelementofthecourtisitsserviceenvironment.Mostoftheobjectivesthecourtsetsfortheyoungpeopleareonesthatithasnodirectcontrolover.ItreliesonserviceagenciesfromaroundwesternSydneyandbeyondtoprovidecounselling,treatment,legaladvice,training,financialsupportandotherservices.Someoftheseagenciesarealreadystretched,andsomemightbeabletotakeonnewclientsbutnotprovidetransportforthemtogettotheagency’soffices.Whethercourtsshouldbeinapositiontopurchaseservices(ratherthanpleadwith,shameorpersuadetheagencies)isanimportantfundingissue.Sotooisthelocationoftheservices–shouldtheybeco-located,oratleasthaveastaffmemberbasedsomewhereintheParramattajusticeprecinct?Thecourt’sapproachistousehearingsasawayofgettingtherelevantagenciesonboard;regardlessofwheretheirofficesare,theyarealltogetherinthehearing.Amajorempiricalchapterinthereportlooksatthehearingprocess,seenasaritualofaffirmation,aceremonythatattemptstobringtheyoungpersonintothesocietyfromwhichheorshehasbeenlargelyexcluded.Justiceprocessescanbefullofrichsymbolism,imagesanddrama,sowetrytocapturesomeofthisinthechapter.Weexaminethetypesofhearing,therolesdifferentparticipantsplayandthenarrativesabouttheyoungpersonthattheybuildtogether.Whilethehearingmaybringtogethertherelevantagenciesandtrytoelicitacommitmentfromthemtosupporttheyoungperson,itdoesnotcontroltheresourcesthattheagencyneedstocarryoutthetask,oridentifytherelativeprioritytobegiventotheclientsreferredtoitbythecourtandthosewhocamefromothersources.Fromthepointofviewofahomelessperson,asuccessfuloutcomemightbegettingasafedwellingratherthanhavingacourtrecommendthattheybeputonawaitinglistforone.Sowhilepowerfulritualsandculturally-appropriateceremoniesareimportantforbringingcommunitiestogether,assertingsharedvaluesandgivinghopetoyoungpeople,individualoutcomesforeachyoungpersonmightdependonthecourt’sabilitytoconvinceserviceagenciestodeliverontheirpromises.Thisstudytriestounderstandhowaninnovationinthewaycourtsarerunaffectsthelivesofyoungpeoplewhocamebeforeit.Wedon’thaveamatchedcomparisongrouptobeabletocompareoutcomesattributabletothenewcourtprocess,butwecandescribethecomprehensivenessoftheprocessofdevelopingActionandSupportplans,andtheoutcomesreportedfromtheseplanssomemonthslater.Itispossibleofcoursetocomparethetypesofexperienceofferedbydifferentcourtprocesses:othercourtsdonotuseActionandSupportplans,andtheydon’tfollowupondetailslikegettingtheyoungpersonabirthcertificate,ensuringtheyhaveadentalcheck-uporfindaneducationalopportunityatTAFE.Inalonger-termstudy,itwouldbeusefultotracktheeducationandemploymentpathwaysfollowedbytheyoungpeopleontheYouthKooriCourtprogramandequivalentyoungpeoplewhoappearedbeforeregularcourts,andthentrytoestablishhowthedifferentpathwaysasyoungpeopleledtodifferenthealth,employment,familyandcriminalprofilesasadults.Wecanmakecomparisons,howevertentative,aboutthedesignfeaturesoftheprogram.Entryrulesthatseemlessrestrictive,ritualsthatseemmoreengaging,orprogramsthatgivethe


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youngpersonamoreintensiveculturalexperience–comparisonswithequivalentcourtselsewherethathavethesefeaturescanprovideusefulmaterialforconsiderationandreflection.


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CHAPTER2.BACKGROUND

ABORIGINALANDTORRESSTRAITISLANDERPEOPLESANDINCARCERATION

IntheearlydaysofwhitesettlementontheAustraliancontinent,prisonswereusedmoreforthesettlersratherthantheoriginalinhabitantsoftheland.ThiswasbecauseAboriginalcommunitieswerelargelylefttoregulatetheirowndisputes6.WhenitcametoconflictbetweensettlersandFirstPeoplesitwasanothermatter;thesewereoftensettledby‘summaryexecutionandmassmurder’7.ApartfromtheuseofdetentionbyWesternAustraliafromthe1840stoaddressdisputesovercattlegrazing,therateofAboriginalimprisonmentthroughoutAustralianstatesandterritoriescontinuedtobelowuntilthe1960s.Thentwomajoreventsoccurredataboutthesametime–manyAboriginalpeopleweredisplacedfromtheirtraditionallandsasjobsinthepastoralindustrydisappeared,whilealcoholprohibitionsinAboriginalcommunitieswerelifted8.Thishappenedagainstabackdropofcontinuingdispossession:lossoflandandlivelihood,childremovalpolicy,bringingtogetherpreviouslyhostiletribesintotownsettlements,andthedestabilisationofcommunitystructureassociatedwiththesechanges.ThesechangescontributedtoincreasedviolenceandunemploymentamongstAboriginalcommunities,followedbyasharpincreaseintheAboriginalincarcerationrate9.BythetimeoftheRoyalCommissionintoAboriginalDeathsinCustodysometwentyyearslater,Aboriginalpeoplewerebeingimprisonedatmorethantwentytimestherateofnon-Aboriginalpeople,andforthisreasonmorelikelytodieincustody10.In21percentofcasestheAboriginalpersonwhodiedwasincustodybecauseofamotorvehicleoffence.TheRoyalCommissionnotedthatadisproportionateshareofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleindetentionwerethereforminoroffences.YoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderchildrenweremorelikelythannon-AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderchildrentobetakentocourt–andthereforeriskyouthdetention-ratherthanbeingdiverted.AboriginalpeopleinAustraliaarealsomorelikelythanotherstobevictimsofviolentcrime–twotothreetimesmorelikely,

6Finnane,Mark,andJohnMcGuire(2001)Theusesofpunishmentandexile:AboriginesincolonialAustralia.Punishment&Society3(2):279-298.7Weatherburn,Don(2014)Arrestingincarceration:PathwaysoutofIndigenousimprisonment.AboriginalStudiesPress,p11;citingstudiesbyRowley(1970)andKarskens(2010)8Anthony,Thalia(2007)"ReconciliationandConciliation:TheIrreconcilableDilemmaofthe1965'Equal'WageCaseforAboriginalStationWorkers."LabourHistory:15-34;Weatherburn(2014),p15.9Weatherburn,Don(2014:17)TheadditionalexplanationswerekindlyprovidedbyDonWeatherburn(personalcommunicati0on).10Preface,NationalreportsVolume1,RoyalCommissionintoAboriginalDeathsinCustody(henceforth‘RoyalCommission’,athttp://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/IndigLRes/rciadic/national/vol1/2.html,lastaccessedSeptember122016.


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accordingtotheAustralianInstituteofCriminology,andfourtosixtimesmorelikelyinthecaseoffamilyviolence11.Ofparticularrelevancetothisreport,onerecommendationoftheRoyalCommissionspokeinforcefultermsoftheplightofyoungpeople:

ThatgovernmentsandAboriginalorganisationsrecognisethattheproblemsaffectingAboriginaljuvenilesaresowidespreadandhavesuchpotentiallydisastrousrepercussionsforthefuturethatthereisanurgentneedforgovernmentsandAboriginalorganisationstonegotiatetogethertodevisestrategiesdesignedtoreducetherateatwhichAboriginaljuvenilesareinvolvedinthewelfareandcriminaljusticesystemsand,inparticular,toreducetherateatwhichAboriginaljuvenilesareseparatedfromtheirfamiliesandcommunities,whetherbybeingdeclaredtobeinneedofcare,detained,imprisonedorotherwise12.

Amajorfocusofthereport’srecommendationswasthereforekeepingyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleoutofvariousformsofdetention,sotheYouthKooriCourtprogrammadethisamajorpriority.TheRoyalCommissionreportplacedcontactwiththecriminaljusticesystemwithinawiderhistoricalandpoliticalcontext,referringtotheimportanceofconnectiontolandandanongoingstruggleforrecognition:

However,thereareissuesunderlyingthealienationofAboriginalpeopleandtheircontinuingconflictwiththelawwhichcannotbesolvedbypoliceandAboriginalpeoplealone.ThekeyistobefoundintheheartsandmindsofallAustralians.ItliesintherecognitionoftheAboriginalpeopleasadistinctpeople,theindigenouspeopleofAustraliawhowerecruellydispossessedoftheirlandanduntilrecenttimesdeniedrespectashumanbeingsandtheopportunitytore-establishthemselvesonanequalbasis13.

Asnotedabove,someofthedispossessionandevictionfromcustomarylandswaswithinlivingmemoryformanypeople.TheAustralianLawReformCommissionenumeratedothercurrentissues,includingpoorhousing,lackofeducationalandemploymentopportunities,mentalhealth,poorgeneralhealth,higherratesofphysicaldisabilityanddrugdependencyissues14.Inthe25yearssincetheRoyalCommissionreportwaspublishedthenumberofFirstPeoplesindividualsinprison,farfrombeingreduced,hasdoubled,andsome340havediedincustody

11AustralianInstituteofCriminology(2015)IndigenousJustice,availableat:http://www.aic.gov.au/crime_types/in_focus/indigenousjustice.html(lastaccessedAugust12017)12RoyalCommissionreport,Volume2,p252.13Preface,seefootnote5above.14AustralianLawReformCommission(2017)IncarcerationRatesofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderPeoples(DP84),availableat:https://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/indigenous-incarceration-rates-dp84(lastaccessed12August2017),p22.


26

inthesubsequentperiod15.In1991theimprisonmentrateforFirstPeoplesindividualswas1,100,per100,000population;byJune2016itwas2,37316.TheCommonwealthAttorneyGeneraldescribedthissituationin2017asa‘nationaltragedy’17.By2016,FirstPeoplesprisonersaccountedfor28percentoftheprisonpopulationwhileFirstPeoplesconstitutedonly2percentofthegeneralpopulation.Asof2016,youngFirstPeoplesindividualswere26timesmorelikelytobeincustodythantheirnon-FirstPeoplescounterparts18.Reflectingonthesetrends,oneoftheformercommissioners,PatDodson,concludedthatlittleprogresshadbeenmadeinthefollowing25yearssincetheRoyalCommission.Hereflectedthatthecontemporarycriminaljusticeclimate“permitsthecriminaljusticesystemtocontinuetosuckusuplikeavacuumcleaneranddeposituslikewasteincustodialinstitutions”(Guardian,April152016).OnestatisticthatencapsulatesthetragedyforyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandersinNSWisprovidedbythestate’sBureauofCrimeStatisticsandResearch:some25%ofFirstPeoplesinNSWhavebeendetainedatleastoncebytheageof23comparedtoonly1%fortherestofthepopulation19.Thisfollowsincreasedinvolvementinthecourtsystemrelativetootheryoungpeople:forFirstPeopleswhofirstappearedbeforeaChildren’sCourtin1995,theyhadanaverageof8.3courtappearancesbytheendof2003,comparedto2.3fornon-Indigenousyoungpeople20.Asecondmeasureofdetentionlevelsisthe‘stock’ofpersonsincustody.TheaverageovernightcountofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleinyouthdetentioninNSWremainedsteadyatabout100fromin1994to2003,thenrosesteadilyto182in2008,beforefallinguntil2013toabout130whereithasstayed21.Thisrepresentsthenumberofbedsrequiredtoaccommodatethenumberofthoseincustodyatonetime.

15Aboriginaldeathsincustody;25yearson,theviciouscycleremains,Guardian,April15201616AustralianBureauofStatistics(2016)CorrectiveServices,4512.0,availableat:http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/4512.0.17AustralianLawReformCommission(2017)IncarcerationRatesofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderPeoples(DP84),p19.18AustralianInstituteofHealthandWelfare(2016)YouthdetentioninAustralia,AIHWBulletin138,No.AUS210.Canberra:AIHW.19Weatherburn,D.&Holmes,J.(2017).IndigenousimprisonmentinNSW:Acloserlookatthetrend(BureauBriefNo.126).Sydney:NSWBureauofCrimeStatisticsandResearch.20Chen,Setal2005,BOCSAR,Thetransitionfromjuveniletoadultoffendingcareers,CrimeandJusticeBulletinNo86,http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/cjb86.pdf[lastaccessedSeptember12017]21AnalternativewayofcalculatingthestockofyoungpersonsinjuveniledetentionisprovidedbyBOCSARfortheperiodsince2011.Thisusesacensuscountofthoseincustodyonasingleday,thefirstdayofthemonth.Thefigurescitedabove,fromtheAustralianInstituteofCriminologyandtheAustralianInstituteofHealthandWelfarearetheaverageforeverynightinthequarter,whichwereaveragedtoproduceanannualestimate.Theestimatesusedherearethereforelesssubjecttofluctuations.TheBOCSARcensuscountestimateareconsiderablyhigherfrom2011to2014,butareconsistentwiththeAIHWestimatesfrom2015withafigureabout130persons.


27

Sources:

KellyRichards&MathewLyneham,AIC,JuvenilesindetentioninAustralia,1991-2008,Table8AustralianInstituteofHealthandWelfare2014.YouthdetentionpopulationinAustralia2014,2015,2016,Juvenilejusticeseriesno.16.Cat.no.JUV53.Canberra:AIHW

MuchoftheincreaseinthelevelsofadultAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderdetentionlevelssince1991wasdrivenbyagrowthintheremandpopulationassociatedwithharsherbailconditions(andmorerecently,courtdelays).ThenumberofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleonremandinNSWgrewby238percentbetween2001and2015,accordingtotheNSWBureauofCrimeStatisticsandResearch22.AstheAustralianLawReformCommissionpointedoutina2017report“a‘largeproportion’ofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleheldonremanddonotgoontoserveacustodialsentence”23.MostofthedetentionthatAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleexperienceisnotimposedbyacourtafterafindingofguilt24.Howdothesepatternsimpactonyoungpeople?WhereasjustunderathirdofadultFirstPeoplesindetentioninNSWareonremand25,overhalfoftheyoungFirstPeoplesindetentioninNSWaretherebecausetheyhavebeenrefusedbail.(Figure2).Inotherwords,theproblemofremanddetentionisrelativelymoreacuteforyoungpeoplethanadults.HowhasthischangedsincethetimeoftheRoyalCommission?

22DonWeatherburnandStephanieRamsay(2016)What’sCausingtheGrowthinIndigenousImprisonmentin

NSW?BureauBriefIssuePaperNo118,NSWBureauofCrimeStatisticsandResearch,p8.23AustralianLawReformCommission,IncarcerationRatesofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderPeoples(DP84),201724SeeBrown,D.(2010)TheLimitedBenefitofPrisoninControllingCrime.CurrentIssuesinCriminalJustice,22(1):137-148.25NSWBureauofCrimeStatistics,Custodystatistics,Quarterlyestimateshttp://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Pages/bocsar_custody_stats/bocsar_custody_stats.aspx{lastaccessedSeptember12017]

96 103 99122

10387 91 95 89 97 108 118

138158

182 176 166139 145 131

119132 131

Figure1.NSW:Indigenouspersonsaged10-17injuveniledetention,averagedailypopulation


28

UsingAustralia-leveldata,theAustralianInstituteofCriminologyshowedthattheproportionofyoungAboriginalpeopleindetentionwhowereonremandwentupfrom20percentofthedetaineepopulationin1991toabout50percentby200826.EquivalentdataforNSWhavebeenproducedbytheAustralianInstituteofHealthandWelfare(AIHW)from2008andBOCSARfrom2011.TheAIHWestimatesshowtherateofAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderpeopleinyouthcustodywhowereonremandfluctuatingbetween53%and60%from2008to2016.TheBOCSARestimatesfluctuatewithinthesamerange,andbothestimatesconvergeonabout60%by2016.Thispatternissimilarfornon-AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeopleinNSW:forthemtheproportionofdetaineeswhowereonremandwentupfrom51%in2011to63%forthefirstsixmonthsof2017.

Sources:

AustralianInstituteofHealthandWelfare2014.YouthdetentionpopulationinAustralia2014,2015,2016,Juvenilejusticeseriesno.16.Cat.no.JUV53.Canberra:AIHW.BOCSAR,Custodystatistics,quarterlyfromDecember2012toSeptember2017FiguresareaverageoffourquarterstoJuneofeachyear,exceptfor2013whereonlythreequartersareavailable.

TheRoyalCommissionintoAboriginalDeathsinCustodysawalldetentionofAboriginalpeopleasarisk,soacourtthatislimitedtodealingwithonlyhalftherelevantpopulation–thoseservingasentence-mightbesaidtobeabletotackleonlyhalftheproblem.TheAustralianLaw

26KellyRichards(2011)TrendsinjuveniledetentioninAustralia,AustralianInstituteofCriminology,Trends&Issuesincrimeandcriminaljustice,No416,Figure7,p5.

56% 56% 53% 53% 60% 60%

55% 53% 58% 59%

52% 54% 55% 59% 58% 58%

62%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Figure2.NSW.FirstPeoplesaged10-17injuveniledetention:Percentunsentenced

AIHW BOCSAR


29

ReformCommissionarguesthathighlevelsofbailrefusalcouldbeduebothtothemarginalpositionofmanyFirstPeoplesinthehousingandlabourmarkets,andalsobecauseculturalobligationssometimesmakeithardtocomplywithconditionsofbail,leadingtohigherlevelsofbreaches27.HowevergiventhattheproportionofyouthdetaineesinNSWwhoareonremandarecomparablebetweenyoungFirstPeoplesandothers,economicandculturalreasonsareunlikelytobeamajorpartoftheexplanation.Thestatisticsreferredtoabovehoweverunderstatethemagnitudeoftheproblem:theyreferonlytothenumbersindetentionatanyonepointintime.Weknowthatrisksofdeatharehighestshortlyafterenteringcustody28andjustafterrelease29,andhigherforunsentencedthansentencedprisoners30soflowstatisticsareparticularlyrelevantforestimatingthenumberoftheseriskpoints.OftheNSWAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeopleleavingcustodybetween2013and2017,only20percentofthemhadbeensentencedbyacourt(Table1).Theremaining80percenthadbeenonremand31.SotheoverwhelmingmajorityofyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleinNSWwhoexperiencecustodydosobecausetheyarerefusedbail.

Table1:NSWyoungFirstPeoplesdischargedfromcustody,quarterlyaverage,2013-2017,bycustodystatus

Number Percent

YoungFirstPeoplesdischargedfromcustody(flow)

Remandonly 242 80%

Sentenceonly 18 6%

RemandtoSentence 42 14%

Total

302 100%

Source:BOCSARCustodystatistics.Basedon19quarters,June2013toSeptember2017ThetotalnumberofyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplewhoweredischargedfromcustodyhasfallenbetween2012and2017.Itfellfromaquarterlyaverageof434inthethreequarterstoJune2013to259intheyeartoJune2015,andremainedstablesincethen.Basedonthepatternreportedforthestockofpersonsincustodyforwhichalongertimeseriesisavailable(figure1),thisprobablymeansthatthenumberofyoungFirstPeoplesenteringorleavingcustodyhasfallentoaboutits2006levels,butisstillabovethelevelexperiencedbetween1998and2004.Thesedataaregeneratedfromcustodystatistics,collatedand

27AustralianLawReformCommission(2017)IncarcerationRatesofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderPeoples(DP84),p35.28MatthewWillis,AshleighBaker,TracyCussenandEileenPatterson(2016)Self-inflicteddeathsinAustralianprisons,Trends&issuesincrimeandcriminaljusticeno.513,AustralianInstituteofCriminology,Table1.29vanDooren,Kate,StuartA.Kinner,andSimonForsyth(2013)Riskofdeathforyoungex-prisonersintheyearfollowingreleasefromadultprison.AustralianandNewZealandjournalofpublichealth37(4):377-382.30Willisetal(2016)p3.31Theproportionineachgroupisrelativelystableacrossthisperiod,withbetween78%and82%ofpersonsdischargedfromcustodyon‘remandonly’,soonlytheoverallaverageispresentedhere.


30

presentedbyBOCSAR.Anotherflowmeasureisthenumberofyoungpeoplesentencedtoyouthdetention,statisticsgeneratedfromdecisionsoftheChildren’sCourt,collatedbyBOCSAR.ThisshowsthatthenumberofyoungFirstPeoplessentencedtocustodyfellby23percentfrom2012to2016,from433to342,asimilardeclineinflowtothatrecordedforpersonsleavingcustody32.Lookingmorecloselyatsentencingstatisticshelpstoexplainthisdecline–thenumberofyoungFirstPersonsconvictedofeachofthetwolargestoffencegroupings,offencesagainstpersonsandoffencesagainstpropertyalsodeclinedby23percentbetweenthesetwoperiods.Thiswaspartofalonger-termdeclineintheNSWcrimerate:thenumberofreportedhomicides,robberyandburglarywasfallingsharplyfrom2000to2016.

Source:BOCSAR,Custodystatistics,quarterlyfromDecember2012toSeptember2017FiguresareaverageoffourquarterstoJuneofeachyear,exceptfor2013whereonlythreequartersareavailable.

Anotherimportantdetentionmeasureisthenumberofdaysincustody(Figure4).AyoungAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderpersononremandstaysindetentionforanaverageof12daysiftheywalkoutthedoorofthecourtonthedayofsentencing.Ifheorsheisonbailattimeofsentence,theaveragenumberofdaysindetentionisjustunderfourmonths(112days).Forthosewhoareincustodyattimeofsentenceandaregivenasentenceofyouthdetention,theaveragedaysincustodyisjustundersixmonths(171days).TheseperiodsofdetentionremainedrelativelyconstantoverthefiveyearsuntilSeptember2017.

32BOCSAR,NSWCriminalCourtStatistics,2016,Table1:Indigenoussummarybyyeat,http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Pages/bocsar_court_stats/bocsar_court_stats.aspx[lastaccessedSeptember152017]

355

248

204 199 206

18 22 20 20 9

6140 36 38 38

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Figure3.NSW:PirstPeoplesaged10-17dischargedfromyouthdetention,bycustodystatus,2013-2017

Remandcustodyonly Sentencedcustodyonly Remandtosentencedcustody


31

Source:BOCSAR,Custodystatistics,quarterlyfromDecember2012toSeptember2017FiguresareaverageoffourquarterstoJuneofeachyear,exceptfor2013whereonlythreequartersareavailable.Puttingtogetherthevariousestimatesofyouthdetention,wecansaythat

• YoungFirstPeoplesarecurrently26timesmorelikelytobeincustodythantheirnon-Indigenouscounterparts

• Some25percentofNSWFirstPeopleshavebeenindetentionatleastoncebytheageof23(comparedtoabout1percentofotheryoungpeople)

• About60percentofNSWyoungFirstPeoplesindetention(‘stock’)aretherebecausetheyhavenotbeengrantedbail

• about80percentofyoungFirstPeopleswhoaredischargedfromdetention(‘flow’)aregivenanon-custodialsentence

Source:BOCSAR,Custodystatistics,quarterlyfromDecember2012toSeptember2017FiguresareaverageoffourquarterstoJuneofeachyear,exceptfor2013whereonlythreequartersareavailable.

INNOVATIVEJUSTICEPROCESSES

SPECIAL-PURPOSELEGALFORUMSKooriCourtshavedevelopedwithinthewidercontextofwhatcanbetermedspecial-purposelegalforums.Someofthesearecourts,presidedoverbyjudicialofficers,includingdrug,domesticviolence,mentalhealthandcommunitycourts.Somearetribunals,presidedoverforthemostpartbylaymembers:bodiesthatreviewgovernmentdecisions,provideprotectionforpeoplewithmentalillnessesordecision-makingdisabilities,andresolvedisputes.Athirdtypeoflegalforumarepanelsorconferencesinwhichdecisionsaremadecollectively.Theterm‘alternativedisputeresolution’forumcoversarangeofmediationproceduresdesignedtosettledisputesbetweenindividuals,groupsororganisations.Onetypeofconferenceistherestorativejusticeconference,inwhichoffendersandvictimsmaycometogethertoaddressthe‘harm’

9 11 11 13 12

117

81 87 90112

161 154 156 163 171

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Figure4.NSW:youngFirstPeoplesdischargedfromcustody,Averagenumberofdaysin

custody,2013-2017

Remandcustodyonly Sentencedcustodyonly Remandtosentencedcustody


32

producedbyanoffence,andgettheoffendertotakeresponsibility33.Circlesentencinggroupsareonevariantofthis,withAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersplayingaprominentrole,andvictimsbeingincludedinthecircle.Whatthesedifferentlegalforumshaveincommonisacommitmenttomakingthejusticeprocesssimplerandmoreaccessibletotheirrelevantpopulations.Theyshareacommitmenttotheuseofconversationallanguage,participationbylaypartiesandlowerlevelsofformalitycomparedtotraditionalcourtroomhearings.Special-purposelegalforumsinthecriminaljurisdictionshareanotherkeyfeatureaswell:theirprimaryofficialtaskistypicallysentencing.Drug,mentalhealth,anddomesticviolencecourts,aswellassomerestorativejusticeconferences(calledforumsentencingconferencesinNSW)canonlybeaccessedifthepersonpleadsguilty,orhasbeenfoundguiltybyanothercourt.Thereisnotrial,noopportunityforthepersonchargedtoprotesttheirinnocence—atleastnotiftheywanttoaccessthemoreuser-friendlyprocessesofthespecial-purposecourts.TheNeighbourhoodJusticeCentreintheMelbournesuburbofCollingwoodsimilarlyrestrictsitscriminaljurisdictiontothosewhopleadguilty—contestedmattersareadjournedtotheMelbourneMagistrates’Court.Familygroupconferences,whilesometimesusedassentencingforums,canalsooperatewithinaprotectiverole.Theymayaddressissuessuchasthechild’ssafety,parentalresponsibilities,dividingorre-unitingfamilies,oranyothermatterswherethechild’swelfaremightbeatrisk.ThesewereincorporatedintolegislationinAotearoaNewZealandin1989,andusedasthefoundationforchildren’sjusticemattersinAotearoaNewZealand34.TheyhaveusedonasmallerscaleinVictoriasince1992andsubsequentlyinNSWforprotectivematters35.Manyoftheyoungpeoplewhoselivesarethesubjectofafamilygroupconferencehavebothprotectiveissuesaswellasconflictwiththelaw.Akeyfeatureofthemodelisthe‘privatetime’giventothefamilyinthemiddleofthehearingtocomeupwithsolutionsthatareacceptabletothem.Thistendstogivetheyoungpersonmorestatusinthehearing:typicallytheyoungpersonisgivenawhiteboardmarker,askedtowritedowntheproposedoutcomes,andthencallsbacktherestofthegroupwhenhe/sheishappytodiscusstheplanwithothers.Inthemeantimetheothershaveacupofteainanadjoiningroom.InScotlandchildrenwhoareintroublewiththelawandthosewhoneedprotectionaredealtwithundertheChildren’sHearingSystem.Thecoreprincipleofthisapproachisthat‘whethertheyrequirecareorhaveoffended,childrenoryoungpeopleintroublehavesimilarneedsandthoseneedsshouldbemetthroughasinglesystem.’36Theterm‘childrenintrouble’coversboth

33Levine,M.(2000).ThefamilygroupconferenceintheNewZealandchildren,YoungPersons,andtheirFamiliesActof1989(cyp&f):reviewandevaluation.Behavioralsciences&thelaw,18(4),517-556.34Connolly,M.(2006)Fifteenyearsoffamilygroupconferencing:CoordinatorstalkabouttheirexperiencesinAotearoaNewZealand.BritishJournalofSocialWork,36(4),pp.523-540.35NathanHarris(2008)FamilygroupconferencinginAustralia,15yearson,AustralianInstituteofFamilyStudies,availableat:https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/family-group-conferencing-australia-15-years,[LastaccessedAugust12017].36SeeTheChildren’sHearingsScotland(2017)Background,availableat:http://www.chscotland.gov.uk/the-childrens-hearings-system/background/[lastaccessedAugust12017].


33

categories.37Thisincludeschildrenwhohavenotbeenchargedwithanoffencebutare:engaginginriskybehaviour,have‘acloseconnection’withsomeonewhohascarriedoutdomesticabuseoranoffenceagainstachild,aretruanting,arelikelytobeforcedintoamarriage,areabusingalcoholorotherdrugs,orfacearangeofotherrisks.AChildren’sReporteractsasagatekeepertoensurethattheriskissufficientlyserioustowarrantintervention.Thehearingitselfdoesnotformallydetermineguilt.Whereappropriate,criminalmattersarereferredtotheprocuratorfiscal(theScottishtermforprosecutor)toconsiderprosecution.Inothermatters,suchaswhentheyoungpersonis‘fallingintobadassociationsorisexposedtomoraldanger’,thereporterhastodecidewhethertheevidenceisstrongenoughforreferral,alowerstandardofculpability.Eventhenthereporterhastodecidewhethercompulsorymeasuresofsupervisionarerequiredbeforearrangingameetingofthepanel38.Oneofthefirstspecial-purposecourtsinAustraliawastheNSWDrugCourt,developedin1999,inParramatta.Thisprovidedforclosejudicialsupervisionforoffendersastheyunderwenttreatmentfortheirdrugproblemsovertheperiodofayearorlonger.InthesameyearthefirstFirstPeoples’sentencingcourt,theNungacourtinSouthAustraliabeganoperations.In2002NSWbeganoperatingasentencingcircleprocedureinNowrain2002.SincetheneverystateandterritoryhasdevelopedsomeformofFirstPeoplessentencingprocedure39.ThefirstyouthFirstPeoples’courtwasalsoinSouthAustralia–aYouthAboriginalcourt,asitwascalled,inPortAugustain2003.YouthMurricourtsinQueenslandwereestablishedinfivesitesbetween2004and2006,closeddownbyanincominggovernment,beforebeingre-instatedandby2017wasoperatingoutof14courthousesaroundthestate.MeanwhileaChildren’sKooriCourtbeganinVictoriain2006,withsittingsofthecourtcurrentlyinninesites.TheestablishmentofaYouthKooricourtinParramattain2015wasthuspartofawell-establishedtraditionofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandersentencingcourts.

FIRSTPEOPLESJUSTICEPROCEDURESCourtroomlayoutsforFirstPeoplesorientedjusticeproceduresinmostpartsofAustralialookfairlysimilar.Participantsgatheraroundanovalorroundtable,oneusedforothermattersasthebartable.SymbolsthatAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplemayidentifywith,suchasflagsandwallhangings,aredisplayed,togetherwithculturallyinvestedpaintings.EldersandrespectedpersonsjointheMagistrateatthetabletoofferadviceoraskquestions,butarenotinvolvedinsentencing.Eachhearingbeginswithawelcometocountry(oranAcknowledgementofCountry)inwhichrecognitionispaidtothetraditionalowners,ElderspastandpresentandanypersonsofAboriginalorTorresStraitIslandheritagewhoarepresent.InVictoria–perhapselsewhereaswell–thepersonappearingbeforethecourtsometimesprovidesadditionalintroductionabouthisorherowncountryandpeople.Aswithotherspecial-purposecourts,proceedingsareinformalandconversationalEnglishisused.

37Ibid.38TheprocessisoutlinedinTheScottishHearingSystemTrainingResourceManual,http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2003/01/16151/16391[lastaccessedAugust12017]39Marchetti,E.andK.Daly(2004)IndigenousCourtsandJusticePracticesinAustralia,TrendsandIssuesinCrimeandCriminalJustice277(May):1-6.


34

Participants,includingfamilymembersandsupportpeople,havetheopportunitytospeakandinteractwitheachother.

AVictorianKooriCourthearing,2004.WatercolourbyNoelleHerrenschmidt.Thisimageillustratestheuseofanovaltable,artworkandAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderflags

ApartfromadmittingguiltasthepriceofadmissiontoaFirstPeoples’sentencingcourt,thepersoncomingbeforethecourtmustidentifyasapersonwithAboriginalorTorresStraitIslandheritage(intheNorthernTerritorySouthSeaIslandersarealsoincluded)andbeacceptedassuchbythelocalcommunity.FirstPeoples’sentencingcourtsmayalsolimitthetypesofcasestheyconsider–likemostrestorativejusticeoralternativesentencingprograms,theygenerallyexcludeseriouscasesthatcouldbeheardbyajurysuchassexualoffencesandhomicide.Mostdonothaveatargetriskgroup,soayouthcourt’sclientsmaycompriseamixtureoflower-andhigher-riskyoungpeople.IntheYouthKooriCourtinParramatta,manyofthoseacceptedintotheprogramhadextensivecriminalrecordsandwerebyeverymeasure,highrisk.Manywereonremand;inQueenslandbycontrast,arequirementforaccessingtheYouthMurricourtwasthattheyoungpersonhadtobeonbail.Sothepopulationsservedbythecourtsindifferentjurisdictionsmightbesomewhatdifferent40.

40Inpracticetheremightnotbetoomuchdifference.InQueenslandamagistratecouldgrantbailtoanoffenderandthenimmediatelyhearthecaseusingMurricourtprinciples.InNSWtheyoungpersonmightcomeintocourtincustodybutthenaspartofthehearingbegrantedbail.Nevertheless,inNSWsometimesthepersonleavesthecourtstillincustody,butasaresultofapriorsentencenotonremand.


35

WhiletheYouthKooriCourthassimilaritiestoitscounterpartsinotherstates,italsodrawslessonsfromotherspecial-purposecourts.Inparticulartheongoingjudicialsupervisionitprovidescanbeseenassomewhatsimilartothatofadrugcourt.VictorianKooricourtstendtodealwithmattersinasinglesentencinghearing.Anordermayincludeasupervisionorder,butthenthematterishandedovertocommunitycorrectionsofficertosupervise41.IntheParramattaYouthKooriCourt,however,followsamodelclosertothatusedinKalgoorlieinWesternAustralia:therearemultiplehearingsforeachperson,anddiscussionaboutanappropriatesentenceisdeferreduntilthefinalhearing.TheMagistratetogetherwiththeotherhearingparticipantsmonitorprogressonanActionandSupportplandevelopedintheinitialhearing.ThelevelofjudicialoversightmakestheYouthKooriCourtinParramattasimilarinsomerespectstooneoftheothermodelsofFirstPeoples’court:theRangatahicourtinAotearoaNewZealandforyoungMāoripeoplewhocomebeforethecourts,orthePasifikacourtsforyoungpeoplefromotherPolynesianandMelanesianbackgrounds.PresidedoverbyYouthCourtjudges,Rangatahicourtsholdtheirhearingsonmarae(Māorimeetinghouses),whilePasifikahearingsareheldinchurchesorcommunitycentres.Thesentenceisdeferredtoallowunderlyingissuestobeaddressed.BeforeyoungpeoplecometotheRangatahiorPasifikacourts,anactionplanhasalreadybeendevelopedinafamilygroupconference.Theplanidentifiesthevarietyofneedsoftheyoungperson,andspecifiestheactionsrequiredtoachieveparticularoutcomes.Onetaskofthecourtistomonitorprogressontheplan.Justasimportantly,thecourtprovidesanopportunityfortheyoungpersontodeepentheirunderstandingoftheirculture’spracticesandintheRangatahicourtsspecificallytodevelopMāorilanguageskills.YouthMurricourtsinQueenslandandCommunityConferencesinOntarioalsoprovideextendedsupervisionandsupport,butindifferentways.InQueenslandanElderandsomeonefromaCommunityJusticeGroup(CJC,avoluntarycommunityorganizationfundedbythestategovernment)writesareportabouttheperson’sbackgroundthatisforwardedtothecourttodetermineeligibility.TheEldersandtheCJCalsoassumeresponsibilityforreferringthepersontoappropriateservices.Theperson’sprogressissubsequentlyreviewedbytheCJCandthisreportprovidedtothecourt.AswithRangatahicourts,theactionplanisdevelopedoutsidethecourt.InAotearoaNewZealand,thegroupthatdevelopstheactionplan,inthatcaseafamilygroupconference,handsoverresponsibilitytotheRangatahicourttomonitor(althoughforothertypesofmattertheconferencemayre-convene).InQueensland,thesamegroupcontinuestomonitortheplanandadvisethecourt.InOntario,theAboriginalYouthCourtmaydivertyoungpeopletocommunityconferences,whichestablisha‘resolutionplan’orindividualisedprogramsfortheyoungpersontofollow,

41OntheotherhandVictorianmagistratesmayincludejudicialsupervisionasoneoftheconditionsofanorder,particularlyattheNeighbourhoodJusticeCentre.SeeAustralianCentreforJusticeInnovation(2013)InnovativeApproachestoJustice:theNJCexperience,p12,athttp://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/946831/Module-3Background-Materials.pdf


36

effectivelyanactionplan42.LikeRangatahicourts,theAboriginalYouthCourtmonitorsprogressoftheyoungpersononthisplan.UnlikemostotherIndigenouscourts,itmayalsohavebailhearings,followingthepracticesdevelopedintheadultAboriginalcourtinToronto.Thatcourtholdsbailhearingsforpersonswhohavepleadedguilty,andfollowstheprovisionthatitshould:“Interpretbailprovisionsliberallysothatpre-trialdetentionisnotimposedunnecessarilyanddoesnotleadmoredirectlytocustodialsanctions”43.TheYouthAboriginalCourtcanholdbailhearingsitself,butbecauseitmeetsonlytwiceamonth,mostofthebailhearingsareactuallycarriedoutbybailjusticesassociatedwiththecourt.Thecourtthentakesontheresponsibilityofmonitoringandvaryingbailconditions.IntheinitialdesignoftheprocessfortheYouthKooriCourt,theMagistratewasexpectedtostepbacksomewhatfromtheprocessandallowthevariousagenciestocarryouttheirassignedtasks.Thecourtwouldgetinvolvedagainforaninitialreviewamonthorsolater,butthenreducethefrequencyofreviewsaccordingtoneed,likealessintensiveversionofthedrugcourtmodel.Howeverasthisstudydocuments,therewereongoingdifficultiesingettingnecessaryservices,ensuringthatplanswerefollowedupandgettingtheyoungpeopletoappointments.Thefrequencyofreviewswasthereforeadjustedtothisreality;thereviewsbecameregularandmonthly.TheRangatahicourtsimilarlyholdsregularreviewsforitsparticipants,initscaseevenmorefrequentlyatonceafortnight.Theincreasedoversight–comparedtowhatwasoriginallyplanned-movedtheYouthKooriCourttowardsthetightercourtsupervisionofitsAotearoaNewZealandcounterpart.Eventhisislessintensiveoversightthanthatprovidedindrugcourts–inNSWthestandardhearingfrequencyinthefirstphaseofparticipationontheprogramisweekly,whileaBOCSARstudyshowsthattwice-weeklyreviewsareevenmoreeffective44.TheideaforsentencingcirclesintheircontemporaryformoriginatedinCanada.ThefirstdocumentedsuchgatheringwasheldintheYukon,shortlyaftertheAustralianRoyalCommissionhandedinitsreport45.Chairedbyajudge,thecircleincludedElderssittingaroundinacirclereflectingtraditionaldecision-makingpractices.TheAboriginaloffenderreceivedaninnovativesanction:theywererequiredtoliveonthetraplinewithrelativeslearningtraditionalhuntingskills.Thesocialandhistoricalcontextoftheoffendingwasaddressedbythejudge,mirroringtheinsightsoftheAustralianRoyalCommission.Asthesentencingjudge,BarryStuartexplained,inaneloquentjustificationforahistorically-informedsentencingprocedure:

First,thecriminaljusticesystemhadmiserablyfailedthecommunityofMayo.BornandraisedinMayo,hisfamilyinMayo,PhilipinstinctivelyreturnedtoMayoaftereachofthe

42Clark,S(2016)EvaluationoftheAboriginalYouthCourt,Toronto,availableatwww.aboriginallegal.ca/assets/ayc-evaluation-final.pdf[lastaccessedAugust42017]43ScottClark,2016.EvaluationoftheGladueCourt,OldCityHall,Toronto,AboriginalLegalServiceshttp://www.aboriginallegal.ca/assets/gladue-court-evaluation---final.pdfp.16[lastaccessedAugust12017]44Jones,Craig(2011)Intensivejudicialsupervisionanddrugcourtoutcomes:Interimfindingsfromarandomisedcontrolledtrial.BOCSARNSWCrimeandJusticeBulletins152(November),pp16.45RvMoses,1992,CNLR,116,YukonTerritorialCourt


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previoussevenjailsentences.Hewouldagainreturnafteranyfurtherjailsentences;eachtimereturning,lesscapableofcontrollingeitherhisangeroralcoholabuse;moredangeroustothecommunityandtohimself.Thecriminaljusticesystemhadnotprotected,buthadendangeredthecommunity.

Secondly,thecriminaljusticesystemhadfailedMr.Moses.Aftertenyears,afterexpendinginexcessofaquarterofamilliondollarsonMr.Moses,thejusticesystemcontinuestospewbackintothecommunityapersonwhoseprospects,hopesandabilitiesweredramaticallyworsethanwhenthesystemfirstencounteredPhilipasawild,undisciplinedyouthwithsignificantemotionalandgenerallifeskillhandicaps.Hischildhoodhaddestinedhimforcrime,andthecriminaljusticesystemhadcompetentlynurturedandassuredthatdestiny.46

Thejudgeemphasizedtheresponsibilityofthecriminaljusticesystemforthepathfollowedbythedefendant.Ratherthanfocusingontheactionsoftheaccused,thejudgeturnedhisattentiontothefailingsofthesystemthatmadetheoffendingmorelikely.Healsopointedoutthewayincarcerationmadethecommunityless,ratherthanmore,safe.Thehearingwastheforuminwhichthecommunityassumedisshareoftheresponsibilityforthedamageithaddone.TheapproachtoplacingcrimewithinabroadersocialcontextissomethingthatalsoshapesFirstPeoples’courtsinAustraliaandAotearoaNewZealand.ItisoneoftheunderlyingprinciplesbehindthedevelopmentofActionandSupportplansusedintheyouthKooriCourt–programsthattargetareaswherethecommunityhasfailedtoprovidethenecessarysupportfortheyoungperson.

RATIONALEFORFIRSTPEOPLES’SENTENCINGCOURTS

ThereareseveralcommongoalsforFirstPeoples’sentencingcourtsinAustralia,NewZealandandCanada.Twoofthesecanbeseenasaimedatreformingthejudicialprocess:

1. ToprovidemoreculturallyandpersonallyrespectfultreatmentincourtforoffendersfromFirstPeoplesbackgrounds.Thisseekstoenablethepersonbeforethecourttobetterunderstandthesentencingprocessandprovidesacounterpointtonegativeexperienceswiththelaw.

2. ToincreasetheperceivedlegitimacyoftheWesternlegalsystemandsimultaneouslyacknowledgeFirstPeoples’traditionalauthorityfiguresbyenrollingEldersandrespectedpersonstoassistinmanagingandsupportingtheprocessandtheoffender.

Otheraimsaretargetedatproducingmeasureableoutcomes,relevanttojusticeprocesses:

1. ToreducehighlevelsofimprisonmentofFirstPeoplesindividuals,andreducethenumberofdeathsincustody

46Caseavailableonlineathttp://www.usask.ca/nativelaw/factums/view.php?id=124


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2. Toimprovecourtprocessingofoffendersbyreducingthenumberofno-showsincourtandincreasethenumberofoffenderswhosuccessfullydischargetheirsentence

3. Tolinkoffenderswithnecessaryservices,aswellaseducationprogramsandtraining/employmentopportunities

Participatinginamoreuser-friendlycourtexperiencemightbeexpectedtomaketheyoungpersonlesssuspiciousofcourts,buthowthiswouldtranslatetoattitudestopoliceorotherpartsofthejusticesystemwouldneedtobeestablished.AnevaluationoftheVictorianChildren’sKooriCourt,showedthatyoungpeoplewhowentthroughthatcourtengagedwithcommunitycorrectionsmoreconsistentlythanthosewhowentthroughtheregularcourtsystem47.Reducinghighlevelsofincarcerationis,asreviewedextensivelyabove,amajorpriority.Reducingno-showsissomethingthatcourtprocedurescanrealisticallyaddress.TheyoungoffendersintheYouthKooriCourtweremorelikelythanthosewhowentthroughtheregularChildren’sCourttoturnupincourtandcompletetheirsentencessuccessfully48.Someprogramsadditionallysetasagoalthereductionofre-offending.AnevaluationoftheAboriginalsentencingcourtinKalgoorliefoundthatthesix-monthsrecidivismrateforyoungAboriginalpeoplewhowentthroughthissystemwas10percentagepointshigherthanthosewhowentthroughthemainstreamsystem–51%comparedto41%49.WhilemostofthisdifferencewasprobablyduetothefactthattheAboriginalcourtparticipantshadmoreextensivecriminalrecords,theconclusionfromthiscomparisoncouldbethatparticipationinthealternativeprocesswasunlikelytohavereducedrecidivism.MeanwhileevaluationsoftheNSWcirclesentencingprogramandtheyouthjusticesentencingprogramcarriedoutbytheNSWBureauofCrimeStatisticsandResearchdidnotdetectanymeasureableshort-termimpactinre-offending50.ThesestudiessuggestthatFirstPeoples’sentencingcourts,bythemselves,wouldbeunlikelytoshowanyimpactsintermsofrecidivism.‘Bythemselves’isperhapsthekeyphrasehere.Desistancefromcrimeismostlikelywhenthepersonhasajob,hasfoundsafehousingandisinastablefamilysituation51.Abenefit-costanalysisbyWashingtonStateInstituteforPublicPolicyshowsthatoneofthemosteffectiveprogramsforreducingrecidivismamongstyoungoffendersisEducationandEmployment

47Borowski,A.,2010.IndigenousParticipationinSentencingYoungOffenders:FindingsfromanEvaluationoftheChildren'sKooriCourtofVictoria.Australian&NewZealandJournalofCriminology,43(3),pp.465-484.48Ibid.49ShelbyConsulting(2009)EvaluationoftheAboriginalSentencingCourtofKalgoorlie,P53,at:http://www.courts.dotag.wa.gov.au/_files/Kalgoolie_Sentencing_Court_Report.pdf,[lastaccessedAugust12017].Theauthorsofthereportdidnotcontrolforthequitedifferentcharacteristicsofthosewhoappearedbeforethetwotypesofcourtmakingthiscomparisonmisleading.ThemethodusedbyBOCSAR(usedinthestudyreferredtobelow),knownaspropensityscorematching,largelyeliminatesthisproblem.50Fitzgerald,J.(2008)DoescirclesentencingreduceAboriginaloffending?.BOCSARNSWCrimeandJusticeBulletins,p.11;NadineSmithandDonWeatherburn,(2012)YouthJusticeConferencesversusChildren’sCourt:Acomparisonofre-offending,BOCSARNSWCrimeandJusticeBulletinno.6051Laub,JohnH.,andRobertJ.Sampson(2001)Understandingdesistancefromcrime.Crimeandjustice28:1-69


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Training,whichforonetypeofsuchprogramprovidesareturnof$42forevery$1invested52.Atasociety-widelevel,ifyoungmenwhowerelong-termunemployedfinishedhighschoolandgotajob,therateofhomeburglariesinNSWwoulddropbyanestimated16percent53.AUSstudyestimatedthataonepercentagepointincreaseinthepovertyratewouldleadtoanincreaseintheviolentcrimerateof24per100,000inhabitantsandanincreaseinthepropertycrimerateof121per100,000–botheffectsstrongerthaneitherchangesinunemploymentoreducation54.SototheextentthattheYouthKooriCourtprocessfacilitateseducationalandworkopportunitiesandreducespovertyitmightbeexpectedthatameasureablereductioninrecidivismcouldbeexpected,atleastinthelonger-term.Totheextentthatthecourt,orthewidersocietycannotunlocktheseopportunities,itwouldbeexpectedthatanyimpactonre-offendinglevelswouldbeminimal.

NSWYOUTHKOORICOURTPILOT

ParramattawaschosenasthesiteforthepilotYouthKooriCourtpilotinpartbothbecauseofthehighconcentrationofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderindividualsintheregion,andalsobecauseoneoftheChildren’sCourthousethatserveswesternSydneyislocatedthere.Parramattahasanintegratedjusticeprecinct,thehubforanumberofjusticeinitiatives,potentiallyprovidingarangeofon-siteservicesforjusticeparticipants.ParramattahadbeenasiteofresistancebythewarriorPemulwuytoearlycolonistsandisasourceofpridetoEorapeople,whosedescendantsstilllivethere.ParramattaalsohadanimportantconnectionwithAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderchildrenandAustralia'shistoryofdispossession:in1814itwasthesitewhereGovernorLachlanMacquarielauncheda‘NativeInstitution’toeducatechildrenfromthetribesoftheCumberlandPlain.AtthemeetingconvenedbyMacquariewiththeCumberlandPlainstribes,itwasreportedintheSydneyGazettein1814thatsomelocalpeoplewerereluctanttocome,‘suspiciouslyimaginingthattheyweretobeforciblydeprivedoftheirchildren’but,thearticlecontinues,intheend‘threechildrenwereyieldeduptothebenevolentpurposesoftheinstitution’55.TheatmosphereattheopeningoftheYouthKooriCourtalmostexactly200yearslaterwasaverydifferentaffair,andtheimpactofgenerationsofstolenchildrenwastofeatureinmanyofthecourt’shearings.ThecourtopenedinFebruary2015withasmokingceremonyandaninaugurationattheParramattaChildren’sCourt.Aftertheinauguralformalities,theYouthKoori 52WashingtonStateInstituteforPublicPolicy,June2016.Inventoryofevidence-based,research-basedandpromisingpractices,availableat:http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1640/Wsipp_Updated-Inventory-of-Evidence-Based-Researched-Based-and-Promising-Practices-For-Prevention-and-Intervention-Services-for-Children-and-Juveniles-in-the-Child-Welfare-Juvenile-Justice-and-Mental-Health-Systems_Inventory.pdf[lastaccessedAugust12017].53Chapman,Betal(2003)Unemploymentduration,schoolingandpropertycrime,CrimeandJusticeBulletin74,BOCSAR.54Ajimotokin,Sandra,AlexandraHaskins,andZachWade(2015)TheEffectsofUnemploymentonCrimeRatesintheUS,pp12,availableathttps://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/handle/1853/53294/theeffectsofunemploymentoncimerates.pdf[lastaccessedAugust12017]55SydneyGazette,28December1814,at:

http://www.mq.edu.au/macquarie-archive/lema/1814/sydgaz31dec1814.html[lastviewedAugust12017].


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CourthaditsfirstsittingforasuitabilityassessmentpresidedoverbytwoEldersandaMagistrate.LikeallotherFirstPeoples’sentencingcourtsinAustralia(exceptVictoria)theYouthKooriCourtoperateswithinexistinglegislationbutitsprocedureisestablishedbywayofaPracticeNote,adirectionissuedbythePresidentoftheChildren’sCourtunders23AoftheChildren’sCourtAct1987.ItsrulesandconstraintsarethesameasthoseforotherChildren’scourts.WhilemostofthefeaturesoftheYouthFirstPeoples’sentencingcourtmodelaresimilartothoseusedelsewhereinAustralia,thereareseveralfeaturesthathaveparticularsignificanceinthelocalcontext.Firstly,theroleofElders.Coveringsuchawidearea,theEldersandtheyoungpeoplerepresentawiderangeofclans,countries,languages,loresandhistories.TheElders(andotherrespectedpersons)tookanimportantrolefromtheoutsetnotjustinparticipatinginhearings,butprovidingongoingadviceandsupport.Asoneofthecourt’sElders,aBundjalungman,DavidWilliams,toldtheABC:

"Ialwaysadvisetheyoungpeoplethatitdoesn'ttakebrainstodothewrongthing,anydipstickcandothat.Butifyouwanttostayontherightsideofthefence,I'mheretogiveyouahand,"hesaid.56

SomeoftheEldersareassociatedwithWesternSydneyUniversity,andhaveanactivecommitmenttoeducationasakeytosuccess,althoughtheyseeTAFEasoneofthemoreimmediatepossibilitiesformanyoftheyoungpeoplewhocomebeforethecourt.AsAuntyThelmaQuartey,aTorresStraitIslanderwoman,explained:

thegreatthingisthatnowadaysifyoulookatit2016and2015wehavemorekidsgraduatingfromhighschool…fromTAFE….fromuniversityascomparedtothelastfivetenyearsago.Sothereisdefinitelyanimprovement.Wehavealotofpeopleinhigherpositions,mostlyinCanberrareally….butit’sgoingtotakeawhile.AndIthinkwestillneedtoberepresentedinthefield...inthejusticesystem.Andwedohavethatinthejusticesystem,wedohavemorepoliceofficers,asopposedtofive-tenyearsago.ThereisalotonQueensland.Butwestillneedpeopleinthejudicialsystem.Insayingthattherearemorelawyerscomingout.ButIstillthinkthereisawaytogo,alongwaytogo,butifIlookbacktenyearswehaveimprovedinthatfield.

Second,thelinktoservices.AcriticalissueformostFirstPeoples’sentencingcourtsisprovidingaccessfortheoffendertorelevantservices,includingdrugandalcoholtreatment,healthcaremoregenerally,housing,employmentandeducation.Onemodelforachievingthisisbyco-locatingservices,asisprovidedintheNeighbourhoodJusticeCentre(NJC)inMelbourne.Offendersarereferredtoserviceswithinthebuilding,andrepresentativesfromtheservicesmayattendcasemanagementconferencesatshortnotice.Asecondmodelisaformof‘voucher

56ABC,TheWorldToday,February92015


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system’inwhichindividualsareallocatedmoneytopurchaseservicesbasedonneed.ThisistheprincipleoftheNationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme.Mostspecial-purposelegalforumsrelyonpersuadingexternalagenciestoprovideservices.TheYouthKooriCourtmodelusesthehearingastheoccasionwhencommitmentsareelicitedfromtherelevantserviceagencies,andperformanceoftheagenciesismonitored.IntheNJCmodelevenexternalagencies(likecommunityhealthcentres)arepaidfortheirservices.Intheregularworkofcourtsandtribunals,persuasionisthekey.ThecourtwasinasenseagatewaytoservicesasMagistrateDuncombeandanAboriginalElder,UncleRexSorby,explainedininterviewsgiventheABCseveralmonthsbeforetheopeningofthecourt.

AboriginalElderUncleRexSorby,whowillsitwithoffendersinthetrial,saidyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleoftenfellintocrimebecauseofalackofsocialsupport."Theygetinvolvedinallsortsofcrime,theydon'tknowtheirparents,theycometothecity,theydon'tknowanybodyandtheygetstuck,"hesaid.

"Ithink[theKooriYouthCourt]isoneoftheessentialservicesthatshouldbeintroducedforAboriginalpeople,particularlyforAboriginalchildren.57

Athirdfeatureofthemodelthatdeservescommentistheflexibilityofprocess,modelledinpartonDrugCourts,althoughquitesimilarinthisrespecttotheKalgoorliecourt.Offendersmovethroughthecourtprocessonanumberoftracksdependingonwhethertheyturnupfortheirhearing,whethertheycomplywiththeirordersandthecomplexityoftheirneeds.Thismulti-stageprocesswascapturedinaniconicrepresentationofasacredhealingspacedevelopedbythecourt(seeFigure1below).Howeverasdescribedbelow,thecourtmovedtowardsregularjudicialreviewratherthanhavinghearingschairedbyregistrarsordelegatingsupervisionouttootheragencies.

57ABCNews,November15,2014


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CHAPTER3.EVALUATION

AIMS

ThisresearchisaqualitativeandquantitativeassessmentoftheYouthKooriCourtpilotprogram.Thestatedobjectivesoftheprogramareto:a)IncreaseAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunity(includingyoungpeople’s58)confidenceinthecriminaljusticesystem,b)Reducetheriskfactorsrelatedtoyoungpeople’sre-offending,c)Promoteadherencetocourtrequirementsamongstyoungpeople,i.e.,reducetherateofnon-appearancesandbreachesofbailandincreasecompliancewithcourtorder.Inadditiontotheprogram’sstatedobjectives,thisresearchalsoconsideredhowtheYouthKooriCourtprogramachievesobjectivesofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderempowerment,by:d)Improvingthecapacityofyoungpeopletotakeupsocialandeconomicopportunitiesadvantageoustothemand,e)Takingalongview,theprogram’sbroaderimpactoncultural,socio-economicandemploymentoutcomesforAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderindividuals.Specificallytheresearchaimswere:

1. TocapturehowtheYouthKooriCourtprogramworksbymappingitsunder-girdingprocesses,networks,responsibilitiesandrelationships.

2. Toidentifythequalities,features,circumstancesandpracticesthatcontributetothe

YouthKooriCourtprogramachievingitsobjectives(listedabove)andthelongertermobjectiveofinvestinginAboriginalcapacity.

3. Toidentifythesentencing,communityempowerment,behavioural,complianceandattitudinaloutcomesthatcanbeanticipatedforeachstage,andfortheprocessasawhole.

58FollowingtheChildrenCourt’sworkingterminologyforpeopleaged18andunderwhoappearincourt,weuse‘youngpeople/person’withreferencetothoseinvolvedintheYouthKooriCourt.


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4. ToproviderecommendationstoimprovetheprocessandexpectedoutcomesofParramattaYouthKooriCourt.

RESEARCHQUESTIONS

1. Whatfeatures,conditionsandpracticesoftheYouthKooriCourtprogrammightcontributetoitaddressingitsobjectives?

2. Whatdothestagesoftheprogram,andtheprogramasawhole,realisticallyachieveintermsofchanginganoffender’sattitudes,behaviourandthecircumstancesinformingtheiroffendingbehaviour?

3. Andwhatcaneachstageoftheprogram,andtheprogramasawhole,realisticallyachievetowardsimprovingcommunitycapacitytoengageincourtprocesses?

4. HowcouldtheParramattaYouthKooriCourtprocessbeimproved?Thisstudyshouldbeseenasaprocessevaluation.Itprovidesfeedbacktotheparticipants,theChildren’sCourtandtheNSWDepartmentofJusticeasthemodelevolvesandisfine-tunedbasedonexperience.Attentionisthereforepaidtofeaturesofthemodel,suchastheActionandSupportplans,orserviceprovisionapproaches,ratherthanglobalmeasureofsuccess.Aswillbeclearfromthesubsequentdiscussion,someobjectivescouldbemeasuredmoreeasilythanothers.AreductioninriskfactorscouldbemeasuredbecausethiswassomethingthatwasrecordedinActionandSupportplansandsubsequenthearings.Improvingthecapacityoftheyoungpeopletotakeupsocialandeconomicopportunitiescouldbesimilarlymeasured,buttherealissuewasoftenwhethertheopportunitieswereprovidedratherthanwhethertheyweretakenup.Thecomplexityofcriminalrecordsformanyoftheyoungpeoplemeantthatcompliancewithbailandothercourtorderswouldrequireaccessingunitrecordfiles,whichwedidnothaveaccessto.HowevermostyoungpeopledidturnupfortheirhearingsattheYouthKooriCourt,onthecorrectday,evenifnotalwaysatthetimetheywerelistedfor.AsforidentifyingincreasedconfidenceinthejusticesystembytheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunity,thiswouldbehardtomeasureintheshortterm.ButtheEldersastheofficialrepresentativesoftheircommunityactivelytookpartinsupportingtheprogram.ThisincreasedfamiliarityresultedinaringingendorsementoftheYouthKooriCourtprogram.However,itdidnotmakethemanymoresupportiveofotherpartsofthecriminaljusticesystemthatdetainedtheirpeopleatinternationallyhighlevels.LegitimacywasnotsomethingthatAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleshouldbeexpectedtogivethecriminaljusticesystem;itwassomethingthesystemfirsthadtoearn.Thiswasnotacommissionedevaluationinthesensethattherewasaclientandcontractor.Therewasnocontract,andindeednofunding.ThestudywasdoneattheWesternSydneyUniversity(attherecommendationoftheBureauofCrimeStatisticsandResearch)andcarriedoutundertheauspicesoftheWesternSydneyUniversityOfficeofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagementAdvisoryBoard,(OATSIEE,includingtheElderson


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CampusAdvisoryGroup).IthasethicalclearanceandongoingoversightfromtheWesternSydneyUniversityHRECandtheNSWAH&MRCEthicsCommittee.ThestudyinvolvedapartnershipwiththeChildren’sCourt,whoinitiatedtheprojectandprovidedongoingadviceandinformation.TheanalysisandrecommendationshoweveraretheresponsibilityoftheauthorsandtheOATSIEEwhichoversawthewritingofthereport.Therearediverseaudiencesforthereport.Itprovidesinformationandanalysisrelevanttopolicy-makers,membersofthecourt,andmembersoftheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplesofNewSouthWales.ItisalsodirectedatawideraudienceofscholarsandactivistsworkingonissuesofjusticeprocessesforFirstPeoples.


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CHAPTER4.RESEARCHDESIGN

SUMMARY

Theresearchdesignbroughttogetherseveralmethodsincludingobservations,culturalinterpretationsofthoseobservations,interviews,analysisofActionandSupportplanitems,andtheiroutcomes,andanalysisofdetentionstatistics.TheseapproacheswillbedescribedinmoredetailintheMethodologychapterintheirvariousparts,namely:

1. ObservationsofYouthKooriCourtmeetings2. CulturalinterpretationofYouthKooriCourtmeetings3. ObservationsofWorkingPartymeetings4. InterviewswithYouthKooriCourtstakeholdersandparticipants5. InterviewswithAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersinvolvedinYouthKoori

Court6. InterviewswithyoungpeoplewhohaveparticipatedinorareparticipatinginYouth

KooriCourt7. ReviewofActionandSupportplans8. AnalysisofsentencingtranscriptsforoutcomesofActionandSupportplansattimeof

sentencing9. Criminaljusticeoutcomes

Thisstudy’sdesignoriginatedinandisinformedbyadecolonisingresearchframework.Wediscussthisindetailbelow.

DECOLONISINGRESEARCH

Researchers,justaspolicymakers,journalistsorothermembersofthepublic,bringtheirownassumptionsandframeworkswhentheytrytounderstandtheexperienceofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoples59.AdecolonisingframeworkgivesprioritytoAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderperspectivesandprotocols.Thisincludes:

- Broadeningdefinitionsof‘knowledge’tospecifyhowitiscreated,andidentifyingwhoisauthorisedtokeepandtransmitthatknowledge60.

- BeingawareoftheroleresearchplaysinFirstPeoples’spaces61;sometimesintrusiveandservingheinterestsofregulationratherthanemancipation

- WaitingtobeinvitedbeforecarryingoutresearchonFirstPeoples’experiences62

59JuanitaSherwood(2013)Colonisation–It’sbadforyourhealth:ThecontextofAboriginalhealth.ContemporaryNurse46(1):28–40,andLindaTuhiwaiSmith(1999)Decolonisingmethodologies:ResearchandIndigenousPeoples.London:ZedBooks.60LindaTuhwaiSmith(2012)Decolonisingmethodologies:ResearchandIndigenousPeoples(2ndEdition).London:ZedBooks,pp61-71.61Ibid,pp5.62KarenL.Martin(2008)Pleaseknockbeforeyouenter:AboriginalregulationofOutsidersandtheimplicationsforresearchandresearchers.Teneriffe,Brisbane:PostPressed,pp131.


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SuchreformisparticularlypertinentinAustraliancontexts,wherenon-Aboriginal-ledresearchinAboriginalspacehaslonghadatroublingrelationshipwithcolonialism,academicexploitationofcommunities,stateviolence,andthemarginalisationofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderPeoples’perspectives.Thecentralthemes(notanexhaustivelist)emergingfromtheexperiencesofFirstPeoplesandtheircommunitiesinclude:

• feelingalienatedfromdecisionmakingopportunitiesthataffectedtheirsocialandemotionalwell-being

• beingconsultedoftenbutwiththeperceptionthatthemotivationwastoenabledecisionmakersto‘tickabox’

• notbeingincontrolofoperationalisinginitiativesthatdirectlyaffectthem,theirlifechancesandlifequality

• interventionsandactionsfocusingonproblemsandignoringstrengths;and• feelingthatrealandintellectualpropertyunderAboriginalandTorresStraitIslander

controlisoftenatriskofexploitation.Toredresssuchissues,thisstudywascoordinatedbyateamofAboriginalandnon-Aboriginalresearcherswhohaveacollectiveinterestinupdatingresearchpraxissoastoconductarigorous,respectful,andculturallyinformedstudyofAboriginalspace(bearinginmindthattheYouthKooriCourtitselfstraddlesAboriginalandWesternjudicial-bureaucraticspaces).AstheresearchershavevaryingamountsofexperienceconductingresearchinAboriginalspaces,workinginadecolonisingframeworkhasalsoentailedreflection,discussion,andcross-culturalmentorshipoverthecourseofthestudy.Inaddition,theformalethicalandmethodologicalprotocolsforthisstudyhavebeendevelopedinthecontextofco-creativepartnershipswiththeWesternSydneyUniversityOfficeofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagement.Here,wesummarisethewaysthisframeworkhasbeenrealisedinthemethodsandprotocolsofthisstudyaswellasinthepreparationofthisreport.Inreferringtoprotocolsweassertappropriateculturalprotocolsasrespectingthecustoms,lore/law,andcodesofbehaviourofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderPeoplesandcommunities.Thisguidedtheethicalapproachoftheresearch,whichfocusedonenablingandrecognisingtheinputandexpertiseofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderindividuals.

CO-CREATIONTheprojectframeworkwasbasedinaconcernfortheco-creationofknowledge.Asoutlinedabove,literatureonappropriateresearchpraxisreferstotheimportanceofcollaborativeprocessesofresearchdesign,datacollection,representation,anddissemination63.Forthisproject,thisconcernisformalisedintoaframeworkofco-creation,whichrecognisesand

63SeealsoKoster,R.,Baccar,K.andLemelin,R.H.(2012)MovingfromresearchON,toresearchWITHandFORIndigenouscommunities:Acriticalreflectiononcommunity-basedparticipatoryresearch.TheCanadianGeographer/LeG´eographecanadien,56(2):195–210;andMortonNinomiya,M.E.andPollock,N.J.(2017)Reconcilingcommunity-basedIndigenousresearchandacademicpractices:Knowingprinciplesisnotalwaysenough.SocialScience&Medicine,172,28–36


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acknowledgesAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderleadersandparticipantsasco-creatorsoftheresearchanditsoutputs.Asoutlinedbelow,theresearchdesignensuredthatAboriginalvoiceswerepresentatallstagesoftheresearchthroughinclusionoftheEldersonCampusandreportingtotheEldersonCampusAdvisoryGroupmeetingsthroughouttheproject’sduration.IntellectualpropertyrulesdonotprovideasuitableframeworkforrecognisingandprotectingAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderPeoples’knowledges64.Theprojectframeworkofco-creationformalisesthecontributionofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersandrespectedpersonstotheacademicspace.Inlinewiththe14principlesespousedintheGuidelinesforEthicalResearchinAustralianIndigenousStudies(GERAIS)(AIATSIS2012),thisassertsapracticalandmoralprecedentregardingtherecognitionandsharingofknowledge.Henceinordertoproperlyattributesuchknowledge,wenamethesecontributorswiththeirconsent.Thosesameindividualsmightbede-identifiedwhencitedinrelationtospecificYouthKooriCourtcases.However,allsuchindividualswhohavegiventheirconsentarelistedasco-creatorsofthisreport.

INVOLVEMENTOFTHEWESTERNSYDNEYUNIVERSITYELDERSADVISORYBOARDThisevaluationwasundertakenbytheUniversityattherequestoftheParramattaChildren’sCourt,followingendorsementbytheWesternSydneyUniversityEldersonCampus,andthroughtheirongoingparticipation.TheYouthKooriCourtinvolvesElderswhoresideintheGreaterWesternSydneymetropolitanarea,includingsomeoftheEldersonCampus.TheresearchinvolvedinterviewswithEldersonCampusandotherElderstakingpartintheYouthKooriCourtprocess;allEldersparticipatingintheYouthKooriCourtreceivedtrainingfromthecourt.Theproject’sco-creativepartnershipwiththeWesternSydneyUniversityEldersAdvisoryBoardentailedongoingconversationwiththeboardduringtheresearch.Throughthis,theproject’sconsiderationofAboriginalculturalandspiritualspacewasdiscussed,refined,andprogressed.Thisapproachenabledthecreationofadiversecollective,authoritativeAboriginalvoicethroughtheEldersonCampusinthemostdirectwaypossible.Further,ElderstakingpartintheYouthKooriCourtandnotformallyaffiliatedwiththeUniversitywereabletoaddtothisvoicebyreviewingandfeedingbackintotheproject’sresearchoutputs,includingbyattendingtheAdvisoryBoardmeetingatwhichthedraftofthisreportwasdiscussed.TheprojectdesignwasinitiallypresentedandsubsequentlyprogressedatanEldersonCampusAdvisoryBoardmeetingon27thFebruary2015.TheresearchersregularlyattendedWesternSydneyUniversityAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagementAdvisoryBoardmeetings(on19thNovember2015,16thMarch2016,and12thMay2016,2ndJune2017,and1stSeptember2017)inordertobothdiscussthisproject’sprogressandchanges(e.g.,updatingmethodologyforinterviewingyoungpeople,reviewingtherepresentationofthis

64TerriJanke(2009).WritingupIndigenousResearch:authorship,copyrightandIndigenousknowledgesystems.Sydney:TerriJanke&Company.Availableat:http://www.terrijanke.com.au/writing-up-indigenous-research


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study’sprotocolinthereport),andtolearnfromdiscussionsofotherprojectsandissuesamongsttheboardaboutworkingrespectfullywithAboriginalframeworks.

CROSS-CULTURALMENTORSHIPCross-culturalmentorshipisvitalfortwo-waylearningbetweenAboriginalandnon-Aboriginalresearcherstobroadenanddeepentheknowledgeandskillsbaseofthewholeresearchteam.Themodelof‘deeplistening’referstothechallenging,sometimesvexing,butultimatelyproductiveandgenerativeprojectofworkingacrossculturalassumptions/perspectivesaboutknowledgeproduction.Thisentailsthewillingnessofallinvolvedtoexplain,tolisten,tolearnreflexively,andprioritisetheproject’scommitmenttoadecolonisedframework.Ultimatelythisisanassertionandenactmentofvaluesoftrust,reciprocity,andhonesty.ItmayrequireadegreeofrelinquishingcontrolonthepartofWesternresearchers,whomaybeusedtobeingseen(andseeingthemselves)asleadingexpertsintheirfield,andtothinkingthatWesternknowledgeisall-encompassingandareflectionofanabsolutetruth.Cross-culturalworkrequiresopennesstomultipleknowledgesystemsandbeingwillingtolearn.Acommitmenttothisapproachcommitstorecognisingdiversebodiesofknowledgeandstrengtheningthecapacityofcurrentandfuturegenerationsofresearchers.

STORYStoryisanimportantqualitativeandFirstPeoplesresearchmethodologythroughwhichinsightscanbecaptured.Capturingstoriesisanappropriatemethodforrecordingandacknowledgingthesignificantknowledgeboundupinandtransmittedthoughoraltraditions.Theexcerptswoventhroughthisreportoftenillustrateapointinthetext,buttheyalsoaccumulatedetailthataggregatesandanalysescannotcapture,andallowafullerpictureoftheYouthKooriCourtprocessanditsnuancedeffectstoemerge.Thisway,theyaccumulateatheoreticalforcethatisconducivetothisstudy’squestionsandobjectives.


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CHAPTER5.METHODSThissectiondescribestheresearchprocessandmethods.First,wegiveabriefoverviewoftheproposedmethodsofdatacollection,andtheactualmethodsofdatacollectionthisstudyinvolved.Next,wedescribetheprocessofenactingthemethodologyontheground–inthissection,theethicalprocessessurroundingresearchconduct,consentandthede-identificationofparticipantsarealsodescribed,aswellastheresearch’sresponsivenesstoconcernsandgapsthatemergedintheprocess.Finally,weconsiderthisproject’slimits.

OVERVIEW

PROPOSEDMETHODSFORDATACOLLECTION

1. ObservationsofYouthKooriCourtmeetings(6months,20-30cases)

2. CulturalinterpretationofYouthKooriCourtmeetings(all)

3. ObservationsofWorkingPartymeetings(TBD)

4. InterviewswithYouthKooriCourtstakeholdersandparticipants(TBD)

5. InterviewswithAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersinvolvedinYouthKooriCourt

6. InterviewswithyoungpeoplewhohaveparticipatedinorareparticipatinginYouthKooriCourt(10)

ACTUALMETHODSFORDATACOLLECTION

1. ObservationsofYouthKooriCourtmeetings(7months,31cases)

2. CulturalinterpretationofYouthKooriCourtmeetings(2)

3. ObservationsofWorkingPartymeetings(5)

4. InterviewswithYouthKooriCourtstakeholdersandparticipants(19)

5. InterviewswithAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersinvolvedinYouthKooriCourt(5)

6. InterviewswithyoungpeoplewhohaveparticipatedinorareparticipatinginYouthKooriCourt(7)

7. ReviewofActionandSupportplans(35)

8. AnalysisofsentencingtranscriptsforoutcomesofActionandSupportplansattimeofsentencing(19)

9. EstimatesofcriminaljusticeoutcomesdrawingfromYouthKooriCourtgraduates’daysincustodyandnumberoftimescustodyduringYouthKooriCourtcomparedtoprior(18)


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ENACTINGTHEMETHODOLOGYONTHEGROUND

OBSERVATIONSOFYOUTHKOORICOURTMEETINGSWeobserved18daysofYouthKooriCourtbetween24June2015and15February2016,duringwhichwewitnessed31youngpeople’sinvolvementintheYouthKooriCourt.Intheprocess,qualitativedatawascapturedonYouthKooriCourtsuitabilitymeetings(12),conferences(12),reviews(45),andsentencinghearings(13).Wefollowed16casesthrough3ormoreYouthKooriCourtmeetings.Duringmeetings,aresearcherseatedatthebackoftheroomwouldtakede-identifiednotes(whichwouldbeassignedacasenumber)focusingonwhatwasdiscussed,thewaythingswerediscussed,conversationaldynamics,jokes,howconflicts/sensitivesubjects/offending/problemsthatcouldnotberesolvedbythecourtemergedandwerehandled.Underidealmethodologicalcircumstances,thesenoteswouldalwaysbeaccompaniedbyaculturaltranslationorinterpretationofthem,butwiththestructureandconstraintsofYouthKooriCourtonallinvolved,thiswasonlypossibleontwooccasions(seebelow).

CONSENTPermissiontoobservetheYouthKooriCourtmeetingswaspreliminarilysoughtfromtheYouthKooriCourtElders,theMagistrateandthecourtadministration.Theyoungperson’slawyerswouldexplaintheresearchtothemandseektheir(and,iftheywerepresent,theirfamily’s)verbalconsentfortheresearchertositinthemeetingandmakenotes.Wherepossible,theresearcherwasintroducedtotheyoungpersonatthisstage,butoftenthiswasnotthecase.Consentwasre-clarifiedatthebeginningofYouthKooriCourtwhentheMagistrateaskedthosearoundtheroomtointroducethemselves.Astheobserver,theresearcherwouldintroducethemselvesatthisstageastheyoungperson’slawyersoughttheirpermissiontoobservethesessionthatday;theMagistratewouldreiteratetotheyoungpersonthatthestudyobservedtheYouthKooriCourtprocessandwouldrespecttheprivacyoftheyoungperson’spersonalaffairs;shere-askedthemwhethertheymindtheresearchersittingincourtthatday.Ononeortwoinstances,theyoungperson’slawyerwouldrequesttheresearchersitoutthatsession.

CULTURALINTERPRETATIONOFYOUTHKOORICOURTMEETINGSAvitalresearchmethodforthisprojectattheoutsetwasforresearcherstopracticeattentivenesstoAboriginalprotocolsandpractices.Withrelationtoobservationaldatacollection,thisentailedalsoinvitingElderstodiscussandtranslatethoseobservations,thusfurnishingthenoteswithanAboriginalperspectiveofwhathastranspired,andproducingdataco-createdbytheresearchersandparticipatingElders.Inthisstudy,wewereabletodothistwiceonly;oncewhenthecourthadfinishedearlyandtheresearcherhadalreadyscheduledinterviewswiththeEldersaftercourt,andoncewhentheresearcherwasabletotalkwithanElderinalunchbreak.Ontheground,thiswasmethodnotregularlypracticableastherewasnottimeforthisonthecourtdays.Lunchbreakswerenotpossiblebecausea)thecourtsittingscanbequiteemotionally


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laboriousandrequiredabreak,andb)lunchbreakswiththeMagistratesinthechambersareanimportantpartofwhattheYouthKooriCourtbringstotheChildren’sCourtculturemoregenerally.ItwasgenerallynotpossibleaftercourtsinceEldersoftenhadothercommitmentstoattendto.Ifthisresearchhadbeenabletoinvolveregularculturalinterpretationsoftheresearcher’snotesonYouthKooriCourtmeetings,beingattentivethiswaywouldhavecontributedto:

• IlluminatingmorespecificallytheunderstandingsAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersintheYouthKooriCourthaveoftheirownandeachother’srolesgoingintotheprogram,andoftheprogramitself.

• HighlightingtheinteractionsbetweenformalandinformalaspectsofYouthKooriCourt,andhowthesefosterworkingand/ormentoringrelationshipsamongstYouthKooriCourtparticipantsandconvenors.

• BringingoutexperiencesandpositionalitiesthatEldersandotherparticipantsbringtotheirroleswithinYouthKooriCourtaswellasshowingtheroleofYouthKooriCourtwithintheirlives,workandengagements.

• Makingresearchersawareofpertinentissuesofwhichtheywerenotpreviouslyaware.

• IlluminatingwaysofunderstandingandtalkingaboutissuesrelevanttotheYouthKooriCourtprogramandthisresearchprojectwithinanAboriginalframework.

CONSENTConsentforthetwoinstancesthatwewereabletoinviteAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderElderstoprovideculturaltranslationswassoughtthroughthesameconsentformsusedforElders’interviews.

OBSERVATIONSOFWORKINGPARTYMEETINGSWeattendedandobserved4YouthKooriCourtWorkingPartymeetingsbetweenFebruaryandNovember2014.ObservationsofworkingpartymeetingshavecontributedtodatabyindicatingtheunseenworkandnetworksbehindYouthKooriCourt,andsuggestingareastoaskafterintheinterviews.

CONSENT:ObservationalconsentwasfacilitatedthroughtheParramattaChildren’sCourtExecutiveOfficer.

INTERVIEWSWITHYOUTHKOORICOURTSTAKEHOLDERSANDPARTICIPANTSWeinterviewed19YouthKooriCourtstakeholdersandparticipantswithmeetingstakingplaceinaroomatthecourt,orintheinterviewee’soffice.Intervieweeswereinitiallyidentifiedandinvited


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toaninterviewafterobservationsofYouthKooriCourtmeetingsandofworkingpartymeetings.Thislistwasextendedbysnowballmethodsthroughconversationsoraskingintervieweestorecommendotherstakeholderswhoseperspectivesoughttobecaptured(e.g.:registrystaff,otherMagistratesattheParramattaChildren’sCourt). Theinterviewguidesusedsolicitedinformationinthreeareas:

1) Theinterviewee’sroleintheYouthKooriCourtprogram,howthatcameabout,howitisstructured,howitissupported,factorsthatmaketheirtaskseasier/harder,

2) TheircontributiontotheYouthKooriCourt…3) TheirperceptionsoftheYouthKooriCourt’sstructure,co-ordination,goals,andefficacy

withexamplestosupporttheseimpressionsTherearegapsinthisdata,specifically,wewereunabletointerviewbutcoulddrawonongoingconversationswithrepresentativesfromDaramu(MaristYouthCare),Children’sCourtRegistryStaff,andaJuvenileJusticerepresentativeexperiencedwiththeYouthKooriCourt.WedidnotspeakatlengthtoorinterviewrepresentativesfromFACS,Residentialout-of-homecarefacilities,JuvenileCustodyofficersandescorts,oranyvictims.

CONSENTWeofferedparticipantstheirchoiceofarecordedorunrecorded(annotatedlive)interview.Participantswereinformedthatwhiletheywouldnotbeidentifiedbynameintheresultingreport,theirroleintheYouthKooriCourtwouldbeattachedtotheircontributionstothestudy.

INTERVIEWSWITHABORIGINALANDTORRESSTRAITISLANDERELDERSINVOLVEDINYOUTHKOORICOURTInterviewswiththeAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersaffiliatedwithWesternSydneyUniversity(5)werefacilitatedthroughtheWSUOATSIEE.Interviewappointmentswerearrangedthroughthisoffice,andtookplaceoverthephone(2),inpersonattheinterviewee’shome(1)andoutforameal(2)(asfacilitatedbyOATSIEE).Participantswereofferedrecordedinterviewsthatwouldlaterbetranscribedorunrecordedinterviewsthattheinterviewerwouldtranscribelive.TheWSUOATSIEEleadthedevelopmentofappropriateprotocolsforschedulinginterviewswithEldersaswellasofaninterviewguide,whichwasdesignedasasetofpromptstousewithinaconversation(ratherthanastrictquestion/answerformat).Regrettably,interviewswiththeAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersappointedindependentlybytheYouthKooriCourtwerenotconductedforthisproject.


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CONSENTTheparticipationconsentagreementwithAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersisverysimilartothatwithotherYouthKooriCourtstakeholdersandparticipants,withonedistinction.ThedistinctionisthatAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersmay(withtheirpermission)becreditedbynameforcontributionsofculturalknowledge.

INTERVIEWSWITHYOUNGPEOPLEWHOHAVEPARTICIPATEDINORAREPARTICIPATINGINYOUTHKOORICOURTAspartofthisstudy,weinterviewed9youngpeopleduringorshortlyaftertheirinvolvementwiththeYouthKooriCourt.Intheseinterviews,weaskedbroadopen-endedquestionsinvitingyoungpeople’sopinionofYouthKooriCourt–theirfavouriteaspects,whatcouldbeimproved,whatadvicetheywouldgiveanotheryoungpersongoingthroughtheprogram,andwhethertheywoulddoanythingdifferentlyiftheycouldgothroughtheYouthKooriCourtagain.TheseinterviewsinvitationswereextendedtoyoungpeoplethroughpeopletheyknewattheYouthKooriCourtliketheirlawyersandcaseworkers,andonlythoseyoungpeoplewhowerehappytotalktouswereintroducedtoustosetupatimetotalk.InterviewstookplaceattheChildren’sCourtorbyAudioVisualLinkfacilitatedbytheAboriginalLegalService.Youngpeoplewhoparticipatedinthestudybygivinganinterviewareacknowledgedbybeinggivena$10Westfieldvouchersor$10prepaiddatatopupsfortheirphones.65These$10prepaidphonedatatopupsor$10Westfieldvouchers(foryoungpeoplewhochoosethemand/ordonothavemobilephones)wereofferedtoyoungpeopleattheendofaninterviewasawaytothankthemfortheirtime,butwerenotusedbytheresearchersasanincentivetogiveaninterview,andthuswerenotbementionedinconsentformsorinparticipationinformationsheets.Theseeffortsofoursarepossiblycounteredbywhatyoungpeoplemighthavetoldeachotheraboutbeinginterviewedforthisresearchwhentheytalkedamongstthemselves.

CONSENTParticipantswereofferedthechoiceofarecordedorunrecordedinterview.Consentformswerereadoutandexplainedtoyoungpeoplelinebylinebeforerequestingtheirsignatures.Insomeinstances,ratherthansigningtheconsentform,werecordedtheformbeingreadoutandtheirvoicedagreementtothepointsalongthewayandattheend.Aconsentformexplainingthestudy

65ThiswassuggestedbyLegalAidlawyerswhohelpedusscheduleinterviewswithsomeyoungpeople.Theywererightlycriticalofanydatacollectionprocedurewhereyoungpeoplewerecontributingtime,insightandinputintoourstudywithoutreceivinganyacknowledgementfromtheresearchersthatwasmeaningfultothem.TheircriticismhasespecialsalienceinthecontextofresearchinvolvingAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleinAustralia,wheresuchrelationshipsarehistoricallycharacterisedbyextremeimbalanceinfavouroftheresearcher'sneeds,desires,careersandcomfort.ThissuggestionwassupportedbytheAboriginalCommunityandClientSupportOfficeratParramattaChildren’sCourt,thelawyerfromAboriginalLegalService(ALS)whorepresentsallyoungpeopleinYouthKooriCourt,aswellasbytheWesternSydneyUniversityAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagementEldersAdvisoryGroup.


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anditsconfidentialitywasalsoavailableforguardiansandcarerswhoattendedwithyoungpeople.

REVIEWOFACTIONANDSUPPORTPLANSTheinclusionofareviewofActionandSupportplanswasdevelopedovermeetingswithYouthKooriCourtadministrativestaffinordertobetterunderstandhoweffectivelytheYouthKooriCourtprogramtargetedandaddressedissuesinyoungpeople’slives.Inordertocollectthisdata,withtheapprovalofthePresidentoftheChildren’sCourt,weobtainedtranscriptsofsentencinghearingsfor19youngpeopleprocessedintheyear2016,andrecordedthestepstakentoidentifyaproblemontoatableofkeyissuesidentifiedthroughtheYouthKooriCourt.Whilethedatacollectedisidentifiedwithayoungperson’sinitials,thisdataispasswordprotectedandstoredontheWesternSydneyUniversitynetwork.

CONSENT:TheinclusionofthismethodinvolvedanethicsamendmentthatwasprocessedandapprovedbytheWesternSydneyUniversityethicscommittee.Whilethenecessaryresearchethicsauthoritiesapprovedthismethodologicalamendment,weflagthatitwouldhavebeenmoreappropriateiftheyoungpersononwhominformationwasbeingcollectedcouldhavegiventheirpersonalconsenttothis.

ANALYSISOFSENTENCINGTRANSCRIPTSFOROUTCOMESOFACTIONANDSUPPORTPLANSATTIMEOFSENTENCINGInformationontheoutcomesofActionandSupportplanshasbeenrecordedontothetabledescribedaboveandwascollectedfromtranscriptsofthegraduation/sentencinghearingsforyoungpeopleinthesecondhalfof2016.Wherepossible,thisinformationhasbeencorrelatedwiththedatadescribedabove(33)togiveafullerpictureoftheYouthKooriCourtprocess.

CONSENT:Asabove.

CRIMINALJUSTICEOUTCOMESOverthecourseofthisstudyitbecameapparentthatanoutcomesevaluationwouldgivenecessaryimpetustoourqualitativefindings.Inordertoprovidesuchinsightwithinthisproject’stime-frame,wedrawondatapreparedbytheyoungpeople’slawyerfortheirsentencinghearing(basedonrecordskeptbyJuvenileJustice)thatcomparesyoungpeople’scriminaljusticeinvolvementpriortoYouthKooriCourtandduringYouthKooriCourt.Thisdatacompares,forinstance:daysincustodypriortoandduringYouthKooriCourt,durationbetweenoffencesbefore


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YouthKooriCourtandduringYouthKooriCourt,numberofoffencesintheperiodpriortoYouthKooriCourtandduringYouthKooriCourt.Wehavethisinformationfor18youngpeople.

CONSENT:Asabove.

PROTECTINGCONFIDENTIALITYWithafewexceptions,theidentitiesofresearchparticipantswhoareYouthKooriCourtstakeholdershavebeendisguisedorobscuredinthisreport.Theyoungpeopledescribedandcitedinthishavebeende-identified,particularlyinthestories,inwhichaclusterofinformationaboutthatyoungperson’scasemaybepresented.Inthestoriesthatarewrittenup,thedialogueattributedtopeopleisfaithfultotheobservationalnotesortheinterviewtranscript,butwithpersonalpronouns,names,ages,theyoungperson’srelative’sidentityandotheridentifyingdetailshavebeenalteredtoprotectyoungpeopleandtheirfamily’sidentities.(Forexample,thedialoguesurroundingayoungwomanexplainingthatshemissedhercourtappointmentduetoakidneyinfectionmightbewrittenupasayoungmanexplainingthathemissedhiscourtappointmentduetoabrokenarm).

REFLECTIONSONPROPOSEDMETHODOLOGY

Astrengthofthisproject’smethodologyhasbeenourabilitytoberesponsivetothepilotprogramasittookshape,andadaptourproposedmethodsappropriately.Consequently,wewereabletodevelopnewareasofdatacollectionandanalysistomeettheYouthKooriCourtprogram’sneedsofanevaluation.Somelimitsinthisproject’smethodology,andareasinwhichafuturestudycouldimprove,areasfollows:

• ThisstudyobservesinteractionsbetweenyoungpeopleandtheYouthKooriCourt(anditsnetworks)onlywithintheYouthKooriCourtsetting;itdoesnotinvolvedataontherangeofotherinteractionsthatcompriseYouthKooriCourt(relyinginsteadontheinformationvolunteeredininterviewsforthis

• Wedidnotcollectdataaboutfailurestoappearorcompletionoforders.Measuringno-showswasdifficultbecausethecourtmadeallowancefortransportandotherdifficulties,adjustingstarttimestowhentheyoungpersonandtheirsupporterswereready.Asforcompletionofordersthesewerealmostallaftertheperson’sparticipationintheYouthKooriCourt,sowouldhaverequiredaccessingJuvenileJusticeorotherrecordssome6or12monthsaftergraduation.

• Wedidnotmeasurethe‘behavioural,complianceandattitudinaloutcomesthatcanbeanticipatedforeachstage’,inpartbecausetheconceptofstagewasalmostimpossibletomeasure.Italldependedonthecircumstancesofeachyoungpeople.Thecourtcouldhave


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definedwhatitexpectedfromeachpersonateachstage,butbecausethischangedsomuchacrossthecourseaccordingtotheirlifecircumstanceitwouldnothavebeenveryuseful.

• Wehavesuggestedabovethatacomparisongroupwouldhavebeendifficulttofind,particularlyasthedeferredsentenceapproach,andtheattentiontoriskfactors,wasnotcharacteristicofotherNSWChildren’sCourts.HoweveracomparisongroupcouldbefoundindemographicallymatchedareaswithMurricourtsinQueenslandandKooricourtsinVictoria.


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CHAPTER6.STRUCTURE:THEYOUTHKOORICOURTMODEL

STAGESOFTHEYOUTHKOORICOURTPROCESS

ELIGIBILITYTobereferredtoYouthKooriCourt,youngpeoplemustbeAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanders,agedunder18atthetimeoftheoffence,whohavepleadguiltytotheoffenceorwheretheoffencehasbeenproven(allchildren’scourtoffencesexceptingsexualviolence).AccordingtotheYouthKooriCourtpracticenote,suitablecandidatesarealsoonlythosethatataminimumarehighlylikelytobesentencedtoanorderthatwouldinvolveJuvenileJusticesupervision.Thislimitsthepopulationtothosewhoareparticularlyhighrisk.

REFERRALSReferralsareusuallyrequestedincourtbytheyoungperson’sAboriginalLegalServicesolicitor.TheALSsolicitoractsoninstructionsfromtheirclient,towhomtheyhaveexplainedtheYouthKooriCourtprocess.HowevertherehavebeenexceptionswhereaMagistratemaysuggestareferralthemselves,forexample,ifaneligibleyoungperson’slawyerwasnotawareoftheYouthKooriCourtprogram.AnotherexceptionalvariationiswhenaMagistratesittingatBiduraorCampbelltownwillreferayoungpersontheyfeelwillbenefitfromYouthKooriCourttoParramatta,andnotifytheYouthKooriCourtMagistrateinParramattathattheywillbecoming.

Itakeaverybroadview&thecriteriaisbroad…soI’dreferthemoverandifKooriCourtdoesn’tthinkitsuitable,sendthemback.AsmanyIndigenouskidsascanbereferredshouldbereferred-AChildren’sCourtMagistrate

ReferralstotheYouthKooriCourtaremadebyMagistratessittingintheChildren’sCourt,andunderPracticeNote1,1ifayoungpersonmakesanapplicationtobereferredandtheeligibilitycriteriaisestablished,themagistratesistoreferthemattertotheYouthKooriCourt.HoweveriftheMagistratehaspresidedoveradefendedhearingheorshecoulddecidetosentencetheyoungpersonhavingheardtheevidencepresentedatthehearing.ThreeofthefourChildren’sCourtMagistratesinterviewedreportedpreferringtomakeareferralandlettheYouthKooriCourtsuitabilityandscreeningprocessdetermineayoungperson’sinvolvementwithYouthKooriCourt.OneofthefourChildren’sMagistratesreportedreservationsabouthavingnogeneraldiscretiontorefermatters.


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SCREENINGTOOLAfterareferral,ayoungpersonwillgothroughascreeningtoolwithaYouthKooriCourtrepresentativetohelpdeterminewhatareastheymayneedorwantsupportwith.ThisisexpectedtotakeplaceintheweekortwobetweenareferralbeingmadeandthesuitabilitymeetingwiththeYouthKooriCourt,butitoftentakesplaceonthedayoftheyoungperson’sfirstappearanceintheYouthKooriCourtbecauseameetingcannotbearrangedwithkeystaffondayswhentheYouthKooriCourtinnotsitting.ThetaskwassharedbetweentheYouthKooriCourtOfficer(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer)duringthepilotandtheJuvenileJusticerepresentativeinthefirstyearofthepilot.LaterthetaskwasalsoundertakenbyaMacquarieLegalCentrerepresentativealso,whoseinclusionenabledtheprogramtogender-matchtheyoungpersontothepersonscreeningthem.Thisscreeningisusuallyconductedincourteitherfollowingareferral,oronthedayoftheyoungperson’ssuitabilitymeeting(duetothis,daysthattheYouthKooriCourtsitscangetbusyforthoseconductingthescreening).InstanceshavebeenreportedwheretheJuvenileJusticeofficerencounteredayoungpersonduetogothroughthescreeningattheJuvenileJusticeofficeelsewhere,andwasabletoscreenthemthen.Thescreeningtoolisdrawnontoconsidertheservicesrelevanttotheyoungpeople,theyoungperson’scapacitytocommittotheprogram,andthecapacityoftheYouthKooriCourttoincludetheyoungpersonintheprocess.UnsuitableyoungpeoplearereferredbacktotheChildren’sCourtforsentencingandcasemanagement.Next,asuitabilitymeetingisarrangedwheretheyoungpersonandtheirfamily/supportsmeetswiththeMagistrateandEldersintheYouthKooriCourt.

SUITABILITYSuitabilitymeetingsareayoungperson’sfirstsittingwiththeYouthKooriCourt.TheyinvolveafairlybriefintroductionofyoungpeopletoYouthKooriCourt’sparticipants,itstoneandprotocol,andoftheYouthKooriCourttotheyoungpersonandtheirsupports.Overthecourseofthismeeting,theissuesraisedbythescreeningtoolarebrieflydiscussedintermsoftheprogram’scapacityandtheyoungperson’scapacityandwillingnesstoaddressthem.Insomeexceptionalcircumstances,thereareurgentmatterstodealwithinasuitabilitymeeting,andsotheprocessdescribedabovewasfitinaroundaddressingthese.

CONFERENCEMEETING


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TheYouthKooriCourtconferencetakesplace2-4weeksafterthesuitabilitymeeting.Asthepilotprogressedandtheprogramgrew,thegapbetweenthesuitabilitymeetingandtheconferencelengthenedupto4weeks.Tomaintainmomentum,youngpeoplebeganengagingwithidentifiedserviceprovidersandsupportsassoonaspossibleafterbeingacceptedintotheprogram.Stakeholdersreportthatthismakesformoreproductiveconferences,asactionsandsupportrelationshipshavealreadybeentrialledandcanbereportedon.ThepracticalpurposeoftheconferenceistodevelopanActionandSupportplanbasedontheyoungperson’sneedsasidentifiedinthescreeningtool.AstheMagistratedescribesittoyoungpeople,“theactionisyou,thesupportisus”.Thisentailsrevisitingtheissuesraisedbythescreeningtoolandinthesuitabilitymeeting,aswellasanythingraisedbytheLegalHealthCheckwithLegalChildren’sCivilLawAidelawyers,andanyothernewissuesthatmayhavecomeup,andpreparingaflexiblywordeddraftActionandSupportplan.

ACTIONANDSUPPORTPLANSChapter8providesadetailedoverviewofActionandSupportplanitemsandhowtheysetouttoaddressyoungpeople’scomplexneeds.theconference,theplanispreparedforparticipantstosign,thoughthishasbeendifficulttoaccommodateontheactualdayduetoalackofadministrativesupportthatisavailabletotheYouthKooriCourtunderthepilot.Onsomeoccasionscaseparticipantshavesignedahand-writtendraftofthePlanthathasbeenpreparedduringtheconferencebutmostlytheplanissignedatthenextscheduledappearanceoftheyoungperson.ThismodelwheretheMagistrateorganizesthedetailsandthewordingoftheActionandSupportplanenablesasmoothermoreefficientconferencethanthemodelinwhichtheplaniswordedbyafacilitatorfortheMagistratetoratify,andthiswasrealisedbytheYouthKooriCourtpilotwhentheyshiftedfromthefirstfacilitator-runmodeltotheMagistrate-runmodelthatthisresearchobserved.Thechangewasmadeearlyoninthepilottoavoidtheduplicationofconversationswiththeyoungperson.Otherstudiesalsofindthatfacilitator-runmodelscanriskfocusingongettingthegrouptopindownthewordingandthedetailsoftheplantothedetrimentofengagementamongstthegroupandwiththeyoungpersoninthemeetings.66MuchoftheworkofhelpingyoungpeoplemeettheirActionandSupportplanobjectivesoccursoutsideofandparalleltoYouthKooriCourtformalmeetingsinthecourt.Chapter7(thenextchapter)detailstheprocessesandnetworksinvolvedinthiswork.IntheYouthKooriCourtmodel,itisoftenthecasethatsomeofwhatistalkedaboutatlengthisneitherfinitelyresolvednorapartoftheAction&SupportPlan,thoughitmaybeinstrumentalintherelationshipsformedaroundtheyoungpersonthroughYouthKooriCourtandinproviding

66MeredithRossner,JasmineBruce,MythilyMeher(2012)TheProcessesandDynamicsofRestorativeJustice:ResearchonForumSentencing.NewSouthWalesDepartmentofAttorneyGeneralandJustice.Availableathttp://www.forumsentencing.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/forumsentencing/researchpublications/research-publications-resources.aspx


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formsofsupportthatarenottangibleandmeasurableasperthePlaninthesameareas.Chapter10providesacloseranalysisofhowYouthKooriCourtmeetingscontributetoandsupporttheworkofActionandSupportplans.

REVIEWMEETINGSReviewmeetingstendtooccuronamonthlytotwo-monthlybasisduringayoungperson’sinvolvementintheprogram.Thesemeetingsconsistofanattendanceatcourtofallparticipantsduringwhich:

• Changesintheyoungperson’scircumstancesarepresented• TheMagistratecantalkdirectlytotheyoungpersonratherthanrelyingonreportsabout

them.• Theyoungperson’sprogressisreportedon• Newoffences,whererelevant,arediscussed• ThePoliceProsecutorchecksontheyoungperson’sconductandanyinteractionswith

policesincethepreviousmeetingispresented• Serviceprovidersreportontheirprogressinthesupportpromisedearlier• Applicationstovarybail,includingcurfews,arepresentedanddecidedon• Allocationofdifferentresponsibilitieswithinthatnetworkofsupportforayoungperson

isconfirmedorrevised• YoungpeoplemaymeetnewElderstheyhavenotyetsatwithinYouthKooriCourt• ThecommitmentbetweenyoungpeopleandtheYouthKooriCourtisrevisited.

ThisreportexamineshowreviewandothermeetingscontributetoacaseoverallinmoredetailinChapter10.

SENTENCINGThesentencingdateisdeterminedintheprocessofreviewmeetings.Sentencingtakesplaceafterafinalreviewmeeting.ItisaformalprocessframedbymainstreamChildrenCourtsentencinghearingsprotocol,inwhichtheMagistratere-entersfromherchambersrobedandsentencestheyoungpersonfromthebench.TheritualinvolvedwiththetransitionfromYouthKooriCourtsettingbacktomainstreamcourtisdetailedinChapter9.Insentencing,natureandcircumstancesofthecharges,theyoungperson’sengagementwiththeYouthKooriCourtprogram,theirALSlawyer’ssubmissions,thespecificprovisionsrelevanttosentencingassetoutintheChildren(CriminalProceedings)Act1987andrelevantcaselaw.Section6oftheActidentifiesthefollowingprinciples;


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6 PrinciplesrelatingtoexerciseoffunctionsunderActApersonorbodythathasfunctionsunderthisActistoexercisethosefunctionshavingregardtothefollowingprinciples:(a)thatchildrenhaverightsandfreedomsbeforethelawequaltothoseenjoyedbyadultsand,inparticular,arighttobeheard,andarighttoparticipate,intheprocessesthatleadtodecisionsthataffectthem,(b)thatchildrenwhocommitoffencesbearresponsibilityfortheiractionsbut,becauseoftheirstateofdependencyandimmaturity,requireguidanceandassistance,(c)thatitisdesirable,whereverpossible,toallowtheeducationoremploymentofachildtoproceedwithoutinterruption,(d)thatitisdesirable,whereverpossible,toallowachildtoresideinhisorherownhome,(e)thatthepenaltyimposedonachildforanoffenceshouldbenogreaterthanthatimposedonanadultwhocommitsanoffenceofthesamekind,(f)thatitisdesirablethatchildrenwhocommitoffencesbeassistedwiththeirreintegrationintothecommunitysoastosustainfamilyandcommunityties,(g)thatitisdesirablethatchildrenwhocommitoffencesacceptresponsibilityfortheiractionsand,whereverpossible,makereparationfortheiractions,(h)that,subjecttotheotherprinciplesdescribedabove,considerationshouldbegiventotheeffectofanycrimeonthevictim.

GRADUATIONIfayoungpersonhascompletedtheprogramandhasmadesomeprogressonaddressingtheirneeds,theYouthKooriCourtwillacknowledgetheachievementsthroughagraduationceremony.Thisrelativelybriefstagefollowsthesentencing.TheMagistratestepsdownfromthebenchtoshaketheyoungperson’shandand,inmostcases,givestheyoungpersonarewardonbehalfoftheYouthKooriCourtandstakeholdersinhonouroftheirachievement.Thedegreeofcelebrationmayvarydependingbothontheextentofthatyoungperson’sengagementwiththeprogram.Thisstudyhasnotcapturedhowthisisdeterminedandwhodecides.Celebratorygraduationsareajoyfulaffair,duringwhichyoungpeoplearegivenacertificate,acardsignedbyEldersandtheMagistrate,gifts(someofwhichhavebeendonatedtotheYouthKooriCourt,someofwhichappeartobesourcedbyYouthKooriCourtstakeholders),andthereissometimesacaketo


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celebrate.TheymayalsoendwithallYouthKooriCourtparticipantschattingcasuallyandeatingwiththeyoungpersonand(ifapplicable)theirsupports.

ACULTURALLYCONGRUENTCOURT

REGULARCHILDREN’SCOURTSPACEInregularChildren’sCourt,theMagistratesitsinanelevatedBenchatthefrontoftheroom,enteringandexitingthroughadoorthatleadstojudicialchambers.SpacesareclearlydefinedwiththeMagistrate’sbenchatthefrontoftheroom,andtheprosecutionandthedefenceoneithersideofthecourtusuallyonseparatetables.(Inmostothercourts,lawyersshareacommonbartable).Youngpeoplesitonachairinthemiddleofthefloor,behindoralongsidetheirlawyer,or,iftheyareincustodytheysitinadocktothesideofthecourtroom.Theirfamilyandanysupportpeopleoccupytherowsofseatsbehindthebartable.

THEYOUTHKOORICOURTSPACEThecourtroomisre-arrangedforYouthKooriCourtmeetings,withallparticipantsseatedaroundthebartable.FollowingthestandardforIndigenouscourts,thetableisoval.PaintingsonpermanentloantotheYouthKooriCourtbyyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandartistsinjuvenilecustodyineachofthejuveniledetentionfacilitiesinNSWarehungonthewalls;thesearesetupandde-installedbythecourtofficerand/ortheAboriginalLiaisonOfficer.67Atthestartofasession,thepoliceprosecutor,theyoungperson,theyoungperson’slegalsupports,theirfamilyand/orcommunitysupports,andserviceproviderswaitaroundtheovaltable.68YouthKooriCourtiscalledintoorder,andtheparticipantsallstandastheMagistrateandtheYouthKooriCourtElderswalkinandcrossthecourtroomtostandbehindtheirownchairsatthebartable.Theparticipantsbowandtheyalltaketheirseats.TheParramattaChildren’sCourtisbuiltonDarugcountry.EachYouthKooriCourtsessionbeginsbyacknowledgingthiswitheitheraWelcometoCountrymadebyaDarugpersonoranAcknowledgementofCountrymadebyanAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderwithlinkstoclans 67ThissetupfollowstheNungaCourtmodel(ovaltable,AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderartandsymbols,oneortwoEldersaccompanyingmagistrate),ratherthanCircleCourtmodel(usuallyupto4Elders,heldinavenueofculturalsignificanceratherthanacourtroom,andusuallyinvolvingvictims)(Marchetti2014:274)68Extrasupports,family,friendsand/oruninvolvedserviceproviderswhoalsoknowtheyoungpersonmightoccupytheseatsatthebackofthecourtroom.Theseseatsmightalsobeoccupiedbyprisonescortsforyoungpeoplewhoareincustody,thoughtheyoungpersonwouldstillsitatthetable.Researchersforthisproject,occasionaljournalists,DepartmentofJusticestaff,otherobserverswhoattendedYouthKooriCourtsessionswouldalsositherewhentheydidattend.


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incountriesotherthanDarug.ThewelcometooracknowledgementofcountryisusuallymadebyoneoftheElders,butanotherAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderpersonparticipatingintheYouthKooriCourtmeetingmayalsomakeit,particularlyiftheyareofDarugdescentwhennoneoftheElderspresentare.TheMagistratewillfollowthisbyalsoacknowledgingthattheymeetonDarugland,andacknowledgingElderspast,presentandfuture.Thisisdoneeachtimeayoungpersonenterstheroom.Next,thereisaroundofintroductionsaroundthetableandothersintheroom—observers,researchers,othersupports—arealsoaskedtointroducethemselves(withtheexceptionoftheescortsforyoungpeoplewhoareincustody).TheseprotocolsprefaceeveryYouthKooriCourtmeeting.Thesampleofstoriesbelowdrawfromobservationalandinterviewdatafromthisstudy.Theycanvassomeinstanceswherefirst-timeparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourtremarkontheprogram’sopeningandframingrituals.

FirstimpressionsoftheYouthKooriCourtOneyoungpersonwhocameinforasuitabilityassessmentexpressedhisamazementatthecourt’smakeupbyturningtolookslowlyovertheroomwithwidenedeyes,commentingat,“alltheblackfellashere”.TheMagistratesaid“yes,there’salotofpeoplehere”andhereplied“Iknowmostofthem!”Otherstakeholdersatthemeeting,whohaveknownthisyoungmanawhile,remarkedathow“open”and“honest”heseemedtobeduringhissessionsandclaimedthiswasdistinctive.Whenweinterviewedhim,hesuggestedthatthiswasthecase,saying“Inothercourt,Iwould’vejustgottenangrywitheveryone”.Weclarifiedhiscomment,asking“Soyoudidn’tfeelangry[inYouthKooriCourt]?”,andherepliedthathedidn’tbecauseitwas“alotlessconfronting”.AnotheryoungpersoncameinaccompaniedbyaparentwhotoldtheYouthKooriCourtitwasaverybigdealforthemtocometothecourt,andrelatedsomeoftheirhistorytoexplainwhy,notingthathefeltcomfortableenoughtoattendandtobesofrankwiththecourt,butitwasstillabigdeal.Attheendofthisyoungperson’ssession,thisparentshookhandswitheverybodyaroundtheroom,includingthepeopleinattendancefromaStatedepartment.

ThesevisibleframingfeaturesoftheYouthKooriCourtareaccompaniedbysubtlesymptomsofashiftincourtculture.Wedescribesomeofthesesubtleshiftslaterinthischapter.Theyincludeconsistentaffirmationsofyoungpeople’sconnectionstokinandcountryandafrankacknowledgementofcolonisationandAboriginaldispossessioninAustralia’shistoryinconversationswithintheYouthKooriCourtspace.ThereareotherculturallyresonantfeaturesoftheYouthKooriCourtthatappeartohavedevelopedasaresultoftheindividualsandidentitiesinvolved.Forinstance,theYouthKooriCourtAboriginalLiaisonOfficerandtheAboriginalLegalServicelawyercanappeartoactasbig


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brotherandbigsisterfigures,providingadvocacyandnon-adversarialsupportinsettingsthatinvolveyoungpeople.Bothareofteninvolvedinyoungpeople’slivesandfamiliesaspartoftheirposition,takingonsuchresponsibilitiesasdrivingyoungpeopletocourtwhentheyneedassistanceandattendingtheirsportsgames.Theirdetailedfamiliaritywithyoungpeople’slivesandpositionaladvocacyforthemfillsoutthedynamicofhearings.StudiesofmentorshipprogramsforAboriginalyouthinCanadasuggestthatthisformofsupport,frompeopleayoungpersonmightrefertoasafriendratherthananauthority,arecongruentwithCanadianAboriginalperspectivesonmentoring.69WesuggestthereisscopefortheYouthKooriCourtprogramtodevelopsomeofthepotentialsforpeermentorship.IntervieweesreportedafewotherlessvisiblefeaturesoftheshiftentailedbytheYouthKooriCourt.

• ThefirstisthatthefamilymembersallowedincourtwithayoungpersonextendsbeyondAnglodefinitionsofimmediatefamily(parents,grandparents,brotherandsisters)toincludeaunts,uncles,cousins.

• Anotherfeatureofnoteisthecourt’sobservationofAuntyThelma(aTorresStraitIslanderwoman)’scustomssurroundingmen’sbusinessandwomen’sbusiness,suchthatshecanreadilyengagewithandadviseayounggirlbutwillonlydothesametoayoungboyifthereisnomaleAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderElderorotherAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslandermenaround.

AuntyThelmanotes:That’stheonlythingI’vebeenwaryoffromthestartandIsaidsototheMagistrate.Onlybecauseit’smytradition,myculture.AndIlikethefactthattheydon’tpressus.Theyallunderstandthat—theyacknowledgethatandrespectthat[withayoungboy,whenthereisamaleElderatthetable]Idon’thavetotalk.

• BeyondtheYouthKooriCourtspaceinthecourtroom,severalmagistratesandElderswe

interviewedremarkedonthesignificancetothemofcourtMagistratesandElderscomingtogetherovertheirbreaksinthestafflunchroomonYouthKooriCourtdays.

TheParramattaYouthKooriCourtdrawsfromthemodelsdevelopedinVictoria,SouthAustraliaandWesternAustralia:afocusondialogue,memberssittingaroundatable,andtheElders’engagementwithoffenders.70Alloftheseusecourtsholdtheirhearingsincourtbuildingswhile

69Sinclair,Raven,andSherriPooyak(2007)AboriginalmentoringinSaskatoon:Aculturalperspective.IndigenousPeoples'HealthResearchCentre,availableat:http://iphrc.ca/pub/documents/mentorship_final_july30.pdf,pp8;Bisanz,J.,Cardinal,C.,daCosta,J.,Gibson,N.,Klink,J.,&Woodard,K.(2003)Prospectsforaboriginalmentoring:Apreliminaryreview.PreparedforBigBrothersandBigSistersSocietyofEdmontonandArea.UniversityofAlberta:Community-universityPartnershipfortheStudyofChildren,YouthandFamilies;AboriginalCapacityandDevelopmentalResearchEnvironments,pp8.70ThislistadaptedfromElenaMarchetti(2017)NothingWorks?AMeta-ReviewofIndigenousSentencingCourtEvaluations.CurrentIssuesinCriminalJustice28(3),pp260-261.


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theMagistrateretainscontroloversentencing.71TheMagistratewhopresideoverthefirstKooricourtinVictoria,KateAuty,referredtothecourtpracticesas“aprocessofreverseAboriginalcolonization”72:adescriptionthatreflectstheincorporationofculturallyappropriateritualsintoaWesternlegalsetting.Indigenousyouthcourtsmaypotentiallyofferfurtheropportunitiestoextenttheprocessofreversecolonisation.TheRangatahiCourt(TeKootiRangatahi)inAotearoaNewZealand,alsoayouthprocessestablishedin2008,providesausefulcasestudy,particularlyintermsofsettingandincorporationoflanguageintothecourtprocess.

RANGATAHICOURTS:SETTINGANDLANGUAGERangatahicourtsareheldonamarae(traditionalMāorimeetinghouse).73TheyobserveNZcriminaljurisdictionandlawbutincorporateMāorilanguageandprotocol,muchliketheYouthKooriCourtincorporatesAboriginalprotocoland,occasionally,languagewhenanElderacknowledgescountryinanAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderlanguage.However,beingheldatatraditionalmeetinghouse,Rangatahicourtsalsoobservethemeetinghouse’sceremonialritualswhichdeepenstheextenttowhichFirstPeople’sloreispractisedinproceedings,andcanhelpyoungpeople’srelationshipswiththeircommunity.

AuntyPearlcommentsonpossiblelessonsfromtheNewZealandexperience:InthisdayandageyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandersareofmixedheritagesthroughintermarriageovermanydecades.ThereisastruggletofindtheirpersonalidentityastheynavigatetheirwaywithintheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunityandoutsideit.Thispressuretofita“mould”astohowtheyshouldthinkandacttobeacceptedasdescendantsoftheFirstPeoplesofAustralia.IliketheideaofthewaytheydoitinNewZealandwhere“theactionplanisdevelopedinafamilygroupconferenceandtheyoungpersonhasamoreactiveroleinshapingtheplan”InthecontextofAustralia’s’FirstPeopletheparentsandextendedbloodlinefamilyshouldbethefirststepinthehealingofthepersonbecausetooofteninmyexperiencetoomanyothershaveasayinshapingthemindofapersonandoftencausesmoreconflicts.Trustisoftenbrokenbecausepeoplehavenotbeensensitiveenoughintheprocessofhealing.Familiesmuststartwitheachother.

MāorilanguagefiguresprominentlyintheRangatahiprocess.Youngpeoplearerequiredtolearnapepeha(formalstatementthatprovidesanaccountoftheperson’sancestryandrelationship

71ElenaMarchettiandKathleenDaly(2007)IndigenousSentencingCourts:TowardsaTheoreticalandJurisprudentialModel.SydneyLawReview29,pp43072Auty,Kate(2006)Weteachallheartstobreak–butcanwemendthem?TherapeuticjurisprudenceandAboriginalsentencingcourts.ELawSpecialSeries(1).Availableat:http://elaw.murdoch.edu.au/special_series.html,pp112&12773ThereisalsoaparallelPasifikaCourt(ofwhichthereare2comparedto14Rangatahicourts)foryoungPacificIslanderpeoplewhichholdmeetingsinchurchesorcommunitycentres.


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land)andmihi(greeting,usedinwelcomeceremony)inMāorioverthecourseoftheirengagementwithconferencingandrehabilitationthroughFamilyGroupConferencingPlans.HonJudgeHēmiTaumanu(TheNationalRangatahiCourtsLiaisonJudge)explainsthatthisisemphasisedbecausemanyyoungpeopleappearinginthecourthave“losttouchwiththeirsenseofidentityasMāori”andthatinlearningtospeakMāori,oftenforthefirsttime,“canresultinanintensepersonaljourneyofdiscovery”.74

AuntyMaecommentsonculturalcompetenceissues:

Need to make sure that staff are culturally competent and how many positions are going to be filled with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Ensure staff who are teaching our youth are also highly educated.

More Female Elders need to be present if not already at the court proceedings.

When attending Ceremony this needs to happen from your own mob, not just anyone.

Cultural CAMPS - Need to have both Female and Male Elders attending.

Include Grandparents – camps, the education grandparents can provide is valuable – culturally, helps build self-esteem and family values.

CONCLUSION

DrawingfromthepracticesofaparallelFirstPeoples’youthcourtinAotearoaNewZealand,fromestablishedpracticesofFirstPeoplesmentorshipandtherapeuticjurisprudenceinothercontexts,andcurrentYouthKooriCourtpracticesandrelationships,thereisscopefortheYouthKooriCourttodevelopitsdecolonisingpractices.Specifically,wesuggestthefollowingareasandactivitiesmaybedeveloped:

• ToinviteAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderElderstootherrespectedpersons,courtparticipantsandformergraduatesofthecourttoparticipateinmeetingstodiscussanddevelopthedesignforYouthKooricourtroom

• RecruitAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleintheirearlytwentiestoactasmentors(andpotentiallyrolemodels)forparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourtbackground.Thesepeoplecouldalsoserveas‘otherrespectedpersons’inhearingstoincreasethelevelofpeersupporttosupplementthesupportfromElders

74JudgeHeemiTaumaunu(2014)RangatahiCourtsofAotearoaNewZealand–anupdate.MāoriLawReviewNovember.Availableonlineat:http://maorilawreview.co.nz/2014/11/rangatahi-courts-of-aotearoa-new-zealand-an-update/


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• ForAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderElderstodevelopandincorporateactivitiesthatbringmightdeepenYouthKooriCourtyoungpeoples’knowledgeofclanandcountrytolearnanddeliverattheirgraduationceremony.

• ToencourageyoungpeopletodemonstrateanyAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandculturalpractices,loreandknowledgetheyhavelearnedattheirgraduationceremony,underthesupervisionofEldersandpeers

ItisworthflaggingthatYouthKooriCourtstakeholderparticipantsmaybedividedonthefeasibilityofsomeoftheactivitiesthatinvolveyoungpeopletakingonmorecommitmentswithintheirinvolvementwiththeprogram.OurinterviewspointedtoadifferenceofopinionontheprioritisationofculturalconnectionActionandSupportplanitemsinrelationtootheritems.Somestakeholdersexpresseddisappointmenttowardsyoungpeoplewhodidnotengagemorewithopportunitiestodevelopculturalexperiencesandunderstandings.Someclaimedthatsomeyoungpeople’sparticularlycomplexcircumstancesandpressinghousingandhealthneedshadtosometimesbeprioritisedoverculturalActionandSupportplanitems.Severalyoungpeoplevoicedthislatterpointthemselvesincourt,optingtopacethemselveswiththeircommitmentssoasnottogettoooverwhelmed.Othersstressedthattheprogramwasnot‘onesizefitsall’andhadtobetailoredtoeachyoungperson.


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CHAPTER7:ROLESANDPROCESSESINRUNNINGTHEYOUTHKOORICOURTThestagesofYouthKooriCourtdiscussedabovecomprisethemoreformalmeetingsthatstructureayoungperson’sinvolvementwiththeprogram;however,thelabourinvolvedinrunningtheYouthKooriCourtextendsbeyondthesetrackedpoints.Asawhole,theYouthKooriCourtoffersamulti-disciplinary,multi-agencymeansofaddressingcomplexofteninter-relatedfactorsinthelivesofKooriyoungpeopleinthecriminaljusticesystem.Todothis,theprogramoperateswithinexistingsystemsandresourcesinvolvingintensivecasemanagement.Thischaptermapstheseworkflowprocessesintwoparts.ThefirstpartconsiderstherolesinvolvedinmakingtheYouthKooriCourtwork,andtheresponsibilitiesandqualitiesattachedtoeachrole.ItdemonstratesthetypesofworktheYouthKooriCourtentailsandhowthislabourisdisseminatedacrossadiversesetofpartners,collaboratorsandservicesthatarecoordinatedaroundtheYouthKooriCourt.Thesecondpartconsistsofdiscussionpointshighlightinggapsandstrainedcapacities,includingissuesaboutgeneralisingthemodeltoothersiteswithinNSWItisanticipatedthatthischapter’scaptureofworkflowrolesandprocessescontributestothefollowingobjectives:

1. TopresenttomembersoftheParramattaYouthKooriCourtpilotanoverviewofhowtheirrolefitsinwiththerolesofothers,

2. Tohighlightgapsinexistingrolesandprocesses,whichrequirefundingand/orinfrastructuralsupport,

3. IntheinterestsoftheYouthKooriCourtbeingascalablemodel,topresentadetailedworkingtemplateforotherpotentialcourtcentresthatarerunningaYouthKooriCourt

WHOMAKESTHEYOUTHKOORICOURTWORK?ROLES,RESPONSIBILITIESANDQUALITIES

TheYouthKooriCourtprogramoperationalisesresourcesandrelationshipsthatarealreadyatoravailabletotheChildren’sCourt,however,itcanbearguedthattheYouthKooriCourtstrengthenstheseexistingresourcesthroughbuildingcoherentreferralnetworksaroundyoungpeople,prioritisingcasemanagement,andofferingaframeworkofregularreviewmeetings.ThisbothdemandsagreatercommitmentfrompeopleperformingadditionalordifferentrolesandenablesanumberofeffectsthatdistinguishtheYouthKooriCourtprocessfromthatofthemainstreamChildren’sCourt,andcontributetoitsgoals.Wecanvasthesehere,drawingoninterviewswithstakeholders,workingpartymeetingobservationsandobservationsofhearings.


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MAGISTRATEMagistrateSueDuncombe(‘theMagistrate’inthisreport)wascriticalinestablishingtheYouthKooriCourtKooriCourtpilotprogramattheParramattaChildren’sCourt.AsignificantpartoftheMagistrate’sroleinYouthKooriCourtcomesthroughinhearings,inhersustainedconversationswithyoungpeopleandhermediationoftheconversation.AdetailedanalysisofthesequalitiescomesthroughinChapter10,wherewedetailtheinteractionsinYouthKooriCourtmeetings.TheMagistrate’srolealsoincludesadministrativeorganisationtheYouthKooriCourt:

• CoordinatingYouthKooriCourtWorkingPartymeetings• Takinganddisseminatingminutes(intheearlystages)• Meetingwithstakeholdersandpartneragencieswhileestablishingreferralnetworksand

infrastructuralsupportfortheYouthKooriCourt• Followingupwithorganisationsandindividualswhomaybeabletosupportand

collaboratewiththeYouthKooriCourtAstheMagistratechairsYouthKooriCourthearings,shemustalsoprepareforYouthKooriCourtdaysincourt.Thisinvolves:

• Closelyreadingthecasefile• Reviewingthescreeningtool• PreparingaplanforcareanddraftActionandSupportplansforeachyoungpersonto

takeintocourtasaworkingdocument• Preparingananalysisofeachoftheoffences• MeetingbeforecourtwiththeElders/RespectedPersonstodiscussthecasesfortheday.

TheMagistratedescribeshowherapproachtoYouthKooriCourtdifferstothatofmainstreamcourt:“MyMagistratecolleaguesIthinkallhaveverysquarelyinmindtheprinciplesunderSection6oftheChildren's(CriminalProceedings)Act.We'reallpromotingrehabilitation,we'reallsupporting,we'realltrying.Andwealsohaveanotherjob,whichistotellthemthatwhattheyhavedoneisveryseriousandanaffronttohumanitysometimes,whatthey'vedoneyouknow.Sowehavedualroles.IntheKooriCourtIhavethatrole,butIalsohadtheroleofencourager,supporter.Itryandharnessthepositivenatureofanythingthey'vedone,tryandrecognisethepositivenatureofanythingthey'vedone.AndItrywhilstsayingthisisserious,thenimmediatelytalkaboutwhatcanwedotoensurethisdoesn'thappenagain.Soit'sfuturefocusedallthetimeforme.”

QualitiesofthecurrentMagistrate

• Hasspenttimeoncountry(theParramattaYouthKooriCourtMagistratereferencedinthisstudyhasspenttimeinNorthEastArnhemLandlearningaboutcrosscultural


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mediationandtraditionalconflictresolutionwithElders,includingparticipationinceremony75)

• Mediationandconciliationbackground• Traumainformedapproach• Youthspecificapproach• Culturallyspecificapproach

Theapproachofanyonefacilitatorinthatconferencingprocesshastobeveryyouthspecific[intermsoftheinformalflexibleapproach]andculturallyspecific…youcan'tjusthaveanaccreditedmediatorbeinginthere.ThatmediatorhastothenbeattunedtowhattheYouthKooriCourtisaboutbecausethenyoucanmaketheprocessquiteinaccessibleandabarrierinitselfforayoungperson.

-aLegalAidLawyer

WiththecontinuityofmagistrateandIguessthelimitednumbersisthatsheknowseveryoneinthereandknowswhattopicsaresensitivetopics,andwhatrelationshipsarefraught,andknowstosaywell:"how'sthatgoing?".Youknow,gentlyandthat'sreallyimportant.-aLegalAidLawyer

“Thereasonthatourmagistrateissogoodisshehasknowledgeofcountry.Enoughsaid.…If…heorsheknowsaboutcountryandwhoheorsheisdealingwith,whichIexpecthimorhertoknow,thatwaytheywillthenbeabletodotheirjobbetter,becausethere'salotoffactorsinvolvedinwhateverthecrimemaybe.”-anElder

ABORIGINALANDTORRESSTRAITISLANDERELDERSTheYouthKooriCourtwasoneofmanycommunitynodesthatYouthKooriCourtAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderElderswereinvolvedwith.Thisresponsibilitymustbebalancedalongsidemultipleothercommitmentsandcares.AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersintheYouthKooriCourtareoneofthecoreparticipantsinahearingmeeting.EldersacknowledgeclanandcountryanddemonstrateAboriginalprotocolsatthestartofmeetings.Theymakeauniquecontributiontohearingasrole

75JaneSouthward(2015)Professionaldevelopment:Adayinthelifeof...MagistrateSueDuncombe.LSJ:LawSocietyofNSWJournal,15(Sep):50-52.


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models,asmentors,passingonknowledgefromtheirlifeexperience,passingonknowledgeofcountryandancestry,introducingyoungpeopletoortellingthemaboutarelativetheydidnotknowtheyhad,passingonknowledgeaboutinitiativeandresourcesthatmightbeofusetoyoungpeopleandtheirfamilies,invitingyoungpeopleand/ortheirrelativestoparticipateinotherinitiativestheywereinvolvedin(suchasinvitingayoungpersonwhowaspregnanttoherparentaltraining,orinvitingayoungperson’smothertoaKooriwomen’syarningcircle).Onseveraloccasions,Eldersinvitedyoungpeopletoremainincontactwiththem.SomeinstancesofthiseventuatingthathavebeenrecordedbythisresearchincludeoneEldervisitingayoungpersonincustody,andbringingthemsomesportsmagazinesandsocksthattheAboriginalLiaisonOfficerandJuvenileJusticeofficersuggestedthatyoungpersonwouldlike,andanotherElderreportedintheirinterviewthattheyhadpassedtheirpersonalnumberontoayoungpersonwhogotintouch,visitedthem,andendedupmeetingothersinthatElder’scommunity.Atthisstage,ithasnotbeenpossiblefortheYouthKooriCourttomatchthesameElderstoyoungpeopleinhearingsconsistently,ortogendermatch,ortomatchEldersandyoungpeoplebycountryorclan.PriortowalkingintothecourtwiththeMagistrate,EldersandtheMagistratemeetintheMagistrate’schamberstogooverthelistofyoungpeopleincourtthatday.Eldersmayalreadyknowsomeoftheyoungpeople,andmightbebriefedonupdatesintheircase,andarebriefedonalllistedyoungpeopletheymaynotknow.EldershavebeenrecruitedtotheYouthKooriCourtthroughtwoprocesses:

1. ThroughcollaborationwiththeWesternSydneyUniversityOATSIEEEldersAdvisoryBoard–AdvisoryBoardElderswereinvitedtoparticipateintheprojectbeforethepilotlaunched.ThosewhovolunteeredwerefirstaskedtocompleteaWorkingwithChildrenCheck.SomeEldersreportedthatthisfeltaffronting.Afterthis,therewasa2-daytrainingandinductioncourse,beforeEldersbeganattendingYouthKooriCourthearings.

2. OtherEldershavebecomeinvolvedintheprogramthroughpersonalinvitationorthroughwordgettingoutabouttheYouthKooriCourtandthroughtheYouthKooriCourtOfficer(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer’s)socialnetworksandeffortstorecruitElders.ItisunclearwhatkindoftrainingorinductionwasthereforElderswhojoinedtheprogramwhenthepilotwasalreadyrunning.

TheYouthKooriCourtOfficer(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer)organisesrecruitmentofElders,organisingElders’attendanceatcourt,andtakingcareofEldersatand(wherenecessary)gettingtoandfromthecourt.Elders’rostersandattendanceareorganisedthroughphonecallsbetweentheYouthKooriCourtOfficer(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer)andeachElder.AsoneElderdescribedthisprocess:

“he[theAboriginalLiaisonOfficer]asksforouravailability,andIgetthattohimassoonasIknowmy-------days….I’msurehedoesthatwithalltheElders,asksusforourscheduleandwe’llstayintouchwithhim.…IfthereisanemergencythelastdaybeforehegetsintouchwithmeandIsayyesorno….[It]shouldn’tbechanged,worksfine.Communicationisalwaysopen.”


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HOWISTHISROLEENABLED/SUPPORTED?TheParramattaChildren’sCourthashadscarceresourcestosupporttheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersinthisroleduringtheYouthKooriCourtpilot.OneofthemainareasrequiringsupportistransporttoandfromtheCourt.EldersattendingtheYouthKooriCourtdidsoinanarrayofways:

• Drivingthemselvesinandparkingashortwalkawayfromthecourt,orparkinginCourtcarparkswhenthisisadministrativelyenabled

• Catchingtrainsorpublictransport• TaxivouchersarrangedbytheYouthKooriCourtOfficer(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer)• BeingdrivenbytheYouthKooriCourtOfficer(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer),theAboriginal

LegalServiceLawyer,theMagistrateortheMacquarieLegalCentrerepresentative.Alackofsystematicsupportmeansthatmethodsoftransportareorganisedspontaneously,addingtothebusinessofYouthKooriCourthearingdays.ItalsomeansthatElders’mobilityanddisabilityissuesarenotatthisstageaccommodatedinastructurallysupportedway,rather,onYouthKooriCourtparticipants’initiative.SomeEldersaresupportedintheirroleattheYouthKooriCourtthroughotheremployment,wheretheorganisationtheyworkfor(eg:TheMacquarieLegalCentreandCatholicEducation)supportstheirparticipationintheYouthKooriCourt(e.g.:onceamonth,oronceaweek)andtheyattendaspartofthisexistingrole.OtherElderswhohavebeenrecruitedthroughtheWesternSydneyUniversityEldersAdvisoryBoardorthroughtheYouthKooriCourtOfficer’s(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer’s)networksarevolunteers.

POLICEPROSECUTORProsecutorsintheYouthKooriCourtarepoliceprosecutorsbasedattheChildren’sCourtwhovolunteertoparticipateintheYouthKooriCourt.ThosewhohavevolunteeredinthiscourtclaimaninterestinAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderaffairsandsupporttherehabilitative,strengths-basedprinciplesoftheYouthKooriCourt.Theysuggesttheseorientationsareimportanttotakinguptherole.ThePoliceProsecutorispresentinallthescheduledYouthKooriCourtmeetings,usuallyheldonceperweek,from9.30amuntilapproximately3.00pm.ThepoliceprosecutorplaysauniqueandkeyrolearoundthetableinYouthKooriCourtmeetings.Unlikemostotherparticipants,theyspeakprimarilyonbehalfofotherpolice,victimsandcommunitysafety.Theyalsopotentiallyhelptodismantleyoungpeople’snegativeassumptionsaboutpolice.


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TASKSDONEWITHINTHISROLEThisroleentailspreparationpriortoYouthKooriCourtsittingsbycheckingpolicerecordsoneachyoungperson’slegalconductsincetheirlastcourtappearance,including:

• Bailcompliance• Beingstopped/spokentopolice• Publictransportoffences• Freshoffences• Suspectedoffences

Thepreparationtimeforthisvaries.Asoneinterviewedpoliceofficerreported,iftheyoungpersonhasnotbeeninmuchtroubleitcantakeafewminutestoperformthischeck;iftheyhavebeenstoppedbypolicenumeroustimes,itcantakeuptohalfanhourperpersontoreadthroughtherecordandextractthekeypoints.Consultingthedatabaseneedstobedoneafterreceivingtheset-list,anddoneclosetothemeetingdate,ideallytheafternoon/eveningbeforeoronthemorningofcourt.Aninterviewedpoliceprosecutorsaid,“There'snopointdoingittwoweeksbeforebecausealotcouldhappen.”Ininstanceswheretherehavebeentransgressions,thesebackgroundnotescanbedrawnoniftheprosecutorwantstotalktotheyoungpersonaboutanissueontheirpolicerecordthathasnotbeenraisedintheYouthKooriCourtmeetingasyet,ortochallengeanapplicationforbail,ortotalktoayoungpersonaboutwhytheyhavenotboughttraintickets(whichmightraiseneedsthattheYouthKooriCourtcanaddress).Ininstanceswheretheyoungperson’sconducthasbeenpositive,theprosecutorisabletorelaythistothecourtindetailalso.Attimes,thesedescriptionshaveentailedcomparingayoungperson’sregularoffendinghistorytoarelativelylengthyperiodoftimeinYouthKooriCourtwheretherehasbeennooffending,ortopointoutthatayoungpersonwhousedtohaveaggressive,hostileinteractionswithpoliceisnowhavingpleasantinteractionsthattheofficerswhostoppedthemhavenoteddownintheirrecords.Thesedetailscandemonstratehowfarayoungpersonmighthavecome.Thepoliceprosecutor’sconversationwithyoungpeoplemightalsofocusontheiraspirationsandwell-beingperson-to-person.

HOWISTHISROLESUPPORTED/ENABLED?ParticipationinYouthKooriCourtentailsworkthatpoliceprosecutorstakeoninadditiontoexistingresponsibilitiesasaChildren’sCourtprosecutor.Thetwopoliceprosecutorsinterviewedforthisstudyreportedthatthey“makeitwork”andmanagetheirworkloadsaccordingly,andreportingeneralbeinghappytoparticipateintheprogramonprinciple,however,thiscanconstituteanaddedpressurecomingfromanalreadyshort-staffeddepartmentifanotherstaffmemberisabsentandtheirworkloadneedstobesharedaround.


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QUALITIESFORAYOUTHKOORICOURTPOLICEPROSECUTORThosewhohavevolunteeredinthiscourtclaimaninterestinAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderaffairsandsupporttherehabilitative,strengths-basedprinciplesoftheYouthKooriCourt.Theysuggesttheseorientationsareimportanttotakinguptherole.

“Wearereallyfortunatetohaveabrilliantprosecutoratthemomentwhohasgotareallygoodbalancebetweenbeingaprosecutor,whichisofcourseherroleinkindofactinginthecommunity'sinterests,butalsounderstandingtheprocessofKooriCourtandsheplaysahugelyimportantrole.AndIthinkpartofthesuccessofKooriCourtisbecauseofher.She'snotsoftbyanymeans,butshe'sjustgotareallygoodbalanceand-soshe's-that'safixedrolethathastobethere,andIthinkthereneedstobesomeonethat'ssympathetictotheprocess,youknow”--fromaninterviewwithanAboriginalElder

ALS(ABORIGINALLEGALSERVICE)LAWYERTheAboriginalLegalServicewassetupbyactivistsandlawyersin1970toprovideafreelegalservice,providedbyvolunteerswithlegaltraining,toAboriginalpeople.Asof1971theALShasreceivedgovernmentfundingbutremainsanAboriginalcommunitycontrolledorganisation.76TheALSlawyerinvolvedintheYouthKooriCourtwaspartoftheworkingcommitteethatsetitup.ThelawyerrepresentsyoungKooripeoplewhoappearintheChildren’sCourt,actingontheyoungperson’sinstructionsincourtratherthan(astheymightinaFamilyCourtorguardianshipmatterforchildrennotabletoprovideinstructions)actingonwhattheyperceivetobetheyoungperson’sbestinterests.

ALSlawyerdescribingthecasemanagementaspectoftheirrole“I'veknownalotofthekidsforalongtime,orifIhaven'tknownthem,Imightbeableinmyroletodevelopareallygoodstrongworkingrelationshipwiththem,andsoIoftenliaisewiththemandtheirfamilyandplaylikeacasemanagementtyperole,oracaseco-ordinatortyperoletomakesurethateverythingthatismeanttobedoingthroughtheprocessisgettingdone.Idon'tthinkstrictlyspeakingthatismeanttobemyrole….butIthinkbecauseI'minauniqueposition,

76AboriginalLegalService,‘AshorthistoryoftheALS’,availableat:http://www.alsnswact.org.au/pages/history#AshorthistoryoftheALS


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becauseoftherelationshipIhavewiththekids,Ithinkthatthat'sjustkindofthewayit'splayedout”

Asnotedabove,experienceworkingwiththeALSinacommittedwayhasenabledtheALSlawyertobuildtrustingrelationshipswithclientsandtheirfamilies.Thisrole,muchlikethatofCCLS(LegalAid)lawyers,blendslegaladvocacywithcasemanagementaspectsoutofnecessity.TheemphasisonrelationshipsresonateswiththeALSmodelusedsinceitsinceptionoflawyersworkingalongsidefieldofficerswhoarefromlocalcommunitiesandcanhelprealiseaculturallyappropriateservicedelivery.

TASKSDONEWITHINTHISROLEYoungpeopleoftenlearnoftheYouthKooriCourtthroughtheALSlawyer,whowilldiscusstheYouthKooriCourtwithyoungpeoplewhoappeareligible.Eligibleyoungpeopleareadvisedabouttheprogramiftheypleadguilty.TheALSlawyerthenrequestsareferraltoYouthKooriCourtforyoungpeoplewhoareinterested.Therearesomeexceptions,astheALSlawyerexplains:

“….Becausethesuitabilityisasupervisedorderorcontrolandbecauseweknowitisanonerousprocessinsomerespectsthattheyoungpersonhastogothrough,weknowtheclientthatgoingtobesuitableforitornot.Sowemightjustsaytooneclient-lookthereisthisKooriCourtprocess-wedon'tthinkitissuitableforyouforthesereasons,soIthinkyoushouldjustgetsentencedtoday,orjustgetaJuvenileJusticereportandgetthematterfinished.Theymighthavelikechallengescomingtocourtafewtimes,weknowthey'renotgoingtoengagewithcaseworkersverywell,theyarenotreadytoaddresstheirissues,theoffencesaren'treallyseriousenough-awholelotofreasons.Orwe'llhavewhatweseeistheperfectcandidatebecausewe'veknownthemforlongperiodoftimeandweexplainthewholeprocesstothem,andtheyaregenerallyreallyenthusiasticaboutit.”

PartofthecaseworksideofALSlawyers’rolesisthattheytakeaproactiveroleingettingclientstocourt.Thiscaninvolvefindingthembycallingfamilymembers,friends,relatives,orotherservicesworkerswhomayknowwheretheyoungpersonis.Theythentrytoaddressfinancialormobilitybarrierstogettingtocourt,sometimespayingforyoungpeople’strainfare,givingthemalift,orarrangingaliftforthem.TheALSlawyerrepresentstheyoungpersoninYouthKooriCourthearings.Betweenhearings,theyalsomaintaincontactwiththeirclientandhelpcheckthatcaseworkersandserviceprovidersarecarryingoutthetasksagreedtodointheActionandSupportplan.Infosteringtrustingrelationshipswithclientsanddemonstratingreliabilitytothemovertime,theALSlawyerhasbecomeakeypartofmanyyoungpeople’ssupportnetwork.Beingareliablesupporterandadvocatecanentailmakingreferralsforyoungpeopleandtheirrelatives,followinguponreferrals,organisingappointmentsforthem,checkingonfollowthrough,caseworkingfor


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youngpeopleandalsoactingasabaseyoungpeopleapproachwhentheyareinneedoffood,transportfare,beingtakentoappointments,andadaptingtoyoungpeople’sneeds.TheALSlawyerremainsapointofcontactforyoungpeopleaftertheyhavebeensentencedandarenolongerinthecriminaljusticesystem.

HOWISTHISROLESUPPORTED/ENABLED?TheAboriginalLegalServiceisanAboriginalrunorganisationthatreliesonfundingandoperatesbystretchinglimitedbudgetproportionatetotheamountofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplewhoareinthecriminaljusticesystem.AtthetimeofourinterviewwiththeALSlawyer,theirofficewasreportedlyseekingfundingtowardsestablishinganallocatedALSpositionwiththeYouthKooriCourt.

QUALITIESFORAYOUNGPERSON’SDIRECTLEGALREPRESENTATIVE

• AdedicatedYouthKooriCourtsolicitorrole• Fieldofficerqualitiessuchasdevelopingorhavingdevelopedrelationshipswithclients

andtheirfamiliesandamongstlocalAboriginalcommunity• Abilityandcapacitytoprovidewrap-aroundcasemanagementserviceforyoungpeople• Knowledgeofservicenetworksandexperiencewithmoreeffectiveorganisationsand

workers

YOUTHKOORICOURTOFFICER(ABORIGINALLIAISONOFFICER)YouthKooriCourtOfficer’s(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer’s)broaderroleintheChildren’sCourtistheAboriginalClientandCommunitySupportOfficerwiththeDepartmentofJustice,andinthiscapacity,hewasoneofthepeopledrivingtheformationoftheYouthKooriCourtprogrampilot.

TASKSDONEWITHINTHISROLEWithintheprogram,hisrolecoversnumerousareasandincludesthefollowingtasks,activitiesandrelationships:YouthKooriCourtadministration,forexample:

• OrganisingYouthKooriCourtlistsandtheirdistribution• SettinguptheflagsandpaintingsforthesittingsoftheYouthKooriCourtandremoving

theflagsandpaintingsattheconclusionofthesittings• RosteringElders’YouthKooriCourtappearances(seebelowformoredetail)


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• DistributingtheActionandSupportplanstorelevantstakeholdersafterYouthKooriCourtconferences

• YouthKooriCourtsuitabilityassessmentsandscreeningtools(sharedwithJuvenileJusticerepresentative;theseareusuallydoneontheFriday’spriortoayoungperson’sfirstappearanceinYouthKooriCourtandduringorbetweensittings,ORwherepossible,onanotherdaythatthatyoungpersonmighthappentobeincourt)

• LiaisingbetweentheMagistrateandotherparticipantswhocannotcontactthemagistratedirectly(eg:solicitors,communityservices)

• Initiallyorganisedpilotgroupmeetings• Usedtoorganiseworkingpartymeetings

YouthKooriCourtElders’consultation,recruitment,schedulingandsupport:

• WasthepointofcontactfortheWesternSydneyUniversityAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersAdvisoryBoardintheinitialstagesofco-developingtheYouthKooriCourtprogram

• AttendscommunityEldersmeetingstoletpeopleknowaboutYouthKooriCourtandtorecruitmoreEldersfortheprogram

• DeliveringrelevantpaperworktoElderswhovolunteertobepartoftheYouthKooriCourt• LiaisingwithotherofficerswithintheDepartmentofJusticetoarrangeinitialcriminal

historyandworkingwithchildren'schecksfortheElders• PreparesrostersforElders’appearancesinYouthKooriCourt;usuallypreparesthesea

monthinadvance,andconfirmswiththeEldersclosertotheeventtime• AsoneEldernoted,“thelineofcommunicationto[theAboriginalLiaisonOfficer]isalways

open”,andsocancellingappearancesincasesofsickness,orcompetingresponsibilitiesetciseasytodo.

• TryingtoorganiseparkingforElderswhodrive• ArrangingtransportforsomeElders,insomeinstances,thismeansarrangingtaxisand

cabcharges,inothersitentailsdrivingElderstocourtandbackhomeafteraconference(sometimessharedwithotherYouthKooriCourtmembers,forexampletheMagistrateortheMLCsupportworker).

Participatingincaseconferencesoccasionally.Commentsonthecircumstancesunderwhichheparticipates,andthekindsofcontributionshetriestomake:

• “IalwaystrytoparticipateintheonesI'vedonethescreeningtoolsforand/oroneswhereI'veknownthekidsforalongtimesoIhaveabitmoreinsideknowledge…foracoupleofkids,I'veknownthemforfiveyears.”

• “…ItmightbethefirsttwoweeksofKooriCourt,butImightknowthatpersonforfouryearsofcomingthroughthecourt.SoIcanseeanimprovement,Icanseeachangethatmightnotbeasnoticeableassomeoneelse.”

• Also“ifIgotoaconferenceandImightnotknowthatanyonethereisKoori,Iwillsitatthetable.ApartfromtheElders,ofcoursetheElderswillbe,but…I'llwanttheretobeasmanypeopleintherenotsomuchjustfortheculturalknowledgethat'sinvolvedthere,it'salsoIthinkit'sareallyawesomeifthekidscanseerolemodels.Soifthekidscansee[theJuvenileJusticeofficer]andknowthatthisisaMountDruittboy…who'sgonethroughalot


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ofstuff,whosefamilyhasgonethroughalotofstuffandhe'sthere,youknowwhatImean?LikeifyouarefromMountDruittitslikeyoudon'thavetogotheotherway.Youcanbesittingthereatthetable”

PromotingtheYouthKooriCourtandbuildingcommunity/stakeholderawarenessandrelationships,through:

• Organisingandpresentingatmeetingswithcommunitygroups• Organisingandpresentingatmeetingswithstakeholderswithinjusticenetworks• TalkingaboutYouthKooriCourtatlegal/justiceconferences

Supportingyoungpeopleatthecourt;thiscoverstasksthatareapartoftheAboriginalandCommunityClientSupportOfficer’sroleingeneral,butcanalsoinclude“fillinginthegaps”aroundotherservices/supportssurroundingthatyoungpeopleforexample:

• ExplainingtheYouthKooriCourt/Children’sCourtprocesswithlistedyoungpeopleandtheirfamilies/supportswhentheyfirstcomein

• Makingreferrals• Accompanyingyoungpeopletomeetings/appointmentsasasupportperson• Onsomeoccasions,pickingupayoungpersonand/ortheirfamilysupports(especiallyfor

elderlyand/orunwellfamilymembers)andbringingthemtocourtanddroppingthemhome.

“Onadayliketoday,I'lljustbeyarningtokidslikeIwasjustnow,becauseIalsorealisethatthat'spartofmyprocessintheKooriCourtis…I'veknownthesekidsforawhilesoIcanspeaktothatbecauseI'veknownthemandit'saboutthattrust.”

Supportingyoungpeoplebeyondthecourt,forexample:

• Helpingayoungpersonmovehouse• AttendingculturalcampsorganisedbytheYouthKooriCourt• Watchingyoungpeople’ssportsgames

SomeoftheserolesarespecifictoYouthKooriCourtcases,forinstancethedirectlyrelatedareasandalsothecasemanagementaspects.OtherscomeundertheYouthKooriCourt’sprevious/existingpursuits,butmightentailmorein-depthengagementthroughyoungpeople’sinvolvementinYouthKooriCourt.TheirextensiveinvolvementinYouthKooriCourtissupportedwithintheirrole:“weallkindofhaveourownsideprojectsinourrolesasAboriginalCommunityandClientSupportpeople,sosomepeoplefocusmoreoncirclesentencing,ifit'sintheircommunity…oritmightbefocusedmoreoncommunityJusticegroups,allthesedifferentprogramsthatwerun”.


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Therecanbeatensionbetweenprovidingcasecoordinationfunctionsfortheyoungpeoplewhocomebeforethecourtandprovidingadministrativesupportforthecourtitself;alsoshorttermdemandstendtotakepriorityoverlonger-terminfrastructuralprioritieslikerecruitingmoreEldersandliaisingwithcommunityservices.

HOWISTHISROLESUPPORTED/ENABLED?

ThisroleissupportedandfundedbytheAboriginalServicesUnitwithintheDepartmentofJustice.TheAboriginalClientandCommunitySupportOfficerattachedtoanycourtisanadaptableposition.

QUALITIESFORANABORIGINALLIAISONOFFICER

“Idon'tknowhowmuchofthisisinmyroledescriptionbutIseemyselfas-ifIcandoanythingtostopanyofmypeoplefromgettinglockedup,I'lldothat.Ibelievethat'smymainjobdescription… WhenIgoandtryandhelpsomeone,becauseIknowthatIhavehadcousinswhoaregonethewrongway,andmaybeifsomeonesteppedinandhelpthem,theywouldn'tbewheretheyare.Sothat'smyownpersonalbeliefs…”-theAboriginalLiaisonOfficer

CHILDREN’SCIVILLAWSERVICE,LEGALAIDTheChildren’sCivilLawService(CCLS,establishedNovember,2013)isasmallpracticeteaminthecivildivisionofLegalAidNewSouthWales.UponhearingabouttheYouthKooriCourtpilot,theydiscussedwithAboriginalLegalServicesolicitor(withwhomtheyhadanestablishedrelationship)whethertheirservicesmightbenefittheprogram,andthenapproachedtheMagistrateandYouthKooriCourtOfficer(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer)tofurtherdiscusshowtheirservicesmightbeintegrated.CCLSstartedworkingwiththeYouthKooriCourtprograminMay2015aspartoftheintake,andasaserviceyoungpeoplewerereferredontoaspartoftheActionandSupportplan;thisthenadaptedtoaformatofinvolvementinwhichamemberattendedYouthKooriCourtreviewmeetingsonYouthKooriCourtdaysandwouldreportontheirprogresswiththeiritemstothecourt,aswellascatchupwiththeirclients.CCLSalsooffersYouthKooriCourtclientscontinuityofsupportevenwhentheyarenolongerpartoftheYouthKooriCourtprogram.


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TASKSDONEWITHINTHISROLE

TheChildren’sCivilLawServiceprovides“wraparound”legalservicesupporttoyoungpeoplewithcomplexneeds.ThroughinvolvementwiththeYouthKooriCourt,theyhavebeenabletobringanarrayofservicesandpossibilitiestotheyoungpeopleintheprogram.First,amemberoftheteamgoesthroughaLegalHealthCheckwithyoungpeoplewhoareassessedassuitableforYouthKooriCourtaspartofthesubsequentintakeprocess.Thisconsistsofachecklistofquestionstheygothroughwiththeyoungpersontounearthcivillawissuesthattheyoungpersonmaynotrealisetheyhave,thatCCLScanassistwith,forinstance:

o Fines–Ininstanceswhereayoungpersonhasaccumulatedpublictransportfinesforperiodsduringwhichtheywerehomeless,forexample,theCCLScanappealtohavethesefinesremoved.Somefinescanbeworkedoffagainsttheyoungperson’sotherYouthKooriCourtactivitiessuchascounsellingsessionsandtheCCLScanorganisethis.ACCLSlawyerwillreportupdatesasthesemattersprogresswithinYouthKooriCourtreviewmeetings.

o Centrelinkdebts.Thesearealsoreportedoninreviewmeetings.o WorkDevelopmentorderso Policecomplaints–Ifayoungpersonhascomplaintsaboutpolicetoreport,the

CCLScaninvestigateanddealwiththesethroughtheappropriatelegalchannels.SuchmattersarenotdiscussedwithinYouthKooriCourtnoraretheypartoftheYouthKooriCourtprocess.

o Victimcompensation–outsourcedtoapro-bonoprivatelawfirmCCLShasconnectionswith

o Assistanceadvocacywithotherservices(seebelow);updatesonthisarereportedinYouthKooriCourtreviewmeetings.

o Othercivillawservices,someofwhichareapartofrealisingYouthKooriCourtActionandSupportplaces,forexample,sourcingbirthcertificatesandtaxfilenumbersforclients(seebelow),andotherstodowithcivillawsupportfortheyoungperson’s

Dependingonayoungperson’sneeds,theyalsoprovideassistanceadvocacywithotherservices.IntheYouthKooriCourtthishasmainlybeenwithFACS,andtheCCLSteamcanprovideadditionresourcestocomplementFACS’oranotherservice’scasework.Insomecases,itisforyoungpeoplewhoarerecordedasbeingintheCareoftheMinisterbutwhodonothaveanycontactwithFACSandwhomightnotknowaboutthekindofsupporttheycouldaccess.Thiscanentail:

• ConnectingyoungpeoplebackintoFACSservices,andinvolvingappointedFACScaseworkerswiththeYouthKooriCourtsittings.

• Providingadditionalresourcestocomplementotherservice’scasework• HelpingtoholdcaseworkersaccountableforwhattheyhaveagreedtodoaspertheAction

andSupportplan


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• MakingaguidelinesubmissiontoFACStohaveaclient’scasemanagedbyanexternalagencywhichwillbepaidbyFACStoactasaconduitbetweenFACSandtheyoungpersonandtheirfamily.Thisentailsanextensivesubmissionprocessthatmustbesignedoffatahighlevel.Thisoptionisturnedtoinrareoccasionswhereayoungpersonandtheirfamily’srelationshipwiththeinitialagencyisfraughttothepointthatitisanobstacletotheiraccess;thismeasureenablessuchyoungpeopletoaccessservicestheyareeligibletoaccess,andcantakesomecaseloadpressureoffgovernmentagencies.

YoungpeoplemayalsobeinneedoflegaladvocacywithFACSinrelationtotheirbabiesandchildrenthathavebeenremovedorareatriskofbeingremovedfromthem.CCLSlawyerscanprovidelegaladvocacyandsupportbyassistingyoungpeoplewithattendingparentingprogramsandmeetingothercriteria.AccessingofficialdocumentsandentitlementsthroughCentrelink,PublicTrusteeandGuardians,andBirthsDeathsandMarriages:

• Birthcertificates• Taxfilenumbers• Advocacyonbehalfofyoungpeopletoenablethemtoobtainfinancialassistancethrough

Centrelinkifappropriate.

Housing:

• Securingaccommodationforyoungpeople• Helpingyoungpeopleatriskofevictiontoretainhousing• Civiladvocacyforyoungpeopleinout-of-homecarewhoareapproaching18;pursuing

theirleavingcareplans,reviewingtheplansandensuringtheyoungperson’srelevantrightsareenabledbytheplan.

Akeypointisthatthereisthispresumptionthatifyouareinthecare,inthecareoftheMinister,thatyouaregettingeverythingthatyouareentitledtoandthatthesystemisworkingeffectivelyanditjustisn'tChildren’sCivilLawServicelawyer

Connectingclients’andtheirfamiliestootherLegalAidserviceswherenecessary,forexample:

• Supportingtheyoungperson’sfamilytogethousingassistancebyconnectingthemtotheLegalAidCivilServicesforAboriginalCommunitiesteam

• Inidentifyingothermembersoftheyoungperson’sfamilywhomayneedassistanceaccessingwelfarebenefits,dealingwithwillsorestatesandgettingidentitydocuments

ThesesupportsareabletobeprovidedinthecontextofestablishedprofessionalrelationshipstheCCLShaswith:otherLegalAiddepartments,privateprobonolawfirms,FACS,Centrelink,PublicTrusteeandGuardians,andBirthsDeathsandMarriages.CCLShavethedirectrelationshipwith


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clientsandcollectinstructionsfromthem,andwhererelevant,theseotherofficesactinthebackground.

Ourmandateisaroundprovidingourwraparoundservice,atargetedservicetocomplexneedsyoungpeopleandtheseareverycomplexneedsyoungpeoplesowehavetheflexibilitytobeabletoprovidethatserviceifitisidentifiedasbeingneeded.Children’sCivilLawService


TheservicesCCLSprovidethroughYouthKooriCourt(whichincludeoneCCLSsocialworkerandaCCLSyouthworker)werealreadypartoftheirroles,buttheyhaveprioritisedYouthKooriCourtcasesandwereabletoassignanadditionallawyertoYouthKooriCourtaswellasagraduateprogrammeemployee.OnemembernotesthatasaresultofprioritisingYouthKooriCourt,otherlesscomplexcasesarelesslikelytobeabletobetakenon.IfnotthroughYouthKooriCourt,thistargeted,intensivecasemanagementmodelservicecanonlybeaccessedthroughareferralpathwayfromtheALS.CCLS’sinvolvementwiththeYouthKooriCourtisenabledthroughLegalAidNSW.Membersoftheteamalsocredittheirmanager’ssupportforacommittedservicedeliverythatcanbeflexible,responsive,creativeandbasedinstrongrelationshipswithclients:

QUALITIESFORALEGALADVOCACYANDCIVILSERVICESSUPPORTROLE

LegalAid1:“Weareluckytohavethatframeworkand[amanager]whodoesn'tseeitasapooruseoftimetogoouttoWesternSydneyanddosomethingseeminglyinnocuous—havelunchwithaclientorsomething…Butonceyoudothat,youcanachievesomuchmore.”LegalAid2:“…Goingouttolunchmeanswecangetthemtosignanotherdocument…allthatsortofstuff…it'sanotherengagementwiththeyoungperson,attheverybestitenablesthemandprovidesthemwithanadditionalstepforwardtowhateveroutcomeswearetryingtogetthemto.”LegalAid1:“Andtheyalwaysdroptheseclangersin,like‘ohbytheway,I'vegotthisletter…itdoessaythatyou'vegot28daystopay$11,000’…[andwecansay]okay,great,let'stalkaboutthatsomemore.”


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LegalAid2:“Youneedthatsortofconstantengagement…thatopportunemomentwhereit'sjust:‘Heyyahactually,whileIthinkaboutit’.It'scatchingthemomentintimeandyoudon'tgetthatunlessyouareregularlymeetingupwiththatyoungperson,andthat'sreallyimportantforservice.” ….LegalAid2:“We'vehadtolearnaswell.Likewe'vehadtoreallyreflectandyouknowgetresponsive.We'restilllearningnow,[thingslike]thatworkedlasttimebutdidn'tworkthistime…Butweare-youknowwearenotboundbyanythingotherthanbeingreallyclientfocused.…We'llshiftwiththemwithintheframeworkthatwecanprovidewhichisonlylegalservice…we'lljumpandgoandextenditfurthertomeetwheretheyarejusttobridgethatgap.Soit'sjustthatextra-extracommitmentIthink.Andweareinaluxuriouspositionthatourserviceisabletodothat.”

COMMUNITYSERVICEPROVIDERSThiscategorydescribesrolesattachedtovariousservicesthatyoungpeopleintheYouthKooriCourtmightbeallocatedtohelpthemwiththeirActionandSupportplans.


Thiscategorydescribestheworkofseveralcommunityorganisations,suchasDaramuandLEAP.IfallocatedLeadAgencyrole,thisroleentailscasemanagement.TheothertaskstheymightassistwiththroughActionandSupportplansinclude:

• AttendingYouthKooriCourtmeetingsandgivingupdatesontheyoungperson• Mentoringyoungpeople• Providingdirectsupportforsomeissueslistedintheplan,andfacilitatingreferralsfor

otherissues• Supervisedcontactvisitswheretheyoungpersonisaparentandthechildisincare• Helpingyoungpeoplewithtransport(rides,Opalcards,Opaltopups)• Arranginghousing• Arrangingtemporaryoremergencyhousing• Arrangingappointmentswithspecialists(health,mentalhealthetc)andtransporting

youngpeopletoappointments• Organisingculturalactivitieswith/foryoungpeople

StaffworkingintheYouthKooriCourthavenotedthatpartofthepilothasentailedlearning,throughexperience,whichserviceproviderssuitwhichtypeofyoungperson,dependingontheirpersonalitiesandcapacitytomeetyoungpeople’scomplexneeds.Often,youngpeoplehavebeenallocatedtoaserviceproviderexpectedtoprovideintensivecasemanagement,butinmanysituationsthetaskofintensivecasemanagementhasfallentopeopleinotherroles,liketheAboriginalLiaisonOfficerandtheALSlawyer.


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ALSlawyeronclarifyingexpectationsandcapacitywithserviceproviders“Westartedreferring[youngpeople]toX-----butagainmaybeourexpectationsweretoohigh,maybeweneededtobeclearatthebeginningwhatkindofsupportstheycouldoffer.Wethoughttheycouldprovidekindofacasemanagementrole,butIthinkasitturnsoutit'smorelikeaonetimeaweekmentoringtyperole,culturaloutings,theycansupport.SoIthinkthattheonusisonustogetclearaboutourexpectationsaswell,andgetclearaboutwhatsupportsanorganisationcanprovide.”


CommunityservicesworkershaveusuallyparticipatedintheYouthKooriCourtaspartofexistingsupportedroles.Someorganisations(eg:LEAP)needtoarrangeforfundingfromFACSorotherorganisationstosupportanewclient.Thisrequiresanorganisationalinfrastructureskilledinmakingfundingapplications,keepingtrackofgrantsandprovidingreportstofundingbodies.Manycommunityserviceorganisationsaresubjecttograntandfundingcycles.

QUALITIESFORASERVICEPROVIDER/CASEWORKER

SixoftheinterviewedworkerswhohadbeencalledintotheYouthKooriCourtprogramforaparticularservicecitedbeingveryexcitedtolearnabouttheprogramandtobeinvolvedinit.TheenthusiasmYouthKooriCourtfosteredamongstworkersconducivetoitsgoalspointstothepotentiallygoodfitbetweentheexpectationssetbytheYouthKooriCourtprogramandthetypeofworkerswhomeetthem.Amongsttheoverlappingqualitiescitedofagoodserviceprovider/caseworkersare:

• Flexibilitytowardsyoungpeople’schangingcircumstances• Traininginintensivecasemanagementorcasework• Thecapacitytoprovideintensivecase-managementwherenecessary:e.g.:accompanying

youngpeopletoappointments,helpingthemgettocourt,visitingtheirhouseswhentheydon’trespondtophonecalls

• Persistencewiththegoal• Asupportivemanagementandworkplaceethos• Followinguptaskspromptly• Takinginitiativetocreativelytroubleshootunusualproblems


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CommunityserviceproviderdescribingYouthKooriCourtprogram’sflexibility:Ethically,Istruggledat[mypreviousjob]becausewehadsomuchresearchthatjustsaidforIndigenousyoungpeople,thesystemwehave—whereayoungblokehastoreportin,havetodothisprogramhavetodothatprogramiftheydon'ttheygetwarningletters--doesn'tworkforthem.Butthenthatdidn'tchangethemethodology.So…ethicallyIstruggledwiththat…whydowehaveresearchifwearenotgoingtouseitto…evolveormouldourmethodology.

Ithinkthatgoesyouknowtogobacktooneofyourquestionsaroundwhatkindofworkersareneededforthiskindofmodel,Ithinkitneedstobepeoplethatareinthosepowerfulpositionsthatarepreparedtoworkinthesystembutalsoverypreparedtovoice…aneducatedopiniononhowthatsystemisnotbenefitingthechildortheyoungperson.Soitneedstobesomeonethat'squitedevotedtothesystemitselfbecausetheyhavetobedevotedtothesystembecauseiftheyarejustgoingtodoitagainstthesystemthat'snothelpful.Buttheyneedtobedevotedtothechildaswellbutthenalsodevotedtothemselvesthatethicallyandprofessionallythisdoesn'tsitwithme,IneedtobeabletovoicethiswithsomeonenotjustgowellitiswhatitisandI'mjustgoingtogowithitbecauseyouknowthisisn'trightyouknowandbeabletosortoffunctioninthat.

FAMILYANDCOMMUNITYSERVICESTasksdonewithinthisrole

• OrganisingLeavingCareplansforyoungpeople• FollowingproceduresthroughwhichyoungpeopleinCareoftheMinistercanaccess

fundingandresources• Someassistancewithaccommodation• Someassistancewithlivingexpenses• Casework

JUVENILEJUSTICEAJuvenileJusticecaseworkerbasedattheParramattaChildren’sCourtworkedwithseveralyoungpeopleintheYouthKooriCourtprogram.


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TheJuvenileJusticeofficerregularlyattendedYouthKooriCourthearings.Theircontributionstotheprograminclude:

• Goingthroughthescreeningtoolwitheligibleyoungpeoplepriortothesuitabilityassessment,

• Supportingyoungpeopleincustodywithbailapplications • DrawingonestablishedrelationshipswithyoungpeopleasaJuvenileJusticeofficerthey

haverapportwithtofacilitateotherkindsofsupport,forinstance,helpingayoungpersontraveltoarehabilitationcentretheyhadleftanddecidedtoreturnto,


PartofcourtteamatParramattaChildren’scourtandanAboriginalworkerrepresentedontheYouthKooriCourt.

QUALITIESFORAJUVENILEJUSTICEREPRESENTATIVE

“Thejuvenilejustice-theirrolehasbeencrucial.Ithastobeanidentifiedposition,sohavinganAboriginalJuvenileJusticeworkerbecausethatroleisIsuppose,ismoreoffencefocusedsoitoftenhastochallengetheyoungpersononsomeofthethingsthattheyoungpersonissaying,whetheritbeaboutdrugandalcohol,orriskofreoffending,orpeers.And[theJuvenileJusticeworker]hasbeenamazingatbeingabletochallengetheyoungpersoninareallysupportiveandpositivewaybecausehe'sAboriginal,helivesinwesternSydneyandthekidscanreallyrelatetothat.”

DISCUSSIONPOINTS

THEMODELWITHOUTTHEPERSONALITIES?Alongstandingconcernamongstorganisationsinthecommunitysectoriswithhowtofinesseframeworksandprocessessothataprogramcanbescaledupandreproducedinanotherlocale.Paralleltothisisalsoadesireformodellingaprogramsothatitworksregardlessofwhooccupies


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therolesinit.Yetsuccessorfailureofaprogramoftenconcernsmorethanitsstructure.77Passionatestaffwhogoaboveandbeyondandwhoconnectparticularlywellwiththosetheyworkwithcanmakeaprogramsucceed.Thiscanbedisconcertingwhentryingtoextendaprogramwithoutbeingabletobankonreproducingitsstaff.Inordertoshiftfromtheconcernaboutpersonalities,wehavesuggestedqualities,skillsandrolecriterionthathavebeenselectedbyYouthKooriCourtparticipants(includingthepersonintherolebeingdiscussed)askeytomakingthisrolework.ThisstudyhascapturedtheimportanceofallYouthKooriCourtstakeholdersbelievinginandsupportingtheYouthKooriCourt’sprinciplesonorderforworkingprocesses(furtherexploredinChapter10).Ratherthanpersonalities,itisrelationshipsthatappearkeytotheYouthKooriCourt’sprocesses:bothrelationshipsbetweencorestaffandyoungpeople,andrelationshipsamongstservices,lawyers,andcaseworkersworkingineachyoungperson’sinterests.ConsistencyofparticipantswasregularlyhighlightedasimportantforthefutureofthisYouthKooriCourtandforotherfutureYouthKooriCourts,withspecialisedMagistrates,JuvenileJusticerepresentativesandPoliceProsecutors.ManyintervieweeswhowereintimatelyinvolvedwiththeprogramassertedtheimportanceofconsistencyofthesameMagistraterunningthesamecases.ThisbringsaboutparticularpressureontheMagistrate’sroleaschairforYouthKooriCourtmeetings,particularlyastheprogrampotentiallyexpands.Whatkindofsupportwouldenablethisconsistencytocontinuewhilealsoallowingforyoungpeoplewhomightbenefitfrommoreregularmeetings?Wesuggesttwomeasures:

• AuthorisetheAboriginalLiaisonOfficer(supportedbyacasemanagementofficer)toundertakeassessmentsandreviewswhereappropriate.ThesereviewsmightbelessformalthanthemeetingschairedbyaMagistrate,andformalisedversionsofcatch-upsbetweenyoungpeopleandtheAboriginalLiaisonOfficerortheirlegalrepresentatives(fromALSandCCLS).Therecommendationsfromthesemeetingswouldbesubjecttojudicialreviewatasubsequenthearing

• FortheappropriateagenciestosupportongoingtrainingandsupportforYouthKooriCourtmagistrates,buildingontheexperienceofcurrentmagistrates,leadersoftheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunitiesinNSWandotherswithexpertiseintheissuesfacingyoungpersonswhocomebeforethecourt

ProfessionalandpersonalrelationshipsareshowntobekeytomanyaspectsoftheYouthKooriCourtpilot’sdevelopmentandfunction.SeveralofthegiftsdonatedtotheYouthKooriCourttobeawardedatyoungpeople’sgraduations(Colesvouchers,NRLtickets,traditionalhand-wovenbaskets,traditionalwoodcarvings)cameaboutthroughrelationshipsestablishedbytheMagistrateandtheYouthKooriCourtofficerastheypromotedtheprograminwiderjudicialandcommunitynetworks.

77TessLea(2008)HousingforHealthinIndigenousAustralia:Drivingchangewhenresearchandpolicyarepartoftheproblem.HumanOrganization67:77–85.


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Relationshipsarealsoimportanttothereferralnetworks(eg:referralstoaleadagency,andthentheagenciestheleadagencyrefersyoungpeopleto)toprovidecohesivecasemanagementforyoungpeople.MultipleYouthKooriCourtworkersfromco-ordinatedorganisationscitedtheimportanceofdrawingonestablishedprofessionalnetworksinorderto“getthejobdone”.Thisisreportedasbeingboth:

• Effective–becausethetask(whetherthatissecuringhousingorprocessingthepaperworkforaleaving-careplan)isoutsourcedtosomebodyfamiliarwithit,and

• Efficient–becausethebackgroundfortherequestdoesnotneedtobeexplainedafresheachtime.

Insomecases,managingtherelationshipsandresponsibilitiessurroundingacasehasbeenconfusedintheprocess.Strategiessuggestedthathavehelpedsmooththisout:

• Anemailtrailinwhichallthestakeholdersrelevanttoaparticularyoungperson’scasearecc’dinononethreadandupdatedonprogresswiththatyoungperson’scase.Thisallowsquestionsthatmayarisetobeswiftlyraisedandrespondedto,anddocumentsthatonepartyneedstoberequestedandprovided.

• Allocatingresponsibilitiesandclearlyidentifyingaleadagencyforayoungperson’scasemanagementintheYouthKooriCourtconferenceandreviews.

ProfessionalandpersonalrelationshipsareshowntobethekeytomanyaspectsoftheYouthKooriCourtpilot’sdevelopmentandfunction.Severalofthegiftsdonatedandawardedatyoungpeople’sgraduations(Colesvouchers,NRLtickets,traditionalhand-wovenbaskets,traditionalwoodcarvings)cameaboutthroughrelationshipsestablishedbytheMagistrateandtheYouthKooriCourtofficerwiththeDepartmentofPrimeMinisterandCabinetandstaffattheJudicialCommissionastheypromotedtheprograminwiderjudicialandcommunitynetworks.OverthedurationoftheYouthKooriCourtpilot,workersalsocitedlearningbytrialanderrorwhatotherindividualsinotherdepartmentsorareasofexpertisecouldbecalledupontoassistwithspecifictypesofissuesthatyoungpeoplefaced.Aserviceorpersonwhodeliveredagoodoutcomeinatimelymannerwouldbecalledonagain,andtheirrelationshipwiththeprogramstrengthened.

FACS(Housing): “Likeyou’vegotAboriginalservicesalloverthewesternsuburbs,andweallworktogether.”CCLS: “WeusedourrelationshipswiththeWesternSydneyFACSofficetothengetbetterrelationshipsdrilleddowntotherelevantunitsthatwillassistusintheYouthKooriCourtprocess.…WenowhaveanarrangementwiththeParramattaOfficewhereifthereisaYouthKooriCourtyoungpersonandweneedtomakeinitialenquiriesabouttheirstatuswecanemailher,andsheundertakestogiveusinformationaboutthestatusandwhoweneedtocontactthen….Andthat'sthesortofstuffthatisahugeadvantagebecauseyouwouldn'thavebeenabletogettheinformationforweeksonend,you'dbesendingauthoritiestoletterstoyourcommunityservicecentresseeking,youknow,informationorclarificationofinformationanditjust


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formalisesitallandit'sjustabureaucraticbarrier.”

GAPSINTHEPROCESSThereisanarrayofserviceswithinNSWforyoungpeopleinneedofsupportwithdrugaddiction,alcoholabuse,rehabilitation,mentalhealth,familycare,familyplanning,andgeneralhealth.TheYouthKooriCourtisinapositiontoprovideyoungpeoplewithasinglepointofentrytoarangeofservices.Ourobservationssuggestthatprogramstakeholderstakeadvantageoftheiruniquepositiontodrawonpastexperienceswithvariousservicesinordertocontinuouslybuild,understandandrefinetherangeofservicestheyhaverelationshipswith,soastoconnectyoungpeopletoservicesmorejudiciously,witheachyoungperson’sspecificneedsinmind.TheYouthKooriCourtisdistinctwithinthecriminaljusticeandtherapeuticlandscapesurroundingyoungpeopleforprovidingthisconsistent,centralised,andregularpointofoverallcasemanagement.YouthKooriCourtparticipantsprioritiseintensivecasemanagementbecauseyoungpeopleintheYouthKooriCourtprogramgenerallyhaveanarrayofdifficulties(forinstance,housing,drugandalcoholabuse,andmentalillness)occurringintheirlivesatonce,sometimesunpredictably,andontopofthis,theymayhavetoalsomeetrequirementssetbythecriminalandhumanitarianinterventionstheyareinvolvedwith(e.g.:FACS,JuvenileJustice)(seealsoChapter8).Ouranalysisofworkflowprocessesdemonstratesthatinthecurrentarrangement,thiscasemanagementroleiseither

1. Fulfilledbyastakeholderitistaskedto,or2. Taskedtoastakeholderwholacksthecapacitytofulfilit,or3. Fallstoastakeholderwhomustfulfilitbutlackstocapacitytotakethisoninadditionto

theirexistingroleinalong-term,sustainableway.ThissuggestsaweaknessinthemodelthatcouldbeaddressedthroughfundingandstructuralsupportforonededicatedYouthKooriCourtcaseworkco-ordinatorbasedatthecourt.ThiswouldinvolvealistoftaskscurrentlymanagedacrosstherolesofYouthKooriCourtOfficer(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer),JuvenileJusticeofficer,ALSchildren’ssolicitor,MLC,LegalAidinadditiontotheirrole-specificresponsibilities:

• Completingthescreeningtoolwiththeyoungperson• Ascertainingtheavailabilityofappropriateservices• Coordinatingyoungperson’scaseworkers• Followinguponreferralstoseehowtheywent• Accompanyingyoungpeopletomeetings/appointments• Keepingcasecoordinationandservicesupportmovingalong


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• Checkinginwithyoungpeopleandtheirsupportworkers/caseworkersonhowitemsintheActionandSupportplanaremovingalong

• Ensurethatemploymentandtrainingopportunitiesthatreachthecourtcouldbematchedtoyoungpeoplewhomeetthecriteria

• Reportingbacktothecourtontheyoungperson’sprogress

Thecoordinator-theYouthKooriCourtcoordinatorisabsolutelycriticalbecauseIthinkthattherecouldbeconsistencyoftheavailabilityofopportunitiesforyoungpeoplewhoparticipateintheprocessbecausesometimesopportunities,inareallyadhocwayandnoteverybodygetstheopportunitytohavethatbeapartofsomethingthatisavailabletothem.-LegalAidlawyer

ThereisalsoneedforadedicatedYouthKooriCourtOfficertocarryouttheadministrativefunctionstosupporttheoperationofthecourthavetodatebeenundertakenbytheAboriginalClientandCommunitySupportOfficerandcourtregistrystaff.ThedelineationoftheadministrativesupportfunctionstoassisttheMagistrateandthecourtmorebroadlyandthecaseworkco-ordinationfunctionstoassisttheyoungpersonareimportanttoensurethattheimpartialityofthecourtisnotquestioned.

• OrganisingYouthKooriCourtpapersandlistsandtheirdistribution• SettinguptheflagsandpaintingsforthesittingsoftheYouthKooriCourtandremoving

theflagsandpaintingsattheconclusionofthesittings• Organisepreliminaryassessments(withthesupportofacasemanagementworker)• LeadtherecruitmentofElders• Leadthefacilitationanddevelopmentofproductiveculturalprogramsforcourt

participants.• RosteringElders’attendanceatYouthKooriCourt• Undertakingcourtmonitoringandcourtofficerduties• HelptypeupActionandSupportplansaftermeetingforotherstosign• Preparationofcourtpaperworkattheconclusionoftheeachsittingday• ActingastheliaisonpointbetweentheCourtandthestakeholders• Organisingworkingpartymeetings• Collectingdataandkeepingin-housestatisticstoprovidebacktotheworkingparty

AdedicatedYouthKooriCourtofficerwouldallowtheAboriginalClientandCommunitySupportOfficertocontinuetofulfilhis/herusualrolewithspecificfocusonsupportingyoungpeopleappearingintheYouthKooriCourt.Finally,thoughtheYouthKooriCourtworksbyleveragingexistingresources,thereisaneedforfinancialsupportwithformalisingtheinvolvementofEldersandrespectedpersons.ThiswouldbeconsistentwiththepaymentofEldersintheVictorianKooriCourtandcommunitymembersoftheNSWCivilandAdministrativeTribunal.


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Aspartofthesemeasures,weanticipatethatEldersmightbewellplacedtoadvisethecourtonhowmoreopportunitiesforyoungpeopletodeepentheirinvolvementwiththeirculturalheritagemaybeintegratedintotheritualsoftheprogram.

FUNDINGMODELThischapterhasdemonstratedhowtheYouthKooriCourtworksbyleveragingexistingresourcesandbringingrepresentativesoftherelevantagenciestogetherincourthearings,supportedwherepossiblebyacasemanager.Thismodelbringswithitseveraladvantageswhicharedemonstratedinthisreport’sfindings:itenablesregularprogressupdatesfromagenciesconcerned,andaclient-centredapproachbringstheagenciestogetheraroundtheneedsoftheyoungperson.TheYouthKooriCourthearingprocessprovidesamonitoringrolebothinrelationtotheyoungpeoplewhocomebeforeit,andalsoinrespectoftheserviceagencies.Mostcostsaretransferredtootheragencies.Therearedisadvantagestothismodeltoo.Variousserviceshavetheirownsetsofprioritiesandfundingconstraints.Someservicesmaybehardortime-consumingtoaccess.Servicesthatareavailablemaynotalwaysbetheonestheyoungpeopleneed.Serviceagenciesarenotalwaysableorwillingtofollowupwithyoungpeoplewhodonotmeettheirappointments.AdedicatedcasecoordinatortomanagethiscomplexnetworkofagenciesandserviceswouldincreasethelikelihoodofActionandSupportplansbeingputintooperationwithinareasonableperiod.AfulldiscussionofsomeofalternativefindingmodelsisprovidedinChapter12,PolicyReflections.


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CHAPTER8:ACTIONANDSUPPORTPLANSANDLIFEISSUESFORPARTICIPANTSINTHEYOUTHKOORICOURTMostoftheyoungpeoplewhocomebeforetheYouthKooriCourthavedifficultandstressfullives:theymayhavehadfewopportunitiestoconnectwiththeirmobandtheirAboriginalheritage,missedoutoneducationalopportunities,founditdifficulttogetajob,experiencedviolenceathome,attemptedself-harm,liveinunsuitablehousing,haveaccumulateddebts,orhavemajorhealthordisabilityissues.Inmostcasesparticipantsinthecourthaveexperiencedmorethanoneoftheseproblems.WhensomeoneisreferredtotheYouthKooriCourtanassessmentismadetoseeiftheymeetthecriteriaforentryintotheprogram,andifso,anActionandSupportplanisdevelopedwiththeyoungpersontoidentifytheissuesfacingthem.Understandingthiscontextisrelevanttounderstandingtheriskfactorsaffectingtheyoungperson,theriskfactorsbeingconditionsthatmakeithardertostayoutoftrouble.Italsorepresentsanopportunitytoassisttheyoungpeopletogettheirlivestogether,toaddresstheissuesthatfacethemandincreaseinvolvementwiththeircommunity.Theactionplanswerepreparedtoguidethecourtwhentheyoungpersoncamefortheirfirsthearing.Itwasonlyastartingpoint;typicallytheMagistrateandEldersorotherrespectedpersonswouldasktheyoungpersonaboutallaspectsoftheirlives–theirfamily,friends,hobbiesandaspirations–notjustmattersthatwerelistedontheassessmentinterviewreportortheactionplan.Theplansoutline,astheMagistrateoftenexplainedtoyoungpeople,“whatyouhavetodo,andwhatwehavetodotosupportyou”.

AuntyPearl:CreatinganewnarrativeandnewpartnershipswithActionandSupportplansTheinvolvementofEldersintheprocessesandworkingwiththelegalpeopleinmutualrespectfulrelationshipsisanexcellentexamplefortheyouth.Theyseethatpeoplecareenoughtomaketimetospendwiththemandgenuinelysupportthemtonavigatethetensionsoftheirlivesandimprovetheirqualityoflife.ToooftenouryoungpeoplegrowupwithanegativeviewofthelegalsystemandseeitasbeingagainstAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderPeople.Thisprogramhelpsthemtocreatetheirownstoryandexperiencewithitandthishelpsthemchangetheirstereotypeviewsofthelegalsystemwhichhasbecomesoengrainedintheirmindsandtheyhavenoconfidenceinit.ThisprogramgivesthemHOPEandtheycanthenchangeanddevelopanewnarrativewithrespecttothelegalsystemandcorrectionalservice.The“actionsandsupportplans”areagreatideaandthefollowupandoutcomesareatestimonytoitssuccess.

InformationaboutthelifecircumstancesoftheyoungpeoplewassoughtfromthecourtfilesofthosewhocompletedYouthKooriCourtin2016–35inall-andinformationwascodedtoallow


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patternstobeidentified.For25oftheseyoungpeopleanactionplanwaslocated,andforanadditional8therelevantinformationwas(mostly)availablefromtheassessmentinterviewsheet.Twofilescouldnotbelocated.Becausethiswasapilotproject,theadministrativesystemsforrecordinginformationdevelopedorganicallyalongwithotherfeaturesofthecourt’sorganisation,sotheinformationismorecompleteforsomeparticipantsthanothers.Further,notalloftheissuesaffectingayoungpersonwouldemergefromasingleintervieworenquiry:somemattersemergedlaterinhearings,othersweretoodifficulttotalkabout,ortooprivate.Itislikelythattheestimatesprovidedheremisssomeissuesandunder-statetheenormityofthechallengesthatmanyofthecourt’sclientsface.NeverthelesstheActionandSupportplansdoprovidevaluableglimpsesintothecomplexlivesoftheyoungpeoplewhocamebeforetheYouthKooriCourt.Theplansweregenerallyorganisedintothefollowingtopicareas:culturalconnection,accommodation,familyissues,educationandemployment,mentalhealth,otherhealth,civiljusticeissues(suchasgettingidentitydocuments)andother.Withineacharea,thespecificproblemswerespecified,togetherwithproposedactionandapersonororganisationwhowouldberesponsibleforthisaction.Forthepurposesofthisanalysismentalhealthandotherhealthissuesaregroupedtogether,andaccommodationandfamilyissuesarealsogroupedtogether.Thischapterwillpresentanoverviewofeachtopicarea.Withineachareaweprovideavignette,orcasestudy,togiveahumanfacetothestatisticsandshowthecomplexityoftheissuesfacingtheyoungpeople.Thesevignettesarecompositesofseveralparticipantsintheprogramtoavoididentifyinganyparticularperson.Wealsoreviewhowissuestendtobemademoredifficultbecauseofotherissuestheyaretypicallyassociatedwith.

CULTURALCONNECTION

Thefirstissue,andintermsofthecharteroftheYouthKooriCourt,oneofthemostimportantissuesisculturalconnection.Thisisinasenseafoundationformanyoftheotherissues.Dotheyoungpeoplehavesomecontactwiththeirtraditionallandsandrelatives,dotheyknowtheirancestralstoriesandclanlores,dotheyattendactivitiesthatbringthemintoclosercontactwithotherAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderpeople?For26ofthe33youngpeopleforwhomwehaveinformation,thiswasidentifiedasanissuethatneededaddressing.Foralmostalltherestitwasidentifiedasanissuebutonethatwasalreadybeingattendedto.

CASESTUDY:EmmaEmma,17,liveswithherfatherwhoisofIndonesianandFijiandescent.SheisKoorithoughhermotherandmaternalgrandmother–shehasnevermethergrandmotherandhermotherhasbeenaninconsistentfigureinherlife.Emma’soffencesareoftenassociatedwithdrugandalcoholconsumption.Inthepast,shehasbeenhospitalisedforself-harm.Inher


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firstappearanceatYouthKooriCourt,shesaysshewouldliketoexploreherAboriginalheritageandwouldwelcomehavingsomefemalementors.

Manyoftheyoungpeoplecomingbeforethecourthadlimitedcontactwiththeirmob(inmanycasestheyoungpersonhadlinkstoseveralclangroups).Sometimesthelackofcontactwasbecauseofthefamily’smigrationtoSydneyfromthefarwestorsouthcoastofthestate,ordisruptivefamilyexperiences.ThehistoryofforcedmigrationoftheStolenChildrengenerationwasneverfarfromthememoryoftheolderfamilymemberswhocametothehearings.Sometimestherewereissuesintheimmediatefamilythattheyoungpersonwasseekingtoavoid,sooneofthetasksofthecourtwasworkingoutwhichfamilymembersshouldbeinvolvedinsupportingtheyoungperson–typicallygrandparentsoraunts.For13oftheyoungpeople,attendingcampsthatwouldbringthemtogetherwithotherAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderpeople,andinvolvedwithAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandculturalpractices,loreandknowledge,wasrecordedasanactivitythatshouldbeconsidered.Themostwidely-recommendedoutdooradventurewastheCulturalWarriorsprogram,onethatwasparticularlypopularwithyoungmen.Howeverculturalcampswerealsospecificallyrecommendedfortwoyoungwomenaswell.GetfitandfootballprogramswithanAboriginalframeworkwerealsosuggested,whiletheplanforoneyoungmanincludingspendingtimewithanunclelearninghuntingonhisclan’slands.NineofthegroupwereexplicitlylistedaspotentiallybenefittingfromculturalmentoringeitherbyanElder(sometimesoneassociatedwiththecourt)orarelative.Eldersandthecourt’sAboriginalLiaisonOfficerplayedanimportantroleinexploringanddevelopingopportunitiesforyoungpeopletodeepentheirculturalconnection,bothinhearingsandoverthefollowingmonths.

Aunty Fran comments on cultural activities:

Team Work – Learn about each other camp activities.

Need to ensure reading and writing skills are taught by highly educational staff – cultural staff.

Re-education – challenge the youth to think outside the box ie, life skills become self-sufficient.

Education on health food, bush tucker.

ACCOMMODATION

AsecondmajorissuefacingmanyoftheyoungpeoplewhocamebeforetheYouthKooricourtwasfindingsafeandsecurehousing.Athirdoftheyoungpeople(13outof33)wereclassifiedashavinganaccommodationissue,with9ofthesereportedashomeless,13neededhelpfinding


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independentaccommodationorplacementwithsuitablerelativesand3wereclassifiedasinneedofcrisisaccommodation.

CASESTUDY:LEWISLewis,15,hadbeenbroughtupbyhisgrandmotherinaNSWcountrytown,withthreebrothersandtwosisters.Whenheturnedten,hisgrandmotherfellillandhewassenttolivewithanauntinSydney,togetherwithseveralcousins.Hehadanargumentwithhisuncleandleftthishome,tostayonatemporarybasiswithhisolderbrother.Thishousewastoosmall–therewerethreeyoungchildrenaswellinathreebedroomhouse,sohewasaskedtoleave.Morerecently,hehasbeenlivingwithhisgirlfriendandherparents,butisintermittentlykickedoutafterargumentswithhisgirlfriend’sfather(withwhomhehasastrainedrelationship).Duringtheseperiodsofhomelessness,Lewisislessinclinedtoattendschool.HeattributessomeofhisIceandalcoholconsumptiontothesestressors,andattributeshisviolentoffencestoIceandalcohol.

Inmanycasesthehousingsoughtwasnotjustfortheyoungpersonthemselves–atleastsixofthosewhocamebeforethecourtwerealreadyparentsandtwomorewereabouttobe.Bringingapartnertoliveinafamilyhomewassometimesapointofcontention–someparentsorrelativesprovidingarooffortheyoungpersondidnotfeelitwasappropriatetoaccommodateaboyfriendorgirlfriendaswell.Insomecasestheyoungpersonhadbeeninvolvedinafamilyviolenceincidentinvolvingapartner,ortheirchildhadbeenremovedfromthem.Oneyoungpersonhadstayedforawhileinarefuge,buthadreportedlybeenabusedthereaswell.Sometimesthehousingneedreflectedfamilypoverty:oneyoungpersonlivedwith14otherpeopleinarelativelymodesthouse,othersmovedbetweenrelativesallofwhomhadlimitedspace.Inonecasethemostsuitablehousingoptionappearedtobestayingwithanuncle,buttheplacewastoosmall.Inanothercaseagrandmotherwaswillingtoprovideashelterforhergrandsonbutneededfinancialassistancetodoso.Foroneyoungmanthegrandmotherappearedtobethemostsuitablecarer,butthiswasnotpossiblebecauseofanapprehendedviolenceorderbroughtagainsttheyoungpersonbyanothermemberofthehousehold.Housinginsecuritywasoftenaccompaniedbyproblemswithfindingemploymentorfinishingeducation–9ofthe13peoplewithahousingissuewerealsorecordedashavingaproblemwitheducationoremployment.Onetypeoftrainingthatwasidentifiedasusefulforsomeoftheyoungpeoplewaslivingskillsprograms,designedtoallowthepersontomakeasuccessfultransitiontoindependentliving.SeveraloftheActionandSupportplansmadereferencetothis.Proximityofaccommodationtopotentialschoolingorjobopportunitieswasoneissueraisedinrelationtosuitablehousing.Distancefrompreviousco-offendersandsitesoflikelytroublewerealsoidentifiedasdesirable.Foroneyoungmanitwastheresidentialhomehewaslivinginthatprovidedboththeopportunitiesandthecompanionsforhismisdemeanours.


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Housinginsecuritywassometimesassociatedwithhealthissues;11ofthe13peoplewithahousingproblemalsohadapersonalhealthissue.Thiscompoundedthechallengetofindingsuitableaccommodation.Oneyoungmanlivedwithhisgrandmother,whowasseriouslyill,sohehadbecomeineffecthercarer.Anotheryoungmantriedlivingwithhisfatherfortwomonths,buthisfatherwasaddictedtoiceandthearrangementbrokedown.

EDUCATIONANDEMPLOYMENT

Educationandemploymentwasthemostfrequentlyrecordeditemonactionplans,with26ofthe33youngpeopleraisingatleastoneissueinthisarea.For13ofthemtheissuementionedwasgettinganapprenticeshiporapplyingforTAFE,for9itwasgettingbacktohighschool,andfor9itwasapplyingforjobs.Theissueswereconnected–withoutsomequalifications,oratleastfinishingschool,theprospectsforfindingajobwerelimited.Almostnoneoftheyoungpeoplehadcompletedhighschoolandseveralofthemhadbeensuspendedorexpelledfromschool(sometimesfrommorethanoneschool).Onepersoncompletedhisyear10studieswhileindetention.Jobsthatwerereportedtendedtobeshorttermandcasual,althoughthereisreferenceintheActionandSupportplanstosomeemployersinwesternSydneywhohadmadespecialprovisiontoemployyoungKooripeople.Whiletheoverallprospectsforfindingworkwerelimited,theactionplansdididentifythepathwaysthatwerepossiblyavailable.

CASESTUDY:REGReg’slearningandhearingdifficultiesmeantschoolwasalwaysachallenge.Hewassuspendedseveraltimesforfighting,andonceforsmokingcannabisoncampus.Heeventuallystoppedattendingwhenhewas13.Now,at15,hepreferstheideaoffindingworkratherthanreturningtoschool.Heliveswithanoldercousinandhertwoyoungchildren,andthereislittlestructuretohisdays.Asachild,Regwasavictimoffamilyviolenceandisnolongerincontactwithhisparentsbuthascloserelationshipswithseveralrelatives.

Theactionplansdescribedthetypeofstudyorworkthepersonwasmostinterestedin–theseincludedcarpentryandbricklaying,landscaping,childcare,bakeryandhospitality.ThemostsuitablelocalTAFEsandtrainingorganisationstogetskillsintheseareaswereidentified.Sometimesliteracyorjobreadinessprogramswereidentifiedasanecessarysteppriortofurtherstudy.Gettingaforklifttrucklicensewasthegoalforoneyoungman,whileobtainingawhitecardtoworkonconstructionsiteswastheobjectiveofseveral.Evenmorebasicdocumentsweresometimesrequiredtohelptheyoungpersonobtainemploymentoreducation,includingbirthcertificates,Medicarecards,publictransportcards(Opalcards)anddrivinglicenses.Thesewereincludedonactionplansas‘civillaw’matters,acategorythatalsoincludedopeningbankaccountsandaddressingaccumulatedunpaidfines.


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Altogether19ofthe26youngpeoplewithaneducationoremploymentissuewerealsorecordedasneedingsupportwithacivillawmatter.Anadditionalobstacletogettingbacktoschoolorintoastablejobwaspossiblesubstanceabuse.Themajorityofthosewithaneducationorjobissue(18ofthe26)werealsorecordedashavingaproblemwithdrugs.Oneyoungpersonlosthisjobafterfailingadrugtest.SeveralhadusedIcefromtimetotime,causingdamageorinjuringothers.Mosthadsomeexperiencewithmarijuana,andseveralwereregularusers.Manysaidtheiruseofalcoholorotherdrugswasundercontrol.Theissuewasneverthelessnotedontheactionplanforthecourttomonitor.

HEALTHANDSUBSTANCEABUSE

TwooutofeverythreeyoungpersonassessedaseligibletoentertheYouthKooriCourt(22outof33)hadatleastonehealth-relatedissue.Theseincludedneedforgeneralhealthordentalcheck-ups(8),hospitalcareorattentiontoacurrentinjury(7),disabilitysupport(6),aswellasneedforparticipationinmorephysicalactivity(5),oranothertypeofintervention(10).Atleastonepersonmentionedahearingproblem,severalmentionedmentalhealthissuesandthreeweresuspectedofhavingADHD.ComingtoYouthKooriCourtprovidedanopportunityforthiswiderangeofhealthissuestobeaddressed.Healthwasinterpretedbroadlytoincludefitness,andphysicalandemotionalwellbeing.Oneoftheconsistentthemesinactionplanswasanemphasisonsport,particularlysportwithaculturaldimension.TheBreakingBarriersfitnessprogramwaslistedassomethingthatshouldbeexplored,aswellasvariousformsoffootball.Substanceabusewasidentifiedasanissueforalmostalloftheyoungpeople,28outof33.SixoftheseexplicitlymentionedmethamphetaminesincludingIce,speedandecstasy,while16reportedusingcannabis(or‘yarndi’asmostofthemcalledit)and12listedalcohol.Ofthe28peoplerecordedashavingadrug-relatedissue,18alsohadproblemswitheducationoremployment,while15alsohadaproblemwithfinedebt.Someofthetheftsandburglariesthattheyoungpeoplehadtakenpartinappearedtobefocusedongettingmoneyfordrugs.

CASESTUDY:DAVE

Daveis16yearsold.HewasplacedinthecareoftheMinisterasachild,andhasgrownupinastringoffostercareplacementsaroundSydney.Hishousingsituationhasalwaysbeenprecarious.Davestartedsmokingcannabiswhenhewasnine,andhasbeenregularlyusingIcesincehewas12,whichisaroundthetimethathisjuvenilecriminalrecordbegins.Heincurrentlyincustodyforbreachingbail–heusestheperiodsoftimeincustodytoforcehimselfawayfromdruguse,andclaimshesometimesseeksthemoutforthispurpose.Dave’sfatheralsolivesinSydney:heremainsincontactwithhimeventhoughhecannotlegallylivewithhim.Hisoldersiblingsareinadultcustody.


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Severalorganisationsweretypicallyidentifiedashavingprogramsrelevanttothehealthanddrugabuseneedsoftheyoungpeoplewhocametothecourt.TheseincludedtheAboriginalMedicalService,JusticeHealth,HeadspaceandDaramu.Counsellingwaslistedasarecommendedapproachformanydrug-relatedproblems,withtheTedNoffsFoundationandtheSalvationArmy’sFYRSTschemebeinglistedasusefulagenciesforhelpingpeoplebreakdrughabits.

CIVILJUSTICEMATTERS

Establishingone’sidentityisanessentialpartofgettingajob,accesstoservicesandallowingpeopletotakepartinmodernsociety.Yetmorethanathird(13/33)oftheyoungpeoplecomingtotheYouthKooriCourtlackedbasicidentitydocumentslikeabirthcertificate.Another5neededhelptogetabankaccount,10toregisterwithCentrelinkand4togetaMedicarecard.Theactionplansdocumentedthesecriticalgapsandspecifiedhowtheproblemwastobeaddressed.

CASESTUDY:AIMEEAimee,16,wasbornandraisedontheCentralCoast,andshiftedtoSydneywithherparentswhenshewas10.Shecomesfromaclosefamilywhotakecareofoneanotherasbesttheycan.Thefamilyhavelongstandingfinancialhardshipandhavedifficultyaccessingmanyofthesupportstheyareentitledto.Aimee’sownbirthwasnotregisteredsoshedoesn’thaveanyID,whichkeepsherfromaccessingCentrelinkandMedicare.ShehasaccumulatedseveralpublictransportfinessincelivinginSydney.Shealsohasababywhowastakenoutofhercare.

Unpaidfineswereaproblemforoverhalf(18/33)oftheyoungpeople.Severalofthemhadfinedebtsofover$1500,amountsthattheymostlyunemployedfrequentlyhomelessyoungpeoplewerenotinanypositiontopay.Indeed15ofthe18peoplewithunpaidfineissueswereidentifiedashavingdifficultieswitheducationoremployment.TheactionplansflaggedWorkDevelopmentOrdersandotherapproachesthatcouldbefollowedwithsupportofLegalAid’sciviljusticelawyers.Onecommonreasonforgettingafinewasnotpayingfaresonpublictransport,sogettinganOpalcardwasidentifiedasanissueforafewpeopleattheactionplanstage,andformorepeoplesubsequentlyduringhearings.Peoplewithunpaidfineswerehighlylikelyalsotohavedrug(15)oremployment/educationissues(15).


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CONCLUSION

TheYouthKooriCourtcarriedoutapreliminaryinvestigationofthesocial,culturalandlegalcontextofthelivesofthosewhocamebeforeit.TheActionandSupportplansrecognisedthedisturbedfamilybackgroundsandpoverty-relatedchallengesmanyoftheyoungpeoplehadexperienced.Itdocumentedtheirhealthandlegalneeds,includingfinedebt.Itidentifiedproblemswithaccommodation,schoolingandjobsandsuggestedpossiblestrategiestoaddresstheissues.Notalloftheplanswereasthoroughasothers,butthegeneralimpressiontheyprovideisofacomprehensiveandsystematicapproachtoidentifyingandaddressingthesocialdisadvantagesthatwerealsoriskfactorsforoffending.WhatcomesthroughtheActionandSupportplansisastoryofdisadvantage,exclusionandhardship,mixedinwithdisorganisationandpoordecisions.Despitethisthestorybehindtheactionplansisalsoastoryofhope,asstrategiesarelaidouttoaddresseachoftheidentifiedproblems.TheextenttowhichtheinterventionsweresuccessfulistakenupnextinChapter9,SocialOutcomesoftheYouthKooriCourtProcess.


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CHAPTER9:SOCIALOUTCOMESOFTHEYOUTHKOORICOURTPROCESS

INTRODUCTION

TheYouthKooriCourtbeginsitsrelationshipwitheachclientwithanassessmentandanActionandSupportplan.Thisdocumentisdevelopedduringaninitialhearing.Itoutlineswhatisexpectedtohappenduringtheyoungperson’sinvolvementwiththecourt.Issuesareitemisedusingtheheadingsreportedinthepreviouschapter:accommodation,culturalissues,educationandemployment,substanceabuse,healthandmentalhealth,andcivillawmatters.Personsoragenciesresponsibleforcarryingoutthetasksarespecified.Theofficialcompletionoftheprocessisagraduation,inwhichtheoutcomesoftheactionplansarereviewed,followedbyasentencethattakesintoaccountboththeseriousnessofthechargesandthechangestotheyoungperson’slifeduringtheirtimeontheprogram.Thischapterreviewstheprogressreportedinthefinalhearingtowardsreachingthetargetsoutlinedintheplans.TheActionandSupportplancanbeseenashavingadoubleobjective.Itidentifieschallengesintheyoungperson’slifestyleorsupportsystemthatneedaddressingiftheyoungpersonistohaveareasonablechanceofgettingtheirlifebackontrack.Atthesametimetheactionplanidentifiestheriskfactorsintheyoungperson’slifethatmakeoffendingmorelikely.Forthemostpartthetwoobjectivesarethesame–gettingaskill,ajob,asafehousingsituationandgivingupIceallowstheyoungpersontodevelopafuturetolookforwardto;theseachievementsarealsoexpectedtoaddresssomeofthekeyriskfactorsassociatedwithgettingintotroublewiththelaw.Dataforthisanalysishasbeenobtainedfrom19transcriptsofthesentencinghearingsthattookplacefromJulytoDecember2016.Thisisapproximatelyhalfofthesampleusedtodescribetheactionplansthemselves(whichcoveredthewholeyear)andprovidesareasonablevarietyofcases,allowingsometentativeconclusionstobedrawn.Oneofthesentencinghearingstookplacewithoutanactionplaneverbeingdeveloped–severalconferenceshadbeenscheduledtomakeaplanbutforvariousreasonstheyoungpersonhadnotmanagedtoattendone.ItwasnecessarytokeepthiscaseinthesampletoprovideabalancedpictureoftheoutcomesoftheYouthKooriCourtprocess.Thehearingsreviewedtheissuesthathadbeenidentifiedontheactionplans,providingupdatesfromtherelevantsupportworkersororganisationsaroundthetable,supplementedbywrittencommentsfrompersonswithknowledgeofthespecificissue.Wherenewissueshademergedaftertheactionplansweredeveloped,thesemightalsobereviewed.Similarlyifissueswerenolongerrelevanttheymightnotbementionedinthefinalhearing,havingbeenaddressedinaprevioushearing.Participantscommentedonwhattheysawassuccessesorfailuresbothintheprovisionofservicesandtheresponsesoftheyoungpeopleconcerned,andthemagistratethendeterminedasentencebasedonthesubmissionsmadebytheprosecutorandtheyoungperson’ssolicitor,theperformanceoftheyoungpersonduringhisorhertimeintheYouthKooriCourtandtheapplicablelegalprinciples,includingthemaximumsentenceforeachoffence.Becausethe


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youngpersonwaspresent,andtheircooperationwasessentialforasuccessfulgraduationceremony,commentsabouttheyoungpersonweresometimesalittlecoded–forexampleaboutissueslikeattemptedsuicide-andeuphemismsusedtoavoidembarrassment.Positivecommentsaboutprogressbythedefencelawyercouldbecounteredbyperspectivesfromtheprosecution,butinpracticetheprosecutoravoidedmakingnegativecommentsabouttheyoungpersonandgenerallyconfinedthemselvestoarguingforconsistencyofsentencewithco-offendersordrawingthecourt’sattentiontotheimpactonvictims.OverallthereviewcanbeseenasareasonablyfrankaccountofthesocialoutcomesoftheYouthKooriCourtprocess.Thereviewwasnotalwayscomprehensive,withthecommentsfocusedonwhattheparticipantsconsideredtobethecriticalissues;andasnotedabove,issuesthathadalreadybeenresolvedwerenotnecessarilymentioned.Thismeanswesometimesdonotknowfromthetranscriptsofthegraduationhearingswhethersomeoftheissuesoriginallyidentifiedasaproblemhadbeenresolvedornot.Thischapterclassifiesoutcomesintermsoftheextenttowhichtheobjectiveinitiallyspecifiedhadbeenachieved,partlycompleted,ornotcompleted.Itwasanticipatedthat,giventheseverelytraumatisingbackgroundsmanyoftheyoungpeoplehad,successescouldwellbemodest,takesometimeandtherewouldbesetbacks.Infact,whatthedatarevealisageneralpatternofsystematic,ifsometimesuneven,progress;organisationsworkingcooperativelytoaddressverycomplexchallenges;andyoungpeopleinitiallyhostiletoanyformofauthorityslowlydevelopinggreaterself-assuranceandcommitmenttolessriskylifestyles.Amajorpurposeofapilotprogramsuchasthisistoidentifypossiblegapsbetweenaspirationandachievement,sothischaptertriestodescribethese,providingastrongerfoundationfortheimplementationofanongoingprogram.

HOUSINGANDACCOMMODATION

Ofthe19youngpeopleinthissample,10wereconsideredtohavesomesortofaccommodationissuewhentheactionplanwasdeveloped,includingtwowhowereincustodyandneededsomewheretostayontheirrelease.Ofthe10,fourhadhadtheirproblemsortedoutbythetimeofthegraduationfromYouthKooriCourt,forthreearesponsewasinprocess,whileattemptstoresolvethreeyoungpeople’saccommodationissueswereclassedasbeingunsuccessful.Fivewereclassifiedintheiractionplanasbeinghomelessorhavinganurgenthousingneed.Forthreeofthese,thehousingproblemhadbeenaddressedtosomeextentatthetimeofthegraduationfromYouthKooriCourt,foroneasolutionhadbeenfoundbutwasnotyetputintoaction,andfortheremainingtwoasolutionhadnotyetbeenfound.TwoofthosewhoseimmediatehousingcrisishadbeenmetwerelivinginayouthrefugerunbyaCatholicorganisation.Oneofthosewhereaprovisionalsolutionhadbeenfoundwaslivinginemergencyaccommodationwithhisfamilyawaitingtransitionalhousing.Oneofthosewhohadbeeninurgentneedofhousinghadashortperiodofstablehousing,butwasbackincustodybythetimeofsentencing.


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Otherissuesidentifiedincludedhelpingtheyoungpersondevelopindependentlivingskills,getontolistsforindependenthousingandhelpingparentsorguardiansaccessfinancialsupportforhousing.Therewassomesuccessingettingyoungpeopleontolistsforindependenthousing,butfindingsuitablehousinginatighthousingmarketwasachallenge.Inonecasetheyoungpersonwastooyoungtobeeligibleforindependenthousing,sotheissuewasflaggedasamatterforfutureaction.Oneissuethatrestrictedhousingchoicewasconflictwithpartnersorotherfamilymembers.Oneyoungpersoncouldhavefoundamorestablehomeenvironmentifhemovedintohisgrandmother’splace,butanothermemberofherhouseholdhadtakenoutanApprehendedViolenceOrderagainsthim.Sothemostobviousandidealoptionoflivingwitharelativewasnotavailabletothisyoungperson.Thiscaseillustratedthecomplexandmulti-facetednatureofmosthousingissues.Rarelywastheissuejustahousetostayin,itusuallyhadextracomplicationslikeviolence(whetherbyoragainsttheyoungperson),conflictordrugs.Oneexchangebetweenthemagistrate,theALSlawyerandtheyoungpersonsumsupthehousingcrisisfacingmanyyoungpeoplewhocomebeforethecourt:

HERHONOUR:SoIknowthatyou’vetriedreallyhardoverthelastyear,butintermsofthatprimaryneedforyoutohavestableaccommodation,wehaven'tbeenabletogetthat,havewe?ALSlawyer:Clearlysince[nameoftown]--

HERHONOUR:It’syouragethat’sbeentheproblem-sorry.ALSlawyer:Sinceleaving[town]J78wasinarefugein[suburb]forquiteafewmonthsandreturnedtoschoolandwasquitestableandJwasdoingreally,reallywellandthenwhenthataccommodationwasnolongeravailableitreallysortofhasn’tbeenthesamesince,hasit?

YOUNGPERSON:No.ALSlawyer:It’sbeenlotsoftransienceandnostableaccommodation.

Anotherexampleof‘transience’isprovidedinasentencingsubmissionbytheALSlawyer:

ALSlawyer:EverythingelseisintheJuvenileJusticeReport,yourHonour.ReviewedanolderJuvenileJusticeReportin2012,yourHonourisawareof[youngpersonM’s]backgroundbutMwasremovedfromM’smum’scarein2009andplacedintothecareofM’s[oldersibling]andthatwasessentiallybecauseofdomesticviolencebutalsobecauseofsubstanceuse.ThenMwasremovedfrom[M’soldersibling’s]carein2011placedwith[careorganisation]andthen

78Thesetranscriptshavebeenslightlymodifiedtoremovespecificplaces,activitiesandrelationshipsfromthedepiction,andtohideorobscuretheyoungperson’sgenderandage.


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[anothercareorganisation]soMhashadthatbackgroundthatweoftenseeintheChildren’sCourtoftransienceandmovingaroundfromdifferentresidentialplacements.

Thereportdocumentstheinterlockingissues–housinginsecurity,familyviolence,andsubstanceabuse.Theword‘transience’comesupoftenduringgraduationhearingswhenhousingissuesarediscussed.Evenwhenanapparent‘solution’isfoundatonepoint,bythetimethenexthearingcomesaround,thesituationcouldhavechangedconsiderablyandanewcrisisemerged.Soitwouldbeanticipatedthatsomeofthe‘successes’reportedatthegraduationhearingmayevolveintoanewcrisissometimelater.Furthersomeofthe‘solutions’–emergencyhousingoraplaceinarefuge–couldhardlybeconsideredacceptablelonger-termoptions.Oneoftheissuesthatwassometimesassociatedwithhousinginsecuritywasfamilyviolence.Manyoftheyoungpeoplehadexperiencedfamilyviolenceintheirfamiliesoforiginorwiththeirownpartners.Thisledtooneofthepartnershavingtofindnewaccommodation.Italsoledtoongoingstress:

HERHONOUR:ItsoundslikeyourrelationshipwithKhasnotbeenverygood.

YOUNGPERSON:No,Idon’ttalktoher;notideal,it’snotgood.HERHONOUR:Iknowyou’dalwayssharethatbondbecauseshe’sthemotherofyourchild,but-yes,it’sstillsometimesbettertowalkawayfromrelationshipsthatarehelplessanddoworsethanthat,becausetheycontinuetohurtus,youknow.Youcangetthatextrastrengthtosayit’sjustnotworthit,butitisamatterforyou,I’mnotorderingyouterminatearelationship.ALSLAWYER:TheCourtmightrecallthatJwasavictimalsoandhadtoattendLocalCourtwhenKwaschargedwithanassaultagainstJ,soit’sbeenaprettytoxicrelationshipforawhile.

Housingstressand‘toxic’relationshipsplacedgreatpressurebothontheyoungpersonappearingbeforethecourtandtheirfamilies.Howeveritwasnotuncommonforthepartneroftheyoungperson,wherefamilyviolencehadbeenanissue,tobepresentincourtasoneofthemajorsupportpeople.Transiencecouldapplyasmuchtorelationshipsashousing.

CULTURALCONNECTION

DevelopingopportunitiesforyoungpeopletoconnectwiththeirAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderheritageandcommunitywereregardedbythemagistrate,Eldersandothersaroundthetableassomeofthemostfundamental,evenifnotnecessarilyasurgentasmatterslikehousing.ThesewerealsotheActionandSupportplanitemsthattendedtogetleastmentioninthegraduationhearing.Thiswassometimesbecausetheyhadalreadybeenaddressed,atleastinitially–suchasgettingproofofAboriginality.ThelackofspecificmentionwasalsobecausecontactwithotherpeoplefromanAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderbackgroundwasanintegralpartoftheKooriCourtexperience:


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HERHONOUR:Ithinkit’syourlastappearancebeforeus?

YOUNGPERSON:Yes.HERHONOUR:ButIdoknowthatyou’vemetsomewonderfulEldersalongthewayandIhopeyouremembertheKooriCourt-workingculturallyrespectfullywiththeElders.Ithinkit’smoreimportantforustohelpyougetoutofhereratherthanadjourning,isthatokaywithyou?

YOUNGPERSON:Yes.HERHONOUR:Allright,butyoudohavesomerespectedpeoplefromtheAboriginalcommunityheretodayandsupportingyou

AcriticismoftheVictorianYouthKooriCourtwasthatculturalissuesreceivedrelativelylittleattentionaftertheinitialacknowledgementofcountry79.Thiscommentwasmadeinrespectoftheritualsofthehearingitselfratherthanthetypesofactivitiesenabledbyparticipationintheprogram.OneoftheformsofculturalactivitymostfrequentlymentionedintheActionandSupportplanswasattendanceatculturalcamps.CulturalcampsrefertocampingexperiencesbasedaroundAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderculturalpractices,loreandknowledgethatareleadbyAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslander-runorganisations.Ofthe18youngpeopleinthesample,sevenwererecommendedtoattendaculturalcamp.Inthegraduationhearing,onlyonewasrecordedashavingattendedsuchacamp,twohadnotattendedthecampandfortheotherstheissuewasnotmentioned.Onereasonmentionedwhytherecommendationhadnotledtoaction,accordingtoonereporttothecourt,waslackoffunding.HowevershortlyaftertheseobservationsweremadetheDepartmentofPrimeMinisterandCabinetfundedtwoculturalcampsspecificallyfortheYouthKooriCourt.Theabsenceofspecificdiscussionofopportunitiesforculturalconnectionwasalsosometimesbecausetheseopportunitieswerediscussedintermsofsport,mostfrequentlyrugbyleaguealthoughboxingwasalsosometimesmentioned.

HERHONOUR:Allright,apartfromlookingwellhowhavethingsbeengoing?

YOUNGPERSON:Yeahprettygood,I’vestartedtrainingandthat.HERHONOUR:Whatsortoftraining?YOUNGPERSON:Footballtraining.HERHONOUR:Ofcourse,IcouldassumethatbutIneedjusttoask.[Asksnameofteamandlocation]

YOUNGPERSON:[positionontheteam]andcaptainofIndigenous. 79McAsey,Bridget(2005)AcriticalevaluationoftheKooriCourtDivisionoftheVictorianMagistrates'Court. DeakinLawReview 10:654-686p668.


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HERHONOUR:Isee,verygood.ThemagistrateandyoungpersonthenwentontodiscusswhichNRLteamhesupported.Inanothercase,theyoungpersonwasawardedafootballasrecognitionofhisachievementintheYouthKooriCourt.Anotheryoungpersonhadbeentakentoarugbyleaguegrandfinalbyhisemployer.Oneofthegraduatingyoungpeoplehadjustreceivedapresentationforstickingathissportallseason.Notonlythat,theinvolvementwiththissportledtoajob:

FAMILYANDCOMMUNITYSERVICESWORKER:[playingthissport]involvedtrainingtwiceaweekandgamesontheweekendtoo.HealsogotalittlebitofemploymentthroughoneofthetrainerstherewhichhedidandIthinkwe’vementionedinKooriCourtbeforethathewasoneofthebestemployeeshehadseen

Manyoftheyoungpeople–bothmenandwomen–hadbeenencouragedtojoinAboriginalsportingteams,andtheirmatchesweresometimesattendedbymembersofthecourt,includingtheAboriginalliaisonofficerandtheAboriginalLegalServicelawyer.Apartfromstrengtheninglinkswithothermembersoftheircommunity,sportingactivitiesalsopromotedfitnessandattentiontohealthissues,issuesthatwerecommentedonfavourablybythemagistrate.Otherissues,suchasdealingwithdrugaddiction,couldbeunderstoodintermsoftheincreasedcontactwithmentorsfromtheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunity:

HERHONOUR:Ihavetakenintoaccountyourearlyresistancetodealingwithcannabisusebutyouracceptance,afterthisoffence,thatyouneededtoacceptadviceanditistoyourcreditthatyouhave.Youhaveacceptedadvice,youhaveacceptedrecommendationsandyoufullyengagedwithcounsellingandIamverypleased,notonlythatyouhavegonetocounsellingbutthatyouhavegonetocounsellingwithZ,a[counsellor]whoIamdevelopinganincreasedrespectforintheircapacitytodealwithmanyyoungpeoplebutAboriginalpeopleinparticularandIwastoldrecentlythatZisnotonlyacounsellorbutZisanAboriginalmentorandZisagoodperson,Ithink,foryoutobeinvolvedwithintermsofreinforcingyourresulttostay,notonlyoutoftroublebutalsotostayawayfromcannabiswhichhasledyouintotrouble.

HavingservicesandserviceproviderswhowereunderstandingofandresponsivetoyoungFirstPeoples,specifically,meantthatevenchallengingissueslikedrugaddictioncouldprovideagatewaytostrengtheninganddeepeningtheirconnectiontotheirAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderculturalheritage.


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EDUCATIONANDEMPLOYMENT

GettingbackintoschoolorgettingastartinthejobmarketweretwooftheobjectivestheYouthKooriCourtpaidparticularattentionto.Ofthe19youngpeopleinthesample,allbutonehadsomegoalsspecifiedinthisarea,seveninschooling,seveninsomeformofapprenticeship,andnineinapplyingfororgettingajob.(Somehadmorethanoneobjectiveidentified).Threehadresumedtheirschooling,fourhadtakenupanapprenticeship,threehadsecuredajobandanotherthreewereintheprocessoflookingforone.Soofthe19youngpeople,a10couldbeconsideredsuccesseseitherinschoolattendanceorgettingajoborapprenticeship,3couldbeconsideredtobe‘inprogress’,whilefortheremaining6youngpeople,wehavenoevidenceaboutprogressinthisarea.Oneofthosewhowasontracktocompletehisschoolinghaddonesoincustody.ButforothersregularschoolinghadnotworkedandTAFEwasconsideredamoreacceptableoption.

FAMILYMEMBER:GoingtoTAFEnextweekat[suburb]doingacoursethereinconstructionwiththeAboriginalcircleso[Qwill]betheretilltheendofthisyear.YOUNGPERSON:Tenweeks.HERHONOUR:Tenweeks.

FAMILYMEMBER:So[Qwill]haveallthecertificatestogetintoalabourer’sjoborifQwantstogotoTAFEtodoYear10…..HERHONOUR:Ireadinthereportthatyou’dratherdothatviaTAFEthangobacktonormalschoolbecauseyou’reabitolder.YOUNGPERSON:Yeahthat’sright,they’dputmeinYear9again,I’llgotoTAFE.HERHONOUR:They’dputyouinYear9?

YOUNGPERSON:YeahifIgobacktoschoolthey’lltrytoputmebacktoYear9soyeah,muchbetteratTAFE.

HERHONOUR:Butluckilytherearethosealternativesandyoujustgrabholdofthem,doesn’tmeanyouhavetomissoutonyoureducation,youjustdoitdifferently.

YOUNGPERSON:Yeah.HERHONOUR:Good.Soyou’recommittedtoeducationonewayoranother?YOUNGPERSON:Yeah.

TheinteractionshowsthemagistrateemphasisingtheimportanceofeducationandendorsingthedecisionoftheyoungpersontouseaTAFEpathwaytocompletetheirhighschooleducation.InsomecasesTAFEdidnotjustprovidearegularcourseforhighschoolcompletion,theMacarthurTAFEinsouthwestSydneyalsoprovidedaspecialconstructioncourseforAboriginalstudents.ItwasnoaccidentthattheYouthKooriCourtput‘education’and‘employment’issuesintothesamecategoryinitsActionandSupportplans.Formanyoftheyoungpeoplegettingsomeformof


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trainingwasthekeytogettingajob.Thisconnectionwasmadeexplicitlyinoneexchangebetweenayoungpersonandthemagistrate:

HERHONOUR:Butyou’restilllookingforthemagicaljob.YOUNGPERSON:Yeah.HERHONOUR:Anyprogressatallonthator?YOUNGPERSON:No,I’vebeengoingoutforsomebut,like,myreadingandthat’snotgoodand,like,someoneneedsmylicenceandmyWhiteCardandthat,I’vestillgottogetmyWhiteCardandthat.HERHONOUR:Okay,isyourreadingaproblemtogettheWhiteCardor—

YOUNGPERSON:No,liketheothersjusttoget-becauseIwasgoingto-Iwentforthiscoursewiththe[namestrainingcourse].

HERHONOUR:Yes,yes.YOUNGPERSON:Butlikeyoureallyneedtobegoodforit.HERHONOUR:Yes.

YOUNGPERSON:Yeah.HERHONOUR:Canyoudoanythingabouttheliteracything,thereadingandwriting-Iknowtheanswerisyes-willyoudoanythingaboutit,willyoutrythat?YOUNGPERSON:Idon’tknow,IwanttolookforsomethinglikejustphysicallikewhereIdon’tgottoreadorwriteyouknow.

Whilesomeyoungpeopledidexpressadesiretotakeupeducation,others–suchasthisyoungman–weremorefocusedongettingajob,andinhiscaseajobthatdidnotrequireliteracy.Evengettingadriver’slicencerequiredalevelofliteracy,sosomeofthosewhowerealreadyeducationallydisadvantagedwerealsodisadvantagedintermsofmobility.Somedidmanagetogetajob.Oneofthe‘successes’inthejobmarketwasratedasatopemployeebyhisboss.TheMagistratecommentedonthe‘prize’ofgettingajob,andthedifficultiesoffindingone:

HERHONOUR:Youmustfeelgoodthen.Imeanthere'sapathwaytoemployment;whetherornotthatprizewillcomeup,itshouldn’tbeaprize,butitunfortunatelyisinoursociety,isn'tit?That’saprizeforalotofyoungpeopletobeabletogetonthatladder.Ifyoucangetonthatladder,Ithinkyoucanstayonit,it’sjustgettingonit,isn'tit?YOUNGPERSON:Yeah.

Thosewhomanagedtogetajobweresometimesregardedasa‘star’bythemagistrate,andreceivedafewwordsofaffirmation,comparinghowtheyoungpersonwasonentrytothecourtwithhis/hercurrentsituation:


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HERHONOUR:..thefactthatsomebodyhasobtainedaveryvaluablejobisaninspirationtootheryoungpeopleandIthankyouaswellforwhatyou’vedoneforthecourtandasI’vesaidprobablytoyoubutcertainlytootherpeople,weneedsomestarsandIthinkyouareastar.We’vegotalotofstarsandalsowe’vegotsomefadingstars.You’renotafadingstar,you’reaverybrightstarsoIdothankyoufromalloftheotheryoungpeopleinvolvedintheKooriCourttoshowthemthatitispossibletostepupandmakethosechanges,eventhoughtherewasthatgreatreluctance[initially].

Ingeneralyoungpeopledidnotgostraightintoapprenticeships.Theywereprovidedwithatransitionexperiencetotryoutseveraldifferenttrades.Thisisreflectedinoneexchangebetweenacaseworker,themagistrateandtheyoungperson:

HERHONOUR:What’stheapprenticeshipin?YOUNGPERSON:Idon’tknowyet.HERHONOUR:Youdon’tknow.

YOUNGPERSON:I’vegottopickthat.CASEWORKER:He’sbeingdoingsomelikehandymanstuff.…TheTransitiontoWorkpeople,they’reverygood,they’llgiveyouanoptiontoseeifrooffittingorhewantstobeasparkieorallofthesesortsofthings,giveyouachance,itgivesyouachance.

HERHONOUR:Roofing-November--YOUNGPERSON:No,Idon’tthinkI’mfallingforthat.Idon’tlikeit,toohot.CASEWORKER:Options,yes.Somyjobisreallyjusttogivehimoptionsand[theyoungperson]doestherest.

TherewasalsoarangeofemployersinWesternSydneywhomadespecialprovisionforyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopletodevelopworkplaceskillsandgetasteadyincome.Theseincludedjobsinconstruction,retailandcleaning.Anotherofthesewasanursery:

HERHONOUR:Okaysoyouhadaninterviewwithanurserybutstillwaitingtofindoutaboutthat?CASEWORKER:NoKisgoingfortheinterviewsoI’vejustgotaconfirmationemail.WewerewaitingonthedisabilitysupportpensionconfirmationletterandIactuallyreceivedthatthismorning--HERHONOUR:Good.CASEWORKER:--[nowK’s]eligibletogofortheinterview,butthepositionhasbeenkeptforKaswell.HERHONOUR:Wow,welldone.

CASEWORKER:Kjusthastogoforaninterview.


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Aswithothermattersonactionplans,theparticularissuewasassociatedwithotherissuesaswell,inthiscasetheyoungpersonhadadisabilityandneededsupporttogettogetherthenecessarydocumentstoapplyforfinancialsupport.

HEALTHANDDRUGUSE

Ofthe19youngpeoplegraduatingfromtheYouthKooriCourtprogram,12wererecordedashavingahealthissuethatneededaddressing.Ofthesefivewererecordedasbeingsuccessfullycompletedbythetimeofgraduation,twowereontrack,whilefortheremainingfivetheinformationwasnotavailable.The‘unknown’casesrefermostlytodentalorgeneralhealthchecks–sincetheissuewasnotraisedatthehearingitwaslikelythatthecheckhadbeencompleted.Needforexercisewassometimesidentifiedasanissue,butnotalwaysrecordedasahealthmatter.Thehearingalsoprovidedinformationaboutwhysomehealthissueshadnotbeenfullydealtone.Oneyoungpersonhadbeentraumatisedbyadetentionregimethatthemagistratedescribedasparticularlypunitive;theeffectsofthistreatmentwerestillaffectingtheyoungpersonatthetimeofthegraduationhearing.Ofthe19youngpeopleinthegroupbeingexamined,15wererecordedashavingsomeissuewithdrugsoralcohol.Bythetimetheygraduatedfromthecourt,13reportedsomeprogress,fiveoftheyoungpeoplewerereportedashavingdesistedcompletely,atleastfromdrugslikeIcethathadbeenassociatedwithoffending.Sometimestheyoungpersonreportedsomeongoinguseofmarijuanaoroccasionalbingedrinking,oftenincompany,sodesistancewasrarelycomplete.Inmanycasesthechangewassupportedbyparticipationinanalcoholanddrugdetoxorcounsellingprograms,includingtheTedNoffsFoundation.Inothercasesthechangemayhavebeenprecipitatedbydetention:ALS:Afterspending18daysincustody,soalmostthreeweeksincustodyandbeingabletoreflectonhis[drugoralcohol]useandthefirsttimebeingincustodyforthatperiodoftimeXhadaverysignificantturnaroundinhisattitudeandhewasfinallyreadyandwillingtoaddresshis[drugoralcohol]usewhichisdirectlylinkedtothereasonhecommittedthisoffence.Being‘readyandwilling’toaddressdrugusedidnotnecessarilymeanhavinggivenupdrugscompletely.SometimestheyoungpersonmadeadmissionsaboutdrugusetothecourtthateventheirJuvenileJusticecaseofficerwasnotawareof:

JUVENILEJUSTICE:There’snosubstanceissues.ALS:YesIthinkthereareactually,

JUVENILEJUSTICE.You’restillusingabitofyarndi?YOUNGPERSON.Yeahatiny,likeI’vesloweddownheaps.HERHONOUR:Yes?

YOUNGPERSON.Yeah.JUVENILEJUSTICE:That’stheonlyproblem--


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ALS:Yesexactly,nothat’sright,becauseyoucan’tsmokeatallwhenyou’reonthisjob.HERHONOUR:Absolutely,it’snon-negotiableatthattime.

YOUNGPERSON:Yeah.Incasessuchasthisabstainingfromdrugswasaconditionofkeepingajob.Thiswasnotjustaruleimposedbytheemployer,asanunidentifiedspeaker(probablyaJuvenileJusticeofficer)pointedouttoanotheryoungpersontherecouldbesafetyissuesinvolved:‘Youdon’twanttogetrunoverbyaforkliftgoingpast’.Sometimesmakingthebreakfromdrugswasadifficultchallengeandincludedfalsestarts,butpersistencepaidoff,accordingtotheALSlawyerinasentencingsubmissionforanotheryounggraduate:

ALSLAWYER:WhatXhasalwaystoldKooriCourtisthatifhehademploymentandameansofkeepinghimselfbusyhewouldbeabletoreducehiscannabisuse.[Initially]thatdidn’tprovetobesoeasybuthe’scertainlyshownthathe’sgotsignificantinsightnowandhestartedtoaddressthecannabisuse.He’snotcompletelyabstinentbuthe’salmostabstinentandiscertainlyabstinentenoughtomaintainfull-timeemploymentnow……HedidwhathepromisedKooriCourthewoulddoandthatwasgethisjobback,obtainfull-timeemploymentandreducehiscannabisuseandIaskyourHonourtomakeafindingthathe’sgotexcellentprospectsofrehabilitation,particularlyifhekeepshisfull-timejobwith[nameoforganisation].

Turningawayfromdrugscouldbeassociatedwithfindingotherinterests,includingphysicalpursuits.

HERHONOUR:He’slookingwellisn’the?

AUNTY:Heis,yeah.HERHONOUR:Yes,verygood.ABORIGINALCOURTOFFICER:He’strainingsohe’srunningfourlapsaday.CASEWORKER:He’soutoftrouble,that’sthething.

ABORIGINALCOURTOFFICER:Startedoffatonethenyoucametotwo,nowhe’suptosix.HERHONOUR:Whatrunning?ABORIGINALCOURTOFFICER:Sixlapsaday.

HERHONOUR:That’sbigisn’tit?ABORIGINALCOURTOFFICER:Andhe’scutdownonsmoking,he’scutdowneverythingelse,hasn’ttoucheddrugs.HERHONOUR:That’sfantastic,isn’tit,welldone

Giventhehighproportionofoffendingthatwasassociatedwithdrugsinsomeway,thecourtpaidconsiderableattentiontotheissue.Whetherongoingattentionwaspaidtotheissueaftertheyoungpersonleftthecourtisanothermatter,exploredinasubsequentchapter.


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CIVILLAWISSUES

Ofthe19youngpeoplegraduatingfromtheYouthKooriCourt,18hadatleastoneissuethatwasclassifiedasinvolvingacivillawmatter.Oftheninewhoneededbirthcertificates,sevenhadbeenabletogetonesuccessfully,andfortheothertwotheprocesswasstillunderway.AllfiveofthosewhoneededaMedicarecardhadreceivedone,thesamewastrueforthethreewhoneededtosetupabankaccount.TwoofthethreewhoneededproofofAboriginalityhadreceivedthisbythetimeofgraduation.Thereweresometimesseveralagenciesinvolvedinhelpingtheyoungpersongettherangeofdocumentsnecessarytofunctioninamodernurbanenvironment.

HERHONOUR:MsH,haveyoubeenworkingwithB?CIVILAIDLEGAL:No,notreallybutwhatB’sbeendoingisB-yougotyourCentrelink,Ididn’thaveapartinthatbutAuntyDwashelpingyouonyourCentrelink,that’ssorted,you’vegotyourtaxfilenumberwhichisgreat,you’vegottogivethatCentrelink,…-JJgot[B’s]birthcertificate,it’sgonemissingsincethenbutI’llcontactXandasktoseeiftheycanpossiblygetBanotherone.YOUNGPERSON:Yeah.

GRANDPARENT:Yeah,becauseit’llbelookedafter,thisone,I’llmakesureofthat.HERHONOUR:Allright,wellIsupposethat’sanegative,don’tlosevaluablethings.CIVILAIDLEGAL:Idon’tthinkthatwasnecessarilyB,but-Idon’tknowthatyoulostit.Ithinkit’sgonemissinginthegrandschemeofthings.YOUNGPERSON:Yeah.

Thisexchangeillustratesthecooperationbetweendifferentparticipantsroundthetable-theEldertookanactiveroleinhelpingBgetregisteredforbenefitsatCentrelink,whileJuvenileJusticehelpedtoorganiseB’sbirthcertificate.Someoneelse,notspecifiedinthisdiscussion,helpedBgetataxfilenumber,whileB’sgrandparentvolunteeredtoensurethedocument’ssafekeeping.OneoftherarenegativecommentstheMagistratemadeaboutayoungperson–suggestingthatthelossofadocumentwastheirfault–wascounteredbythecivilaidlawyerwhoattributedthelossto‘thegrandschemeofthings’.Butthemostcommonissueinthecivillawcategorywasunpaidfines,manyofthesereceivedfortravellingonpublictransportwithoutanOpal(publictransport)card.Thiswasanongoingissuefortheyoungpeoplewhocamebeforethecourt:mostofthemhadnosourceofincomesolittlecapacitytopaytrainfaresletalonefinesfornothavingavalidticket.UsuallytheLegalAidlawyer(civil)whoattendedthehearingstookresponsibilityforsortingouttheaccumulatedfinedebts.Thoseincustodyhadanalternativemechanismtocleardebts.Wheretheyoungpersoncouldworktopayoffthefine,aworkdevelopmentorderwasarranged.Ofthe15youngpeoplewithafinedebthangingoverthem,fourhadtheirfinesclearedbythetimeofgraduation,foranotherfourtheprocesswasinplacetodealwiththedebts,fortwotherehadbeennoaction,andforone


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therewasnoinformation.Howevertoillustratetheongoingnatureoftheproblem,forfouryoungpeopletheoriginaldebtshadbeendealtwithbutnewoneshadbeenaddedsincetheyoungpersonjoinedtheYouthKooriCourt.Workingoffthefineswassometimesacomplicatedprocess,particularlyiftheyoungpersonwasalsoworkingoffordersfromotherpartsofthejusticesystem.ThiscouldincludeYouthJusticeConferences.

CIVILLEGALAID:IfWwantsustowecankeepworkingwithWasWmovestowards18andlookingatdevelopingaleavingcareplanandthosekindsofthingswithFACS,soaslongasWwantstokeepworkingwithuswe’dlovetokeepworkingwithW.W’salsoworkedoffanother$100[of]fines,they’redownto$200withtheworkingdevelopmentorderwithJuvenileJusticesoyou’reprettyclosetogettingridofallyourfines.’ELDERreferstoworkWdidovertheweekendCIVILLEGALAID:Okay,sothatwon’tcounttowardstheworkindevelopmentorderthen,Aunty,becauseitwasfortheYouthJusticeConference.

Settingupaworkdevelopmentorderprocesswasalsocomplicated.Thelegalaidlawyerhadtriedtosetoneupforoneyoungpersonbutranintoconsiderableredtape.Asshedescribesit:

LEGALAIDCIVIL:TheonlylegalissuethatwehavewithLisyourfinesandit’s-we’vebeentryingtosetupaworkdevelopmentorderandit’sbeenthroughnofaultofL’sthatithasn’tbeenabletobesetupyet.Hedoesn’tfitanyofthecategoriesthatarerequiredtobeeligibleforone,sowehavebeentryingtoget[asponsor]andthenworkingwithLcanbegoingtowardsthat.That’sbeenstalledsowhatwe’vedonesinceisputinanapplicationforanout-of-guidelineworkingdevelopmentordersayinghedoesn’tfitanyspecificcategory,butlookatthewholecircumstancesandthenhecandoaworkdevelopmentorder.Soif-andthat’sbeendone,that’ssittingwithStateDebtRecoveryandwe’rewaitingjustforthatconfirmationthatwecansetitup.

Thiscaseshowsthecomplicationsinvolvedinreachingwhatmightappeartobearelativelysimpleobjective,atleastsimplecomparedtogettingaqualificationorgivingupadrugaddiction.ItturnedoutthatLwasnoteligibletoundertakeaworkdevelopmentorder,possiblybecausehewastooyoung,sothecourt’sAboriginalLiaisonOfficerhadvolunteeredtoactashissponsorforhim.Thisapplicationhadstalledsomewhere–wherewearenottold–andsotheLegalAidlawyerwastryingtofindanotherpathway,thisoneaspecialapplicationthatfelloutsidetheguidelines.Becauseitwasspecial,andthereforeunusual,ittooktimefortherelevantgovernmentdepartmenttoapproveit.WhentheyoungpersonwasunderasupervisionorderfromtheProbationandParoleService,itwasevenmorecomplicatedtosetupworkdevelopmentorders.NotonlywouldProbationnotsetuptheorders,thetypeofactivitythatwouldcounttowardsworkingofffinesdependedonthenatureofthesentence.ThisconfusedeventheMagistrate:


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HERHONOUR:DoProbationandParoledotheworkdevelopmentorder?

LEGALAIDCIVIL:Theydon’tsetthemup.YOUNGPERSON:No,theydon’t,yeah.LEGALAIDCIVIL:Theyreferyoutootherservicesthatcansetthemup.They’llsetthemuponceyou..(nottranscribable)..Sothey’vesuggestedYouthworksbutIdon’tthinkyouwantto-youhaven’tengagedwiththem.Whatweretheconditionsofthebond-justsupervisionortodocounselling?YOUNGPERSON:Justdrugandalcohol--SERGEANT:Yes,justdrugandalcohol,it’sgotcounselling,educationanddrug--

ALS:It’llmakeitthatyoucan’tworkoffyourfinesifyou’vegotconditions--LEGALAIDCIVIL:Notifit’spartofthecourtorder.HERHONOUR:Justaskthemifthere’sanywayyoucangetaworkdevelopment.Justsoyouknow,Ithinktheworkdevelopmentorderifyougotocounselling-wellmaybenotdrugcounselling-ifyougosomewherethat’sauthorisedtohelpyou,youcanwriteofffinesatabout$200anhour,asfarasIunderstandit,uptoathousandamonth.LEGALAIDCIVIL:Whataboutangermanagement--YOUNGPERSON:Wellthey’redoing-yeah,theyhave-Parolehasthemcoursesduringtheweek,youknow,theyhaveitlikeonaMondayoraWednesday.SPEAKER(Unidentified):WhataboutPositiveParentingorsomethinglikethat?

YOUNGPERSON:Yeah,that’swhatitis,parenting,that’s-mygirlfriend’sdoingitthislikesemesterandthenI’vegottogodoitnext.

HERHONOUR:Sojustthinkaboutthatbecause$3,200isalotofmoneyandifbydoingsomethingthat’sgoingtobenefityouanyway,that’sgoodforyou--

Thisexchangeillustratesthewaythehearingcouldbeusedtoelicitinformation,toidentifyproblemsandworkoutsolutions.Intheinteractionreportedabovetheyoungpersonwasanactiveparticipant,butsotoowastheMagistrate,thepoliceprosecutor,theALSlawyer,theLegalAidlawyerandaspeakerthatthetranscribercouldnotidentify.Collectivelytheyworkedoutthattheyoungpersoncouldworkoffhisfinesbyengagingincounsellingforangermanagementorparentingskills,butnotfordrugsandalcoholsincehehadtodothatanywayaspartofhisprevioussentence.Theyalsoworkedoutthatwhiletheprobationservicedidnotorganisetheworkdevelopmentorder,theycanreferthepersontootherorganisationswhocandothis.Howeverinthiscasethereappearstohavebeenareferral,oratleastasuggestion,buttheyoungpersonwashadnotbeenabletofollowitup.ThecaseprovidesaninsightintowhymanyoftheactionsspecifiedontheActionandSupportplanhadnotbeenachieved.Thecourtdidnothavetheservicesonsitetoaddresstheneedimmediatelythewayaneighbourhoodjusticecentredoes.Thecourtreferredtheyoungpersontoaservicewhothenreferredhimtoanotherservice,relyingontheyoungpersontohavetheskillsandself-disciplinetofollowup.Inmanycasesthecourt’sAboriginalsupportworkerendedupdrivingsomeofthecourt’sclientstotheirappointmentsafterareferralfromoneagencytoanother.


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CONCLUSIONS

Onecommonstorytoemergefromthischapteristhecomplexityoftheissuesfacingtheyoungpeoplewhocamebeforethecourt.Thismeantthatalthoughsomeissueshadbeensuccessfullyaddressedwithinthetimeframeofthecourtsupervisionperiod,othershadnot.GettingabirthcertificatewasrelativelystraightforwardandthiswasoneoftheobjectivesidentifiedinActionandSupportplansthatwasgenerallyachieved.Educationandemploymentoutcomeshoweverrequiredalongertimeframe,andhousingtendedtoinvolveongoingepisodiccrises.Whilemanyofthosewithadrugoralcoholproblemhadbegunsomeformoftreatment,mosthadnotcompletedthisbythetimetheygraduatedfromtheprogram.Theyoungpeoplehadthusbeenplacedonapathwaytoamorepromisingadultfuture.TheextenttowhichtheobjectivesidentifiedintheYouthKooriCourtprocesswouldberealisedwoulddependontheyoungperson’sownchoices,onthequalityofsupporttheywouldreceiveandonexternalfactorslikethestateofthelabourandhousingmarkets.Intermsofprocess,onethemetoemergeisthischapteristhewayateamapproachwasusedtosupporttheyoungperson(seealsothediscussionsofrelationshipsinChapter7).Eachofthepeoplesittingaroundthetableatthehearingshadtheirroletoplay.Eldersprovidedpracticalsupport,goingwiththeyoungpersontoappointmentsandspendingtimewiththem.Theyalsostartedtheprocessofre-establishingculturalconnections,orinsomecasesestablishingsuchrelationshipsforthefirsttime.Alsoimportantweretherolesofgovernmentagenciessuchas,inthefollowingcase,FamilyandCommunityServices:

HERHONOUR:ThefactisKisayoungwomanwhohashadadisruptedandtroubledupbringingandIamentitledtotakethatintoaccount.SheisayoungwomanwhohashadsupportthroughFamilyandCommunityServicesforalongperiodoftimebutitwaswhenherauntandunclesteppedinandsaidKcomeandknowwhatasupportivefamilyisandliveuptoyourobligationstobepartofthatbutKwasabletosay‘yesIwillembracethatsupportandIwillacceptthatsupportandIwillworkwiththatsupport’.IdothinkitisimportantforustonotonlyacknowledgeK’sachievementsbutalsotoacknowledgeAuntMandUncleNandtoacknowledgeFamilyandCommunityServicessupport.IthasbeenanincredibleteamthathaswrappedaroundKtomakesurethatsheisonhertrackforherownfuturebutalsoforthefutureofZ[K’schild].

Whethertheagenciesinvolvedcouldbeexpectedtoprovidealltheservicesexpectedofthebythecourtwasanothermatter.Manyofthemhadtheirownprioritiesandstylesofmanagingcases.Soifayoungpersondidnotturnupforanappointment,theagencyinvolveddidnotalwaysseeitasitsjobtofollowup,whichinmanycaseswouldmeanprovidingtransportfortheyoungperson.AsnotedinChapter7,sometimesthetransportwasprovidedbyanALSlawyerortheYouthKooriCourtOfficer(AboriginalLiaisonOfficer),eventhoughthisdidnotfallwithintheirjobdescriptions,andconstrainedtheirabilitytodootherwork.


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CHAPTER10.INTERACTIONSANDDYNAMICSOFTHEYOUTHKOORICOURTMEETINGSYouthKooriCourthearingsorcourtappearances(referredtohereasmeetings)aremostformalpartofproceedings;theytakeplaceinacustom-adaptedcourtroom,facetofacearoundanovaltable,andareframedbyAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderprotocolandintegratedintotheChildren’sCourt’sstandardsentencingprocess.Aswehaveseeninpreviouschapters,thesemeetingspunctuateayoungperson’sjourneythroughtheYouthKooriCourtprogram:theyfirstattendonefortheirsuitabilityassessment,followedbyoneinwhichtheirActionandSupportplaniscreated,severalreviews,and,finally,theirsentencingandgraduationfromtheYouthKooriCourt.Wehavealsoalreadyseen(inchapter7)theextensiveworkthathappensoutsideofthecourtroomascaseworkersandyoungpeopletrytofulfiltheactionstheyhaveagreedtoaspartoftheActionandSupportplan,aswellasdealwithhurdlesthathaveemergedalongtheway(likesuddenhousingcrises,newcharges,changedhealthstatus,otherpersonalorlegaldifficulties).Thequestionaddressedinthischapteris,whydothesemeetingsmatter?Theyrequireconsiderabletime,courtresourcesandco-ordination–whatdotheycontributetotheprocess?Toaddressthisquestion,wedrawonatriangulationofdatafrominterviewswith33participantsandobservationsof82YouthKooriCourtmeetings(thesecamefromattending18YouthKooriCourtdaysovera7monthperiod).Triangulationprovidesameansofincorporatingdifferentparticipants’perspectives.Itallowsustounderstandtheflowofreciprocities,agreements,tensions,negotiations,challenges,connectionandunderstandingbetweenparticipants;tofindpatternsinthefeaturesandinterpersonaldynamicsofmeetings;andtoconsiderhowtheseinteractionsbetweenparticipantsaffectthewiderYouthKooriCourtprocess.OuranalysisofthisqualitativematerialconsidershowmeetingscontributetothreesetsofobjectivesinherentintheYouthKooriCourtprogram:

1. Topractical/tangiblescaffoldtotheprocess2. Toaddresstheprogram’sstatedobjectives3. ToaddressobjectivesunderstoodaspartofaFirstPeoplesorientatedmeeting

MarchettiiscriticalofearlierevaluationsofFirstPeoples’sentencingcourtsinAustraliaforoverlookingthisthirdsetofobjectives.Sheadvisesassessmentof“whetherthepracticesaretransformingthecourtprocessintosomethingthatismoremeaningfulforeverybodypresentand,ifso,whethersuchtransformationsarestrengtheningandempoweringindigenous


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communities”80.Otherscholarshavealsopointedtotheimportanceofmovingbeyondsimplyrepresenting‘aFirstPeoplesperspectiveinresearch’to‘researchingfromaFirstPeoplesparadigm’.81Wefind,andgoontodemonstrate,thatintheYouthKooriCourtmodel,thesethreesetsofobjectivescanbecompatible,andthatmanyoftheprogram’sgoalsarerealisedwhentheyaretreatedascompatible.ThisfirstsectioninthischapterprovidesanoverviewofwhatmeetingsdoandsomeofthepracticalwaysthattheycomplementtheworkoffulfillingActionsandSupportPlansandseeingyoungpeoplethroughtosentencing/graduation.Thesecondsectionperformsaritualanalysisofinteractionsinmeetingstoshowhowmeetingdynamicsaremediatedandhowyoungpeople’sidentityandrelationships–tothegrouparoundthetable,tofamily,toAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderhistoryandcommunity–areinscribed.Thethirdsectiondrawsoutseveralkeyfeaturesofmeetingdynamicsinwhichthepractical,symbolicandmotivationalfeaturesofYouthKooriCourtcometogether.Weshowhowtheseintersectingfeaturescontributetoandchallengegroupdynamics.Adiscussionatthissection’sendtiesthevariouschapters’findingstogetherandspeakstochallengesthathavebeenraised.Aswithpreviouschapters,stories,quotesandexamplesfeaturethroughout.Aswellasbeingchosenfortheirillustrationofaparticularpoint,eachoneevokesanumberofthefeaturesandqualitiesdiscussedhere.

80Marchetti,Elena(2014)DeliveringjusticeinIndigenoussentencingcourts:whatthismeansforjudicialofficers,elders,communityrepresentatives,andIndigenouscourtworkers.Law&Policy,36(4),pp360.81Wilson,Shawn(2001)Whatisindigenousresearchmethodology?CanadianJournalofNativeEducation25(2),pp175.SeealsoMarchetti(2017),


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OVERVIEW:WHATDOMEETINGSDO?

Asaregularformalandface-to-faceencounter,YouthKooriCourtmeetingsarethesocial,legalandsymboliccoreoftheYouthKooriCourtprocess.Itisherethatparticipants’rolesandrelationshipsinthecaseareestablishedandcanevolve,aswellaswheretheprogram’sethosisvisiblyimpartedandformallyenacted.AllmeetingsopenwithawelcomeoracknowledgmentofcountryandarepresidedoverbyaMagistrateand(withrareexceptionsduetolimitedresources)oneortwoElders.ThisalsoframestheprocesswithAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderprotocol,andsignalsinitialeffortstomakethisaculturallysafeforyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandersandtheirfamilies.ThisframingandinitialeffortsarereinforcedasElders,youngpeople,theirrelativesandotherAboriginalworkersinvolvedintheprocessareabletobringinformationandsocialvaluesintothemeetingsthatwouldnotbeasreadilyaccommodatedinothercourtprocesses.

STORY:AilsameetsAuntyLintheYouthKooriCourtAilsais17yearsoldandiscurrentlyincustody,butwillbeincareoftheMinisterwhensheisreleased.Thereistalkaboutlookingaplacementforher,butherlawyerpointsoutthatmightnotbeviablewhenshe’dprefertoliveindependently.“Doesthatsoundalright,Ailsa?”,theMagistrateasks.“Yep”,saysAilsa.

ItisdeterminedthatFACSmaybeabletofacilitatethis,andinthemeantime,theriskslatentinAilsa’sotheraccommodationoptionswithfamilyarediscussed.ItemergesoverthisconversationthatAilsa’smotherdiedayearago.

TheMagistrateturnstofaceAunty,invitingherinput.WhenAuntyspeakshervoiceislowandcreatesaslowerspacewithintheconversation.AuntyasksAilsa:“Wasyourmum’snameY?”Ailsanods.“YeahIknowyourfamily”,Auntysays.“Sheusedtoliveat[number]T------Street.SoIknowyou,Iknowwhoyouare…I’msorrytohearyourmum’spassed,love”…“23%ofusgotojail…we’reonlysomuchofthepopulation…whydoesitgottobethisway?Ihopeitchanges.Sometimesthere’snotalotofrespectforourpeople.Lotofyoungpeopleroundthetablenowwhowanttoseeyoudogood,whowillsupportyou.…I’veknownyousinceyouwerealittlegirl”.Withthis,Auntyelevatesthestakesofthemeeting.HermovingaddresstoAilsaandAilsa’sgrief,ontopofthepracticaldifficultiesofAilsa’ssituation,demonstrateaspecifickindofcompassionandinsight.Attheendofthemeeting,AuntywalksaroundthetabletoAilsa.TheyhugbeforeAilsashakestheMagistrate’shandandisescortedout.


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Auty,referringtotheVictorianYouthKooriCourt,writesthatfactoringinthe‘needtotaketimetotalk’iskeytothetherapeuticoutcomesofaYouthKooriCourt82,whilstmoderators(whointheNSWcaseistheMagistrate)ensurethattalkisorientedtowardsconclusion.Theconversationalqualityofthesemeetingsisoneinwhichyoungpeopleareinvitedtospeak,arelistenedto,arementored,caredfor,motivatedand,whendeemednecessarybythegrouparoundthetable,spokenwithinfrankandfirmtermsabouttheirattitudesorbehaviour.Inthisspace,youngpeoplemayhavedirectexchangeswithpeoplewithwhomtheymaynotusuallygettheopportunitytotalkabouttheirproblemsortheirperspectivewith,ortolearntheperspectiveof,liketheMagistrate,Elders,thepoliceprosecutor.Thisway,themeetingsalsohavethepotentialtotargetyoungpeople’sattitudes,beliefsandthinking.

STORY:AyoungpersonwhoparticipatedinYouthKooriCourtduringacustodialsentencedescribesthevalueofmeetingstothemYP: “Itwasgood…togointhereandknowthatpeoplewantedtohelpyouandthattheycaredaboutyou.”I: “Ohyeah—whendidyoufirstgetthatfeelinglikepeoplewantedtohelpyou?”YP: “Onthefirstday.”I: “Whatwasitaboutitthatgaveyouthatimpression?”YP: “…Ijustfeltthewarmthintheroomthateveryonewantedtohelp”I: “Isthereanythingelsetheydidtohelpyou?”YP: “Whatdoyoumean?”I: “Wellforsomeyoungpeopletheyhelpthemgetoffdrugaddictions,sometimestheyhelpkidsfindaplacetostay,sometimesjustgetthemtothinkaboutworkorTAFE…”YP: “Theyneverdidthatbutwhattheydidwas,IjustwentintocourtandspeakingabouthowIwasgoing,whatwascomingupinthecomingweeks…howIwasgoing.Igoforsentencenextmonth.”

82Auty,Kate(2006)Weteachallheartstobreak–butcanwemendthem?TherapeuticjurisprudenceandAboriginalsentencingcourts.inKing,M.&Auty,K.(eds)(2006)‘TheTherapeuticRoleofMagistrates’Courts’,ELawSpecialSeries(1).Availableat:http://elaw.murdoch.edu.au/special_series.html,pp126.


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STORY:Ayoungpersonwhocommentedonfeeling“safe”intheYouthKooriCourt,whenaskedinaninterviewtotalkaboutwhythatmightbe.YP: Idon’tknow.BecauseI’mIndigenous,like,youknowyougointheKooriCourt,everybody’sIndigenousthere,soyoujustfeellikeyou’resittingdownwithyourmob,youknow?I: Yeah,yeah,yeah.YP: Youknow,you’rejustsittingdownhavinganormalyarn,justtalking.I: YeahYP: Itdoesn’tfeellikeKooriCourtbecause,youknow,you’renotsittingtherewiththejudgeuponabigseat,youknow,peoplesittingatcomputersontheside,youknow,you’resittingononechair.You’rejustsittingatatable,justtalking.

Aswellasthis,themeetingsserveseveralpracticalpurposes.AsweseeinChapters7and9,participantsformateamaroundeachyoungperson,andcancometogethertopoolresourcesandknowledgeinordertodealwithnewsituationsthathavecomeup(suchasaccommodationdifficulties,employmentopportunities,healthissues,pregnancyand/orparenthood,bailvariations,acknowledgingyoungpeople’sefforts(andsuccesses)stayingoutoftrouble,newcharges).Themeetingsarealsoasiteinwhichbothyoungpeopleandtheservices/caseworkerstheyareconnectedtocanbeheldaccountablefortheactions&supportplanitemstheyhavecommittedtoandworkthroughobstaclesthatmayhaveariseninseeingthisthrough.Besidesconnectingyoungpeoplewiththeappropriateservices,theYouthKooriCourthasinsomeinstancesenabledyoungpeoplewhoarealreadyinvolvedwithmultipleserviceinterventionstohavemorecohesionbetweencaseworkers,andaddedsupportfromtheYouthKooriCourt.ThefollowingtableshowssomeexamplesfromourcasestudiesofhowtheYouthKooriCourtmeetingscomplementthepursuitofitemsintheActionandSupportplansthroughcasework.Thissketchessomeofthewaysthat‘takingtimetotalk’canmakepracticalandholisticcontributionstothepursuitofActionandSupportplanitems.


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ExamplesofhowmeetingsfurthertheActionandSupportplan

Drugs&alcoholabuse

• FrankconversationswithyoungpeoplewhomighthavestoppedusingIcebutareusingmarijuanainstead;recognisingthisasstillillegalbutastepintherightdirection

Housing

• Stayingintouchwithayoungpersonwhoiscouch-surfing/homelessuntilabetteralternativecanbeestablished,allocatingacaseworkertocheckinonthem,bringthemfoodiftheyneedit

• Talkingthroughdifficultiesyoungpersonishavingwithotherstheylivewith,e.g.:relatives,otheryoungpeopleinoutofhomecare

• Mediatingrelationshipsandagreementsinanout-of-home-careplacement

Mentalhealth

• Discussingyoungperson’spastexperiencesofcounsellingandwhytheymaynotbekeentotryitagain.Movingforwardintheplanwithunderstanding.

Employment&education • SomeoftheAboriginalworkersinvolvedintheprogramdescribingtheircareerpaths

• AnElderstayingintouchwithayoungpersonandfindingoddjobstheycandowithinthecommunity

• Findingoutwhatyoungpeopleareinterestedin,talkingthroughwaysthatinterestsmightbefeasiblypursuedtowardsemployment

• Identifyingtheskillsandqualitiesyoungpeopledemonstrateinthecourseofknowingthem—mentoringskills,craftsmanshipskills,potentialcommunityservicequalities—anddescribingpathwaystothoseascareerpossibilities


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Culturalconnection Deepeningyoungperson’ssenseofwheretheycomefrom,forexample:

o YouthKooriCourtEldersrecognisingtheyoungperson’snameandbeingabletotellthemabouttheirfamily

o AnElderfromthesameclanandcountryastheyoungpersonbeingabletotellthemabouttheirheritageandhistory

o AFACSworkerbeingabletotraceayoungperson’sparentandhavingtheircontactdetailsonhandforwhentheyoungpersonmightbereadytogetintouch

o YouthKooriCourtofficerbeingabletocontactthefamilyofayoungpersonwhoisincustodyduringtheirinvolvementwiththeprogram,andbringthemouttothatyoungperson’sYouthKooriCourtconferencetomeetthemagain


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ARITUALANALYSISOFYOUTHKOORICOURTMEETINGS

Aritualanalysisapproachfocusesonthemicro-dynamicsofinteractionstounderstandhowtherelationshipsitconsistsofareaffirmedandnegotiated.SuchanapproachseemspertinenttoanunderstandingofYouthKooriCourtmeetings,inwhichrelationshipsarecritical.Specifically,werefertorelationships(1)betweentheyoungpersonandothermembersoftheYouthKooriCourt,(2)betweenmembersoftheYouthKooriCourt,and(3)betweentheYouthKooriCourtandthebroadervaluesitisbeholdento.Therearedifferentwaystoapproachritualanalysis.OnetheoreticalframeworkweborrowfrominthischapterinvolvestreatingtheYouthKooriCourtasan‘encounter’83examininghowsubtleandmundaneinteractionritualsarecriticaltoshapingtherelationshipsandidentitiesproducedoverthecourseofameeting.WithregardtoYouthKooriCourtmeetings,thismeansconsideringinteractionsintermsof:howayoungperson’sjourneythroughtheprogramisdeveloped,howtheirsenseofidentityisdeveloped,andhowtheteamsurroundingthemisdeveloped.Itincludesritualsusedtominimiseembarrassmentamongstparticipantsandtoimpartskillsandeducationtoyoungpeople.BothmainstreamandKooricourthearingscanbeunderstoodasakintoatherapeuticplaystagedintheyoungperson’sinterests.84AnotherrelatedframeworkdrawnoninvolvesreadingtheYouthKooriCourtmeetingasa‘ceremony’85;apubliceventoverthecourseofwhichmorals,symbols,valuesandemotionssharedbythegroupareemphasisedandcelebrated.ForacoherentcomprehensionwhatthesemightentailinYouthKooriCourtmeetings,itisnecessarytodrawonframingsbasedinFirstPeoplesresearchorientationswithinsettler-colonialcontexts.ThethirdframeworkdrawsfromFirstPeoplesresearchmethodologies.86ThisframeworkisnotusuallyusedalongsidethetworitualanalysisframeworksbutitbecomespertinentbecauseoftheYouthKooriCourt’soccupationofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderspaceandorientationtohistoryandvaluesthatareimportanttoAboriginaland/orTorresStraitcommunities.OuruseofaFirstPeoplesresearchframeworkinaritualanalysismeansthatourdataisframedandanalysedinrelationtoanAboriginalepistemologicalparadigm,whereaswellasrelationshipsamongstindividualsandbetweenindividualsandthecourtspace,weenquireafterhowrelationshipstoAboriginallore,tribe,communityandcountryarealsoemphasisedandinscribedintheYouthKooriCourt.

83Goffman,E.(1961)Encounters:Twostudiesinthesociologyofinteraction.Indianapolis:Bobbs-MerrillCo;DavidTaitandTerryCarney(1997)TheAdultGuardianshipExperiment:TribunalsandPopularJustice.Sydney:TheFederationPress,pp116-126.84Borowski(2011:1113)85FollowingDurkheim,Emile([1912]1996)TheElementaryFormsofReligiousLife.NewYork:TheFreePress;RandallCollins(2004)InteractionRitualChains.Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress;andDavidTaitandTerryCarney(1997:126-135)86TuhiwaiSmith(2012:190)


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Thischapter’sritualanalysisofYouthKooriCourtmeetingsdrawsprimarilyonthesethreeframeworks.First,wefocusonhowinteractionsintheYouthKooriCourtcontributetoaffirmingtheyoungperson’sidentityasboth1)consistingofpositivequalitiesandpositivepotential,and2)asayoungAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderpersonconnectedtokinshipandcountry.WemoveontoexamineinteractiondynamicsamongstYouthKooriCourtmeeting’smembersunderthefollowingsub-headings:Conversationaldynamics,EmotionalintensityandThreatstoorder.Thissection’sdiscussionleadsintothesubsequentchapter’sbroaderanalysisofkeyfeaturesinYouthKooriCourtmeetings.

AFFIRMINGYOUNGPEOPLE’SIDENTITYPartofthetherapeuticworkofaprogramliketheYouthKooriCourtisinshiftingtheidentityyoungpeoplehavewithinthecourt.MostyoungpeopleintheParramattaYouthKooriCourtarefamiliarwithmainstreamsentencingprocedureswhichspatiallysingleoutandisolateyoungoffenders,andarestronglyhierarchical.YouthKooriCourt’sprocedures,bycontrast,temperthesehierarchicalrelationsbypositioningyoungpeoplearoundatablewithothermembersofthecourt,wheretheyareinvitedandencouragedtospeakforthemselves(eitherdirectlyorthroughtheirsolicitor).Theendofyoungpeople’sfirstYouthKooriCourtmeeting,thesuitabilityassessment,whentheyhavebeenacceptedintotheprogram,ismarkedbyapplausefromeverybodyaroundthetableand,intheobservedcases,theMagistratewillstand,andwalkaroundthetabletoshaketheyoungperson’shand.Elders,willalsoacknowledgetheyoungpersonatthispointby(dependingontheperson,theirrelationshipwiththeyoungperson,andgender)shakingtheirhand,givingthemahug,withameaningfullook,somepartingwords,orabriefprivateconversationwiththemwithinthebustleoftheendofameeting.Thesegesturesarepartoftheinitiationofayoungpersonintotheprogram,andechoritualsthatarecarriedoutatthebeginningofanewjoborinternship,forinstance.Theyhelpacknowledgetheyoungperson’sembarkingontheprogramasakintoacareer.ThehandshakeswiththeMagistratearenotnecessarilyrepeatedattheendofeveryYouthKooriCourtmeeting,butothergesturesandtechniquesareusedtocontinuecraftingtheyoungperson’sidentitybeforethecourtasanidentitydistinctfromtheirrecordofoffences.Notably,incaseswhereyoungpeoplehavedemonstratedexceptionalprogress,thePoliceofficerhasalsowalkedaroundtoshaketheirhand.Affirmationsofyoungperson’sidentityinthiswayareparticularlynotableininstanceswhereyoungpeoplearebroughtintotheYouthKooriCourtfromcustody:escortedinfromacourtholdingcellbyescorts,wearinguniform,andpresumablyhandcuffedprior.Inspiteofthese


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circumstancessymbolically,theytakethesameplaceatthetable,aregreetedwarmlybytheirlawyerbeforehand,andsubsequentlybyothersatthetable.Youngpeople’sskills,insights,eloquencearealsoacknowledgedandemphasisedinarangeofways.Thesecanbeminor,andinthecontextofdiscussingbehaviourtheyneedtochange:

Oneyoungpersonwasaskedtocommentontheirgrandmother’ssuggestionthattroublestartedforthemwhentheyfellinwiththewrongcrowd.Theysaid“Nah,Idon’tletanybodytellmewhattodo”.TheMagistraterepliedwithaustereapproval,“Ihearyoutakingresponsibilityforyourself”

RECOGNITIONOFPROGRESS

TheMagistratewhosentoneyoungpersontoYouthKooriCourtwasinvitedintoYouthKooriCourttoseehowfartheyhadcome.TheYouthKooriCourtMagistrateremarked“(therecommendingMagistrate)shouldbegivencreditforputtingyouintheprogram,butit’smorecredittoyou–magistratesgiveyoungpeoplelotsofchances,fewreallymakesogoodofthem.

Communityworkerswillalsoalwayshavesomethingpositivetosayaboutyoungpeoplewhenreportingontheircompliance.AswenoteinChapter7,morecriticalconversationsseemtohappen‘offstage’,outsideofcourtmeetings.Theyarethereforediscussedoutsideofcourtandrepresenteddelicatelywithincourttosavefaceonyoungpeople’sbehalf.Forexample,acommunityworker’sreportmightemphasisehoweasyayoungpersonwastocontactanddownplaythattheyhavenotattendedtheappointmentsmadeforthem.Knowingthis,theMagistrate,willacknowledgethepraisedbehaviourandasktheyoungpersonabouttheskippedappointmentsdirectly,enquiringafterwhatkindofsupportormotivationtheyfeeltheyneed.Commentsaboutyoungpeople‘lookingsmart’suggestthattheirpresentationincourtisasignofpositiveeffortsontheirpart,andtheseareapprovinglyremarkedonbytheMagistrate,Eldersandpolice.

LookingsmartProsecutor: “Arethereanytemptationstogobacktoyouroldways,theoldG?”

Youngperson: “Naaaah,I’mhappieronmyown,doingmything”

Magistrate: “That’sgoodIhopeyoucankeepdoingthat...Icanseeyou’vecomeheretodaylookingprofessional,lookinghappy,canseethekindofdirectionyouarefacing”


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Onoccasion,theyoungperson’slawyerortheAboriginalofficerhavewhisperedorgesturedtothemtotakeacapoffinthecourt,andEldershaveremarkedininterviewsthattheynoticethecareyoungpeople’sadvocatesexpressinpointingoutthehat,andtherespectyoungpeopleexpresswhentheyoblige.Takingcaretohelpyoungpeoplepresentwellcancontributetoaffirmingtheiridentity.Ascruffyappearancecanindicatealackofsuchcare.OneUncleremarked,withregardtothejuveniledetentionescortswhohadbroughtinayoungmanUnclethoughtcouldhavecombedhishairandwashedhishands:

“Youknowthat'swhere-that'swhereinthejusticesystem,especiallythosethatcomefromcustody,needtosay-rightolads,yougotcourttoday,smartenyourselfup,youknow?…thatyouaredoingthisbecauseofrespectofthisyouknow,sacredwhitemanhousesotospeak,youknow?Orit'slikeanelders-youknow….Idon'twantsomeyoungblokeyouknow,notwashinghisfaceandhavingdirtyfingernails…nowwhatdoesthatsaytous?I'mnotpreparedtoputupwiththat.”

YouthKooriCourtinteractionsareconsistentlystrengths-driven.Thisstrengths-basedapproachtoyoungpeopleplaysoutinbroaderritualfeaturessuchasmodellingandencouragingaccountabilityandtwinninginspirationwithstructuralsupport(whichwediscusslaterinthischapter),allofwhichcontributetoestablishingyoungpeoplewithanew‘script’andmoralcareer.

AFFIRMINGYOUNGPERSON’SIDENTITYASAYOUNGABORIGINALORTORRESSTRAITISLANDERPERSONCONNECTEDTOKINSHIPANDCOUNTRYPreviouslyinChapter6wenotetheeffortsmadetoensuretheYouthKooriCourtisframedbyAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderprotocolandthatAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleareprominentaroundthetable.Aswellasthis,though,youngpeople’sAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderidentitiesareregularlyunderscoredassourcesofstrengthandprideinconversations.Attimesthisisassimpleasthetypeofencouragementandacknowledgementyoungpeoplearegiven,aswhentheMagistratesays“youareastrong,capableyoungWiradjuriman”,oranAuntyapprovingofayoungperson’sdecisiontoattendaDaramubushcamp,saying“you'llfeelthatspiritualityinsideyouandit'llbeagoodthing”.Itmightbeincidental,aswhenoneAunty,introducingherself,acknowledgesthatsheisanElderwhoisnotfromthatyoungperson’scountry,andtheMagistratenotesthatoneoftheyoungpeoplewhopaintedtheartworkonthewallwasfromtheircountry,“soyourcountryishereinspirit”.Ontwooccasions,inhonouroftheyoungperson’skinorcountryties,theMagistratehashadabowlofashesandleavesfromtheYouthKooriCourtinauguralsmokingceremonybyUncleWbroughtoutandkeptonthetableforthemeeting.Thesesymbolic,materialanddiscursivegesturesbuttressmoreformaleffortswithintheYouthKooriCourttofacilitateyoungpeople’sculturalconnections,forinstancethroughcamps,events,projectsorbyenablingthemtomaintainclosenesstofamilies,whetherinSydney(throughFACSinvolvement,orviacourtseparationorders)orinothercities(whichmayinvolvetyinguporrelocatingfinesandjusticeobligationsinSydney).Importantly,thesegesturesenableagenerativereiterationofyoungpeople’s


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culturalidentitiesevenwhenthereisnotscopeforthemtoworktowardseffortslikethosedescribedabove.Youngpeople’sconnectionsandrelationshipswiththeirfamiliesarealsoacknowledgedand,wherepossible,reinforced.87ThishasdistinctsignificanceagainstabackdropunderstandingofthewaysthatAboriginalpeople’sfamilyrelationshipshavebeenharmedbyStateenforcedchildremovalpolicieshistoricallyaswellasinthepresentday.88InputfromfamilymemberswhoattendYouthKooriCourtmeetings,particularlyoldermembers,isinvitedandgivenaplaceinproceedings.CourtpersonnelinYouthKooriCourtmeetingsrecognisetheirimportanceofyoungpeople’sfamilies;supportiveparents,grandparents,siblings,unclesandauntiesareremarkeduponandpraised,theircontributionstoyoungpeople’swellbeinghighlightedtothecourtandtoyoungpeoplethemselves.

Example:TheMagistrateremindsayoungpersonofthesupportofherparentsandfamily,remarkinginparticular:“Yoursisterhasbeenatowerofstrengthforanotherperson[intheprogram]”

Whenaffirmingfamily,membersofthecourtcanformallyendorsethecareandsupportrelativeshaveprovided,andonoccasion,evencontributetotheauthorityofotherfamilymembers(rethispointseealsoCarneyandTait89onguardianshiptribunalsinNSWandVictoria).Weseehowfamilyordermightbeacknowledgedandsupportedinthefollowingstory.

STORY:AFFIRMATIONSOFFAMILY

TheMagistratemovingthroughthesubjectssheasksyoungpeopleabout;drugs,alcohol,accommodation.SheasksAngus,14,andAngus’saunt(andprimarycarer)ifthereareissuesathome.“Shouldweaskaunttostepout?”,theMagistratesaysnoddingatAngusandhisaunt.TheALSlawyerleansintowardsAngusandhisaunt,addressingthemboth,andsays“Ithinktherearesomeissuesathome,ifwe'rehonest".Angus’auntconfirmsthis,saying“Angushasissueswithgrand-dad,withme,witheverybody”.AngusshakeshisheadandtheJuvenileJusticeofficerpointsthisout,“You’re

87InChapter6,inthesectiondetailingtheChildren’sCivilLawService,wediscusstheextenttowhichYKCparticipatingcaseworkerscanadvocateforyoungpeoplewithrelationtoFACSordersoverrelationshipswiththeirkin(includingoffspring),butthedetailsofthesecases,whichareseentoinotherjurisdictions,areseldomraisedinYKCmeetings.88SeeVictoriaGrieves(2017)ThesevenpillarsofAboriginalExceptiontotheAustralianState:Camps,refugees,biopoliticsandtheNorthernTerritoryEmergencyResponse(NTER),inElisabethBaehrandBarbaraSchmidt-Haberkamp(eds)Andthere'llbeNOdancing':PerspectivesonPoliciesImpactingIndigenousAustraliasince2007.Newcastle:CambridgeScholarsPublishing,pp87-109.;andPaddyGibson(2013)Stolenfutures:therevivalofIndigenouschildremoval[online].Overland,Spring(212):44-52.Availableat:http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=201223857;res=IELAPA

89CarneyandTait(1997:133-134)


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shakingyourhead,mate,youmighthaveadifferentpointofview?”Angusexplainsthathegetsintoargumentswithhisgrandfatherbecausehepicksonhim,“hetalksatmewithoutstopping”.Angusauntgentlychideshim,saying“Itoldyou,love,hecan’thelpit,youhavetowalkaway”.TheMagistratecommentstoAngus,“Itsoundslikepopisapproachingastageinhislifewherehecan'treallycontrolhimselfanymore”.“Hemakesmeangry,hejustdoesn’tleavemealone”,Angusexplains.TheMagistratenods,listening.Magistrate: "Whatdoyouthinkhe'dsayifhewasintheroom?"Angus: “Dunno.Lotsofthings"

Magistrate: “Ifyou’repopnow.TellusaboutAngus?"Angus: “He’salittleshit”.Theotherslaugh."HewouldsaythatIargue."Magistrate: “Isittrue?"

Angus: “Littlebit"TheMagistratelistenstohim.SheencouragesAngustofindmeaningfulreasonsnottobeathome:“SoundslikeyouneedtogotoTAFEandgetoutofthere!”

TheYouthKooriCourttalkaboutthisforawhile,suggestingthingsAngusmightenjoydoingthatwillkeephimoutofthehouse,keephimbusyandkeephimoutoftrouble.James(JuvenileJustice)takesadifferenttactandsuggestsafamilyinterventiontohelpsmoothouttherelationships.Eventually,theMagistratecommentstoAngus,“Icanseewe'rewearingyouout,we'llmoveon”.

ThisexcerptdemonstratestheconstructiveandcaringdialoguethatformsaroundAngus’troubledhomerelationships.Withinthiscaringtone,theMagistrateinvitesAngustoputhimselfinhisgrandfather’sshoes.ItisaroleplaythatAngusrespondstoquicklyandthoughtfully,showingthatheunderstandshowhisbehaviourappearstohisgrandfather.Thisexchangedemonstratesthecourt’semphasisoneducationasapathwaytosuccess,andhowthecourtmeetingstrytodealwithangermanagementissuesandstrategiesforavoidingconfrontations.Italsodisplaysthecourt’ssensitivityindealingwithfragilefamilyrelationships.

CONVERSATIONALDYNAMICS TheMagistratemediatestheconversation,especiallyearlyoninahearing,assheinvitespeopletocontributetheirthoughtsandmovesthroughkeysubjectsofahearing.Thisprocessgiveswaytomoreorganicsequencesofexchangeamongstparticipants,andthemediatedconversationaldynamicistheretoreturntowhenanorganicconversationcomestoacloseand/orweshifttothenextsubject.Whilethisapproachseemsconducivetoaflowingconversationthatalsocoversthenecessarygroundworkforeachhearing,inaworkingpartymeetingintheearlystagesofthepilot,theMagistrateexpressedthatshefeltshedidalotofthe


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talking,andsoughtguidanceonwhatshecoulddodifferentlyinorderforElderstobemoreinvolvedintheconversation;shewasadvisedbytheAboriginalLiaisonOfficerthatperiodsofsilencemighthelpinthisregard.Consequently,someoftheMagistrate’smediationinvolvesremainingquietandleavingroomforotherparticipantstospeak.

AnAboriginalElderintheYouthKooriCourt,speakingonconversationaldynamics“IknowthattheroleIfillisasaninvitedElderintothesystem,andthejudgeisconstant….Ijust—Ilovethewayitturnsintoaconversation…youareincluded.Inanyothersituation,it'snotaconversation,you'reintherebutyouaren'tincluded.You'redelegatedorrelegatedtodoA,B,CandD.Inaconversation,youareasked—‘wouldyoubeprepared[todoA,B,CandD]?’Sothere'sadifference,amajordifference.

Elderscangreatlyinfluenceashiftinconversationaltone.OneAuntyoftenimpartedaquietened,reflectiveshiftinotherparticipantsaftershespokewiththeyoungperson.AnotherUncle’scommandingbanter,whichencompassedlocalhistory,informationandencouragement,whenaddressingyoungpeopleseemedlikeadistinctconversationdynamicuntoitselfwithinthebroaderYouthKooriCourt.JokesandbanterenliventheatmosphereatYouthKooriCourtmeetings.Forthemostpart,thisishowpeople’spersonalitiesareexpressedintheinteraction,butregardlessoftheirmaker’sintent,jokesperformsocialfunctionsintheYouthKooriCourtdynamic.Thesecanbeseentosetatoneforproceedings,settingYouthKooriCourtapartfrommainstreamcourtprocesses,andhelpingpaceoutmoreseriousmomentsintheflowofinteractions.Jokesandbanterarenever,orveryrarely,attheyoungperson’sexpense.

EMOTIONALINTENSITYSuitabilitymeetingsmightbethemostemotionallydynamic.Theybeginwiththeyoungperson’sbeingtakenintotheYouthKooriCourtandintroducedtoit;aninitiationofsorts.Observedsuitabilitymeetingshavealwaysendedwiththeyoungpersonbeingacceptedintotheprogramandthisplaysoutasaritualperformanceofseekingandgainingconsensusfromallparticipants.TheMagistrateinvitestheyoungpersontoarticulatewhethertheywanttobeinvolvedintheprogram.Shethengoesaroundthetabletoinviteacommentfromeachparticipant,onebyone,buildinguptoagentleclimaxwhereshecongratulatestheyoungpersononbeingacceptedintotheprogram.Thisismarkedbyapplauseandhandshakes(seeabove).Afterthisritualinsuitabilitymeetings,YouthKooriCourtmeetingsdonotgenerallyhavesharp,shiftingritualofemotionaldynamicsuntilthegraduationhearing.Reviewmeetingstendtoinsteadsustainaconsistentemotionalinvestmentfromparticipants.Eachmeetingallowsthetimetotalk,andthisisnotrushed.Evenifhearingsarelong,theyseemtomaintainenergy


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throughout,seldomdraggingonpointlessly.90SomeparticipantsremarkedthatafulldayofYouthKooriCourthearingshadadiscernableemotionalimpactforthosepoolinginvestmentintoyoungpeople’swellbeing.Youngpeople’ssuccessesandimprovedcircumstanceswereenergising,upliftingandrewarding,whiletheirsetbacksanddifficultiesweredraining,saddeningandoccasionallydisappointing.Sentencinghearingspartiallyreverttothemainstreamcourtset-up:theMagistrateexcusesherselffromthetableandleavesthecourtroomtorobe.Participantsusuallystayseated,andthosewhosatbesidetheMagistrateatthetablemaytakeotherseats.TheMagistraterobes,andisannouncedandcourtstandswhilesheapproachesthebench.ThisbriefceremonyshiftsthespaceandfocusofYouthKooriCourtandalterstheestablishedinteractiondynamic.Thelegaldiscussionofsentencinghearingsarelengthyandtechnical,goingovertheyoungperson’ssentencingrecordandoffencesinstarkdetailsthathaveseldombeenpresentedtotheYouthKooriCourt.Itcouldbearguedthatmomentumislostintheprocess,onlytoberegainedwhen,attheendofsentencing,theMagistratedescendsfromherbenchandalongwithothermembersofthecourt,presentstheyoungpersonwithnotesandgiftsofcongratulationsfortheirachievement.Graduationceremoniesgenerallyhaveajovialandcelebratorytone,particularlywhentheyoungperson’saccomplishmentthroughtheprogramaffirmsparticipants’faithinthemandintheprogram,andevenwhentheyoungpersonwasnotasexpressiveasotherparticipantsabouttheirachievement.Afewgraduationceremonieshavetakenamoredeliberatelysubduedtoneincaseswhereyoungpeoplehavecompletedtheprogrambutnotreallyengagedwithit.

THREATSTOORDERInourobservations,YouthKooriCourtparticipantsmanagetocollectivelycreateacalmsocialspace.Afactormightbethatseveralkeyparticipantsare,attheoutset,onthesamepageastowhatkindofenvironmentthecourtoughttobe,whilestakeholderparticipantsunfamiliarwithYouthKooriCourtallowmoreexperiencedparticipantstolead.Unlikerestorativejusticemeetings,whicharepremisedonashiftfromtensiontoreintegration,theYouthKooriCourtseekstocreateanatmosphereofstabilityandconsistency.Somestrategiesforthiscomethroughinobservations.Oneisbyanticipatingandaccountingforpossibledisruptionsordisengagement.Onseveraloccasions,theyoungperson’slawyerwouldtakean‘offstage’momentbetweenhearings–whenonlyYouthKooriCourtstaffwereintheroom–toflagthingstokeepinmindforthenextyoungperson,forinstance,thatayoungpersonwithanintellectualdisabilitywouldbecomfortablecolouringinatthetablefortheirmeeting,orayoungpersonwhowaspregnantwassensitiveaboutconversationstodowithchildprotectiveservicesandtotreaddelicatelywhendiscussingthat.

90Borowski2011:1125observesthesameinanevaluationoftheVictoriaChildren’sKooriCourt


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Behaviourthatmighthaveadisruptiveeffectinothercontextsaregenerallytreatedasanopportunitytodrawoutcomplexemotionalengagementandunderstandingwithyoungpeople,asinoneinstancewhenayoungperson’sparentabruptlywalkedoutofahearing.

AlcametoYouthKooriCourtwithhisdad.WhentheMagistratefirstinvitesAl’sdadtosharehisthoughts,dadapologisesandflagsthathe“freaksout”whenhe’sinacourthouse.TheMagistratejokes“Thisisajuvenilecourthouse,youareperfectlysafe!”Dadshareshisstory.Ithasbeenalongjourneyforhimtobeingherewithhischildren,tryingtolookafterthem.Hisstoryisheavy.Painanddisappointmentareaudible.Hefinishedspeaking,saying“That’sallIhavetosayaboutthat”.TheotherparticipantshavebeensilentlylisteningandnoddingthroughoutAl’sdad’sstory.Now,theMagistratesoftlysays“okay”.Sheacknowledgesthathiswordstellthemallhowmuchhehasovercometobehere.Alislookingattheceiling.TheMagistrateasksifAlisokayandhesaysheis.Sheremindshimhecantakeabreakanytime.

Theymoveswiftlytobusiness,catchingupwithAl’scaseworkerandsortingouttechnicalitiesofAl’sLeavingCarePlan.Later,duringadiscussionabouthousing,AuntyWasksAl’sdad:“CanIgetyourdetailsoutside?Iwanttoadvocateforyoutogethousing”.DadtalkssomemorewithoutansweringAunty’squestion.AuntyWgentlyremindshimofthewaysshecouldassisthimandthedadsays“ifyoudon'tneedanymorefrommeI'llheadoff”,andheabruptlyleaves.Thereisaquietpause.Alisshakinghishead.TheMagistratethenexpressesgratitudethatAl’sdadcamealongtodayatall,sayingshecanseehowbigadealitwasforhim.Sheadds,addressingAl,“Partofwhatthiscourttriestodoistochangetheexperienceofcourtfrompeoplelikeyourdadhad,tochangeperceptionsofwhatcourtcando.…whenyourdadwasincourtitwasprobablyalongtimeago,I’mnotsurehowhewastreated–butI'veheardstories”,shesaysmeaningfully,“TherewasnoKooricourtthen.”TheMagistraterepeatsthatsheunderstandswhyAl’sdadleft,andAlmaybedisappointed,buthisdadovercamealottocomethroughhereandbehere.Alnods,hesays"Nahhe'sallgood.I'musedtoit".

Afterthis,thecourtcontinuesmovingthroughthereviewhearing.Towardstheendofthehearing,astheygothroughAl’schargestoworkoutwhentheycanscheduleasentencing,thedooropens:Al’sdadwalksbackinandtakesaseatatthetable.Thediscussionaboutsentencingcarriesonforafewminutesandwhenitisresolved,theMagistratewalksovertoshakeAl’shand.ShethanksAl’sdadforcomingback,explainsthatitisovernowandshakeshishandtoo.

AswellasrespondingsensitivelytoAl’sdad’sadmissionsandfullyacknowledgingtheiremotionalimplications,itissignificantthatwhentheseareresolved‘business’ispickedupagain.Thisdynamicmightmodeltheimportanceofacceptingthedualityofcarryingonwithlife’spracticalitiesandmakingspaceforlife’spainandcomplexity,aswellasbeingawaytosupportAlandAl’sdadastheylivethisdualityduringthehearing.


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CONCLUSIONCourtsarefrequentlylikenedtotheatres.Theactorsperformtheirrolesfollowingscriptslearnedinadvanceandrepeatedeachtimetheplayisperformed.WhatisdifferentabouttheYouthKooriCourt(andIndigenouscourtsmoregenerally)fromregularcourtsisthatthereismoreopportunityforimprovisation.Participantsrespondtothestoriesandexperiencesofothersinwaysthatreflect,atleasttosomeextent,culturalprotocolsthattranscendwesternrulebooks.Thecircleofactorsisalsoexpanded:layparticipantsgetachancetospeak.Elders,relativesandfriendsandthepersonwhosecasehascomebeforethecourt–theyallhavethechancetooffertheirviews.Courtshavesometimesbeendescribedasdegradationrituals,inwhichascapegoatisidentifiedandrituallyhumiliatedinfrontofothers.Foryoungpeoplewhoseexperiencewithpolicehasoftenbeentraumatic,courtappearancescandeepenthealienationtheyfeelfromthecriminaljusticesystemandadultsocietymoregenerally.TheYouthKooriCourtbycontrastprovidesaffirmationritualsinwhichthepotentialoftheyoungpersonisemphasised.Thecourtchangesthescripttoonethatisfuture-oriented.Anarrativeoffuturesuccessisconstructed(“Icanseeyou’vecomeheretodaylookingprofessional,lookinghappy,Icanseethekindofdirectionyouarefacing”).Theplayisnotalwayscomfortablefortheparticipants.Theharmdonetoothers(orself)byuseofdrugs,involvementwithbadcompanyorparticipationinviolencemaybeacknowledgedandincludedinthescriptforeshadowingfutureaction.Buttheharmexperiencedbytheancestorsofthoseappearingbeforethecourtisalsorecognised.Whilecommentsaboutstolenlandorlossofculturalidentitymightbeexpressedintheformofajoke,participantsknowitisaseriousmatterthathasongoingeffects,asindeedtheBugmydecisionoftheHighCourtofAustralia91alsoacknowledges.

91HighCourtofAustralia,WilliamDavidBugmyVSTheQueen[HCA37],availableonlineat:http://www.hcourt.gov.au/assets/publications/judgment-summaries/2013/hca37-2013-10-02.pdf


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KEYFEATURESOFINTERACTIONSINYOUTHKOORICOURTMEETINGS

Participants’rolesandrelationshipsaspartoftheYouthKooriCourtareformallyestablishedwithintheYouthKooriCourtmeetings,anditisherethattheserolesandrelationshipsaredisplayedandcheckedinonastheyevolveoverthecourseofayoungperson’sjourneythroughtheprocessandindeed,overthecourseofeachstakeholder’soverallinvolvementintheYouthKooriCourtprogram.ThissectionexaminessomeofthekeydistinctivefeaturesoftheYouthKooriCourtmeetinginteractionsthathaveanoverallharmoniousandbeneficialorchallengingimpactontheprocess.

• Comprehensionandengagement• Accountability• Changingrelationshipsbetweenyoungpeopleandthejusticesystem• Inspirationtwinnedwithstructuralsupport• Responsivenesstoshiftingpriorities

Thesefeatureshelporganiseanunderstandingofhowthepractical,ritual,symbolic,andmotivationalfactorsoftheYouthKooriCourtcometogetherinmeetinginteractions,andtheirbroadereffectsondynamicsandonsupportingActionandSupportplans.Webuildonanalysesfromearliersectionsofthischaptertodothis.WealsoconsiderdifferentwaysmembersoftheYouthKooriCourtmightinterpretthesefeatures,andwhatissuesarebroughtupwhenthesefeaturescomeintoconflict.

COMPREHENSIONANDENGAGEMENTThecourthearingsareconductedinsimpleEnglishappropriatetothelevelofcomprehensionoftheyoungpeopleinvolved.Informationisobtainedinaconversationalstylethatbothsupportsmaximumparticipationbytheyoungpeopleandalsocheckstheyarefollowingwhatisbeingsaid.AcrucialaspectofhowYouthKooriCourtenablesyoungpeople’sparticipationisthroughpitchingtheprogram’sprocessandexpectationssothattheyunderstandit.TheMagistrate’sexplanationsastowhateachmeetingentailsareusuallylayered,forexample,tellingayoungpersonattheirsuitabilityassessment“todayisaboutyourneeds”,thenlayeringitwith“it’sasuitabilityassessment…understandingwhatyouneed,whatservicesyoucouldworkwith,andthecourt’scapacity”.ThereisalsoverylittlelegaljargoninYouthKooriCourtmeetings,andinstanceswherethereneedstobespecialisedlanguageitisexplainedtoyoungpeople,thoughinsomecasesyoungpeopleaskforclarificationofawordorconcepttheydonotunderstand.TheYouthKooriCourtOfficerpointsoutthatAmydoesnotsmokecannabisanymore.HesuggeststheydeletetheDrugandAlcoholrequirementsofthePlan.


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TheMagistratetoAmy:“Doyouagreewiththat?”

Amy: “Yes”JuvenileJustice: “Doyouneedhelpwitharelapsepreventionplan?”Amy: “Idon’tknowwhatyou’resayingrightnow”

TheJuvenileJusticeofficerexplainswhathemeans.

GettingarolemodelAuntyMencouragesKanetogointomentoring.“Thecommunityneedsayoungmanlikeyou”,shetellshim.TheYouthKooriCourtofficersuggeststhatKanedothisatthegymhehasbeensetupwithamembershipto,saying“at6inthemorning,thereareyoungerkidstherewhocoulduseamentor.It’searly,that’swhyIdidn’tmentionit”.Kaneiswhisperingwithhiscaseworker,Daan.Daanremarks“Iwasjustexplainingwhatamentoris,becauseKanewasn’tthatsure”.TheMagistratesays“It’slikearolemodel,helpingyoungpeople,givingadvice”.

YoungpeopleinvolvedintheYouthKooriCourtprogramare,duetotheirdifficultlifecircumstancesandoffendinghistories,oftensubjecttostringentlegalandjudicialoversightincludingcurfews,juvenilejusticereporting,ApprehendingViolenceOrdersandnon-associationordersprohibitingthemfromassociatingwithcurrentorformerromanticpartners,kin,andfriends.TheYouthKooriCourtmeetingsofferyoungpeopleandsometimestheirfamilies/guardiansaspaceinwhichbreachesoftheseorderscanbeeitherexplainedtotheyoungpersoninbreach,orifdeemednecessarybysomeparticipants,challenged,orsimplytroubleshot.Ofteninthecourt,ayoungpersonwouldbe1)advisedagainthetermsoftheirassociationorder,and/or2)invitedtoexplaintheirdifficultiesinadheringtothem,and/or3)offeredstrategiestheycandrawonsoastobetterobservetheorder.Thefollowingstoryisanexampleofallthree,butalsosuggeststhebalanceofseriousnessandbanterthatcharacterizesYouthKooriCourtsessionsandhelpskeepyoungpeopleengaged.

STORY:Difficultieswithanon-associationorderAyoungpersonhasbreachedanAVOissuedbyhisex-girlfriend.Heisincustodyafterbeingspottedwithher.MagistratetoYP: “Hello,andsorrytoseewhereyouare”

Youngperson: “Yeah,sorry”

Theyoungpersonexplainsthesetofthingsthathappenedthatsethimbackandeventuatedwithhisarrest.HeisaskedwhetherhestillwantstheYouthKooriCourt’ssupport.Hesays“I’dloveyoutostillsupportme”,andtalksaboutgoingtoanemploymentagencyappointmentto


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tryandtakestepstowardssecuringwork.Itisnotedthathehasnotbeenintouchwithhiscaseworkereither,andheisaskedaboutthis.ThepolicecommentsonhiscriminalhistoryforviolenceandbreachingAVO's.

Sergeant: “Wecan'tshyawayfromthevictim’sassault,therewereprettyseriousinjuriesandIhaveanobligationtoher..."Youngperson: “IttakestwotobreachanAVOandshe'stheonewhocomesuptome"Sergeant: “Canyoujustwalkaway?"

Youngperson: “I'vetriedthatsomanytimes…we’renottogetheranymore…Ican’tbeameanpersonandjustwalkaway…nextthingIknowI’minhandcuffs”

Hetalksaboutnothavingfriends.Thesergeantasksifheplaysfooty,andtheyoungpersonsaysheusedto,anddidenjoyit,“I’dtearoffwiththeballandwordswouldfly”.Everybodylaughs.Hiscaseworkerpleadsforhimtostayintouchwiththemandsays“Letusdoourjob”.

Magistrate: “Irememberyourex-girlfriendandyouhadagoodrelationship.Somepeoplehaveonegoodrelationshipsomepeoplehavetwenty.Iknowitishard,butyournextgoodrelationshipiscoming,you'reagoodperson,Iknowit'sgoingtohappen.Justfocusonthat.Andifsheapproachesyouagain,well,youknowhowfastyoucanrunahundredmetres.”

Youngpeople’scomprehensioniskeytoengagement.Bothfactorscontributetotheextentoftheirconfidenceinthejusticesystem.Comprehensionwascitedbyyoungpeopleinmostofourinterviews(9)inresponsetothequestionofwhatmadeYouthKooriCourtdifferenttoregularcourt.

WhatisspecialaboutYouthKooriCourt?I: “Andwhat'sregularcourtlikebycomparison?”

YP: “It's-Idon'tknowIcan'texplainit-it'sjustvery-Idon'tknowIfeltuncomfortableinthereyeah…Yeah,likeallthebigwordsandstuffIdon'tunderstandproperly,yeah.I: “Yeah,whereasKooriCourt…”YP: “TheyexplainittomewhereIdon'tunderstand.Tryto-yeah…YeahbecauseinothercourtsIreallydidn'tunderstandwhattheyweresaying.”

YouthKooriCourtmeetingscreateopportunitiesforyoungpeopletospeakforthemselves;theyarespokendirectlytoandaskedquestionsbytheEldersandtheMagistrateandother


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participants;theyareaskedfortheirinputonwhethertheyseeissuesidentifiedbythecourtasimportant,orsimplyaskedtoclarifywithayesornoinputotherparties(suchascaseworkersorkin)havemadeaboutthembybeingasked“isthatright?”or“wouldyouagreewiththat?”;inmoreemotionallyorcircumstantiallycomplex(orsensitive)cases,theMagistratemightsummariseherunderstandingoftheyoungperson’ssituationthenasks“Isthatafairthingtosay?”.Forexample,whentheyoungperson’slawyerrevealsthattheyoungperson’soldersiblingsareallservingcustodialsentences,theMagistrates“Soyouhavesomemodelsyoudon’twanttofollow.Isthatafairthingtosay?”Youngpeople’sresponsestotheseandotherquestionsaretreatedseriouslybyotherparticipants.IftheMagistratesenseshesitation,wariness,distractionoranythingelsethatmightsuggestdisengagementintheirtone,thisisacknowledgedandgentlyaskedafter.Youngpeopleareencouragedtoofferreasonsfortheirdecisions,andtounderstandandagreetowhatisbeingaskedforthembyActionandSupportplans.

WhatcommitmentmeansMagistrate: “Areyoucommittedtothisprogram?”Benjamin: “Yeah”Magistrate: “CanIaskwhy?”Benjamin: “’CauseIwanttoworkwithDaramu”

TheDaramucaseworkerelaboratesthattheytoowanttoworkwithBenjamin.HedescribestheyarndiprogramtheywouldsupportBenjamininattendingandthecounsellortheywouldreferhimto.“Ithinkwecanhelphim”,explainsthecaseworker.Comprehensionandengagementtwinthecourt’seffortswiththeyoungperson’sefforts,andanticipatereciprocity(somewhatechoingthephrasingforActionandSupportplans–‘whatwedo,andwhatyoudo’).Youngpeopleareacknowledgedforaskingquestions,foransweringdifficultquestionsoransweringeloquently,andforexpressingthemselvesfranklyandclearly,andtheseadmissionshelpthehearingproceedinameaningfulway.Moregenerally,insomeinstancesofayoungperson’sfirstappearanceintheYouthKooriCourt,theirsolicitorwillexplainthatshewillspeakontheirbehalfuntiltheyfeelmorecomfortable,inthemeantimetakinginstructionsfromthemasthemeetingproceeds.Thisallowsyoungpeoplewhomightbeshy,withdrawn,orintimidatedbytheprocesstoconversewiththeYouthKooriCourtusingtheirsolicitorasaconduit,tohelpbreaktheice,thoughyoungpeopleinobservedcaseswerealwaysatsomepointencouragedtospeakforthemselvesdirectly.Bycontrast,aperceivedlackofengagementfromyoungpeoplecanfrustrateotherparticipants.Duringculturalinterpretationsofobservationswiththeresearcher,twoElders,ondifferentoccasions,describedturningquitesternwithyoungpeopleinordertosnapthemoutofwhattheyreadasdismissivenessanddisengagement.Onbothoccasions,theElders’sterntonewasararityintheusuallynon-adversarialYouthKooriCourt.


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Asensethatayoungpersonwasdisengaged,ifnotedbyanybodyotherthananElderinthecasesweobserved,couldsometimespolariseparticipantsbetweenthoseweredisappointedbyit,andthosewhodefendedit.Thiscancreate‘sides’withintheYouthKooriCourtcommunityaroundthetable,betweentheprosecutor(inoneinstance)oracommunityworker(inotherinstance)andtheyoungperson’sadvocates(legaladvocatesandtheYouthKooriCourtofficer,forexample).Thisisanexampleofthekindofcontextinwhichthebigbrother/sisteradvocacyrolenotedinChapter6,‘Aculturallycongruentcourt’,cameintoplay.Thesetensionswereneverabletoescalateinthecasesweobserved.Althoughcomprehensionandengagementareemphasised,thisisbalancedagainstgivingyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleanopportunitytobenefitfromtheYouthKooriCourt.Consequently,someconcessionsonspeakingaremadeforparticipantswithintellectualdisabilities(wehavebeenaskednottoobservesuchcases).OneintervieweehasquestionedtheappropriatenessofYouthKooriCourtforyoungpeoplewithalimitedabilitytoengagewiththeYouthKooriCourt.Thispointstodiverseunderstandingsofwhatqualitiesyoungpeopleshouldpossesstobesuitable,wheresomestakeholdersimagineastrictercriteriawouldbea‘betteruseofresources’,whileotherspointoutthattheCourt’sflexibilityenablesyoungpeoplewithvariableneedsandcapacitiestobeabletopotentiallybenefitfromtheresourcesathand.

ACCOUNTABILITYParticipantsoftheYouthKooriCourtmakeapointofemphasisingaccountabilitybothtoandfortheyoungperson.CaseworkersandpartneragencyrepresentativeswereinvitedtoYouthKooriCourtmeetingsinvolvingtheirclient,theyoungperson.Whentheagencycouldnotsendarepresentative,theygenerallyprovidedawrittenreport.Insomecasesinformationwascommunicatedverballybyoneoftheotherparticipants,typicallytheALSlawyerortheAboriginalCourtworker.Thisenabledthecourttomonitorprogresstowardsagreedgoals.Whenparticipantshadnotyetcarriedouttheagreedtasks,reasonsforthiswereexamined,andstepsputinplacetoaddresstheproblem.Youngpeopleclaimedininterviewsthatthecourt’sapproachhadanimpactonhowtheybehavedaswell.

Story:YoungPersonarticulatesfeelingaccountabletotheYouthKooriCourt

Youngperson: “Ifeelcomfortabletalkinginthat[YouthKoori]Court”Interviewer: “Whydoyoureckonthatis?”Youngperson: “It’snotashardandstuff…Youassociatewithotherpeopleinthere,you’retalkingtopeople,they’retalkingtoyou.…allmyfinesgotpaidoff…Iusedtohatecomingtocourtbutit’scoolinthere…I’musuallyshy,butnotinthere”


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Interviewer: “Didthathappenstraightaway,firsttimeyouwentin?”Youngperson: “Nahittookmeacoupleoftimes.Thejudgelikedme…they’llgiveyouachancetoseeifyoudoeverythingtheywantyoutodo.Idideverythingtheywantedmetodo.Iwenttocounselling.IwenttoJJ’s.Sotheycanseemewillingtodoit.EveryappointmentforJJ’s,Igo,ifIcan’tgo,I’llcallandtellthem.IfIcan’tmakeitinoneweek,I’llcallandsayI’llcomeintwicenextweek.Theappointment’sat11.30,I’llgetthereat11.30exactly,knockonthewindowoftheguyIhavetosee”

Interviewer: “Isthereanythingyouthinktheycoulddobetterforyoungpeoplegoingthroughinthefuture?”

Youngperson: “Theytryanddoasmuchastheycan.It’suptothepeoplethey’reworkingfortomeetthemhalfway.Imetthemhalfway.Theytrysohardtohelpyou,theycare,that’swhyIwantthemtoseeitworking.Itlooksbadiftheytrysohardandyou’rebackinthere…Idon’twannagothroughthatprocessagain—itlookslikeyouneverchanged.IwannashowIchanged.”

Whileforsomeyoungpeople‘takingresponsibility’meantengagingwithprogramsandturninguptoappointments,forothersitmeantwillingnesstoseekhelp,ortotryagain.

Example:Athersuitabilitymeeting(herfirstappearanceatYouthKooriCourt),Cassandra,16,hadagreedtoavoidagroupoffriendswithwhomsheusediceaspartofaddressingherdruguse.ShewasduetocourtforherActionandSupportplanmeetingat10amtwoweekslater,buthercaseworkerarrivedaloneandintearssayingshehadnotbeenabletocontactCassandraallweekandwasworriedforhersafety.Cassandraeventuallyarrived,shortlyafter10:shehadbeenusingdrugsandwasstillundertheinfluencewhenshewasincourt,butsheclaimedthatshewantedtoappear,behonestaboutwhatshehaddone,askforhelp,andaskinpersonforherreviewdatetobemoved.

Example:LeehaddriftedoutofcontactwithJuvenileJusticeandhadmissedthatweek’sreportingtimes.ThefollowingMonday,LeecameintothePenrithJuvenileJusticeofficetotalktoJames,theJuvenileJusticeofficerthatLeehadknownforseveralyearswhowasalsoapartofLee’sYouthKooriCourtmeetings.LeeaskedJamesifshecouldreturntotherehabilitationfacilityshehadoncebeentoo.JameswasabletocoordinatethiswiththefacilityandhelpedLeecatchabustothefacilitythefollowingday.Example:Darrylwasknowntocourtstaffforfiveyears,andwasnotoriouslydifficultfortheservicestokeepintouchwithandkeeptabson.AslewoflegalandsocialservicesinterventionssawDarrylseparatedfromhisfamilyandhewasdescribedasdriftingwithoutabase.DuringDarryl’sinvolvementintheYouthKooriCourtprogram,hehadnotbeenabletofollowthroughonmanyofhisinitialcommitments.However,heremainedconsistentlyengagedwiththeYouthKooriCourt.Despiteoftenlosinghisphone,hewouldtakeinitiativeslikelookingupaYouthKooriCourtOfficeronFacebookonsomebodyelse’sphone,andmessagingthemwithaquestionabouthisnextcourtappearance;theYouthKooriCourtworkercouldthenaskDarrylforacontactnumberandringhimback.


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Astheexamplesdemonstrate,theattitudeandlifestylechangesthatyoungpeoplearesupportedandencouragedtomakearenotstraightforward(seealsoChapter8):therearehiccupsalongtheway.Serioussetbacks,particularlythoseresultinginnewvictims,raisecrossedlogicsamongstYouthKooriCourtparticipantsregardingthecourt’sroleevenasallparticipantsexpressregretthatayoungpersonwhocommittedthecrimewasinthepositiontodoso.Someparticipantsframethisasafailureontheyoungperson’spart,andconsiderthecourtresponsibleintheeventthattheoffendingbehaviourfollowsarelaxedcurfew,bailorderornon-associationorder.Otherparticipantsask,howdidwefailthisperson?Thebalancebetweenyoungpeople’sresponsibilitiesandcourt’sresponsibilitiesarealwaysinfluxoverthecourseofacase,andvariouslyinterpreted.Thekindofserioussetbackinvolvingreoffendingandnewvictimsdrawsondifferentparticipants’differentinterpretationsandcanfosterdisappointmentandconflict,andcontributetolossoforfalteringofsomeparticipants’faithintheYouthKooriCourtprocess.Thebalancingactinvolvedinaddressingaccountabilitiesisachievedmorereadilyincourt,expressedasresistancetosimplifiednarrativesaboutparticipants’rolesandtrajectories.Comparedwithothertherapeuticjusticeprogramswhichmightdrawonblackandwhitenarrativesthatoverdramatizeharmandcastpoliceandnon-offendersasalwaysintherightandoffendersasalwaysinthewrong92,theYouthKooriCourtMagistrateandotherparticipantstrytocoaxamorebalancedacknowledgementofgreysandcomplexities.

Example:AyoungpersonhasbeencaughtbypoliceatatrainstationwithoutaticketandthisisbroughtupbytheSergeantincourt–shetellstheyoungpersonthat,“It’sillegalnottohaveaticket,peoplegoingtoworkdoitallthetime,butwithyouroffendinghistoryit’sjustnotworthit.”

Weseeanothermorefacetedexampleofthisinthefollowingstory.

STORY:FAIRNESSANDFIRMNESSINCONTEXT

YP’scaseworkermentionsFACSsettingYPupwithanopalcardwhichhewillhelpYPtopup.Theytalkaboutyoungperson’spublictransportfines;there'saninterestingexchangewherethecaseworkerseemstobejokinglychastisingtheyoungpersonforaccruingthosefines,buttheirLegalAidrepresentativesaysthatthosefineswillbeeasytowipebecauseofcircumstance,YPwashomeless,ridingthetraintobesomewhere,itisunderstandable.

DuringthesentencinglaterinthecasetheMagistratenotesthattherewere…lotsofcharges:goodsincustody,robberyincompany,affray,goingbacktoMarch2014.Perhapsevokingtheearlierexchangebetweenthecaseworkerandlawyeraboutneedinrelationtooffending,theMagistrateacknowledgesthatthestolengoodswerenotallnecessities–theyincludedluxuryitemslikealcoholandcigars.

92SeeRossner,BruceandMeher(2012)


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Thisshowcasesanexampleofthecourtshowingamulti-dimensional,complexnarrativeoftheyoungpersonintheprogram.Itisworthnotingthatthisfullerpictureclearlypointingoutyoungpeople’sculpabilitymaybeclearerduringthemainstreamsentencinghearingsettingthaninYouthKooriCourtsetting.AdistinctionismadebetweenwhatisrituallyappropriateintheYouthKooriCourtreviewmeetingsandinthesentencingphase.

CHANGINGRELATIONSHIPSBETWEENYOUNGPEOPLEANDTHEJUSTICESYSTEMInstancesinwhichyoungpeopleholdthemselvesaccountablefortheirendofagreementswiththeYouthKooriCourtdemonstrateachangingrelationshipbetweenyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleintheprogramandthecriminaljusticesystem.Theprogram’sobjectivesandmethodsinviteandencourageyoungpeopleintohavingreciprocitywiththeprogram,andtoenterintotrustingrelationshipswiththeYouthKooriCourtanditsaffiliates.Inmeetings,theMagistrateregularlyunderscoresthistrust,sayingthatiftheyoungpersoncandemonstratetheircommitmenttocompliancewithcourtordersandbailconditionsinspecificways–likeobservingJuvenileJusticereporting,observingcurfews,stayingoutoftrouble,beingcivilininteractionswithpolice–thentheYouthKooriCourtcandemonstratetheirfaithintheyoungpersonbyvaryingbailconditions,reportingrequirementsandassociationordersthatarewithinthecourt’sjurisdiction.Whentheydoarise,theMagistratetakesnoteofsuchagreementsandkeepstrackoftheyoungperson’sprogressagainsttheagreed-toterms,sothesearediscussedintermsoftrust,reciprocityandaccountabilityineachperson’scasehistorywiththeYouthKooriCourt.Onoccasiontheyoungpersonisfirstgivenanopportunitytohaveamorelenientsituation(forinstance,reportingonceinsteadofthreetimesaweek,orhavinganeveningcurfewextendedfrom6pmto9pm),anditishopedthattheycanhonourthetrustthatisbeingplacedinthemwiththisact.Inbothtypesofreciprocity,thegravityofsuchsituationsisusuallynoted.

EXAMPLEOFINTERACTIONAROUNDSUCHANAGREEMENT

Magistrate: "InmyvieweventhoughthereareseriousconcernsI'mgoingtovarybailandcontinuebail.BecauseIbelievethatAlbertwantstochangeandiscommitted...butifI’mwrong,I'mveryquicktoadmitI’mwrong.…Albert,ifthereisanotherrelapse,andyouarearrested,youarelikelybeincustodyuntilbailaccepted...I'mmakingaveryseriouscalltoday,Iwantyoutoacknowledgethat...Youalreadyhavea9pmcurfew,andthereisdailyreportingtothepolice.Isthereanythingelsewecandoforyou?”

Albert: “No.Icanabidebytherules.”Magistrate: “Wehavesomanysupportsandwearedesperatetoworkwithyou.ButIcannotlettheYouthKooriCourtbeabused.ButIbelieveyoucangetthroughthis.IfI'mwrongthen,well,we'llhavetolivewiththat".

Itisworthnotingthataswithalltypesofbailandsentencingoutcomes,thesereciprocalrelationshipsenteredintobetweentheYouthKooriCourtandyoungpeoplecansometimes


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resultinoffendingbehaviourwithnewvictims.Whilecasesinwhichproductivereciprocitiesdevelopbetweenyoungpeopleandthecourtcontributetoimprovedrelationships,casesontheothersideofthespectrum,inwhichyoungpeoplecannotmeetwhatisexpectedofthemandre-offend,canrattlestakeholders’faithnotonlythoseyoungpeoplebutintheprogramitself,particularlysurroundingviolentoffences.Wedonothavedatathatallowsustoreportthepercentageoftimesthishashappened(seetheanalysisofnewoffencesinChapter11),buttheseriousnessofsuchcasesraisechallengestotheprogram’sdynamicsandaspectsofitsprocesswhichwillbediscussedindepthinthediscussionattheendofthischapter.Inmeetings,theMagistrate,Elders,PoliceProsecutorsandothersregularlyemphasizethattherelationshipbetweenyoungpeoplewithanoffendinghistoryandthecriminaljusticesystembeyondthecourtwill,likeallrelationships,taketimetochange.Thiscomesupparticularlywhenyoungpeoplecommentonbeingstoppedandquestionedorsearchedbypolicewhentheyhavenotdoneanythingwrong:theyareencouragedtoexercisepatienceandtoremainpoliteintheseinteractionswithpolice,andtotaketheonusonthemtobeginchangingrelationships.

STORY:Andrew’sthirdreviewThisisAndrew’sthirdreview.HereportsthathehasbeenattendingsessionsataKooridrugrehabilitationfacilityinNorthSydney,asperhisplan,andhislawyerpointsoutthatthefacilityisa90-minutecommutefromhisresidence,andhehasbeencatchingpublictransportthereandback.TheMagistratecommentsapprovingly.SheasksAndrewhowtherehabilitationprogramhasbeengoingandhedescribesitindetail;whatitdemandedofhim,howhefeltaboutit,whathedid.TheMagistrateinterruptshim.“I'lljuststopyouthere,andcongratulateyou”,sheshakeshishand,explaining:“Ijustaskedyouhowitwasgoingandyoutoldmeindetail!”Andrewrepliesthatsincethisishisthirdtimeincourt,“itfeelslikefamily”. AttheendofAndrew’sreview,heshakestheMagistrateandAunty’shands,ashenormallydoes.ThenheleansovertoshakehandswiththePoliceProsecutor,theJuvenileJusticeOfficer,theYouthKooriCourtofficerandthecourtofficerwhohandshimhispaperwork.Heappearscomfortableandconfident,asthoughashifthastakenplacewherehehasstoppedseeinghimselfassomebodywhocomestocourtbecauseheisintrouble,andinsteadassomeonewhocomestocourtasanadultworkingonaself-developmentproject.

Aswellaspotentialforchangedrelationshipsbetweenyoungpeopleandthecriminaljusticesystem,thereisamorelocalbuy-infromyoungpeopleandtheirfamilieswhoknowotherswhohavebeenthroughtheYouthKooriCourtandlikeorhaveworkedwithitspersonnel:thisisreportedlyconducivetotrustingrelationshipsandcooperationwiththeprogram.Onestakeholderremarks:“thewaythetrustseemstogoisthatifthereissomeonethatyoutrustandtheyokaysomeoneelsethentheyareokay…otherwiseit'sclosedshop.”TheyoungpeopleandfamiliesinterviewinthisstudyverifiedthattheytrustedandlikedtheYouthKooriCourt.


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AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeople’sconfidenceinthecriminaljusticesystemmoregenerallyisalong-termgoalthatwouldentailthemotivationofactorsthroughoutthecriminaljusticesystem,aswellasbeyondit,toachieve,anditisnotconventionallymeasurable.TheYouthKooriCourt’sbroaderimplicationsforrelationshipsbetweentheAboriginalcommunityandthecourtaresofardiscernibleonlyinanecdotalevidencefromElderswhoreporthearingpositivereviewsoftheYouthKooriCourtincontextsfarremovedfromit,andininterviewswithstakeholders,youngpeopleandtheirfamiliessofar.

ONCHANGINGRELATIONSHIPSBETWEENYOUNGPEOPLEANDTHECRIMINALJUSTICESYSTEM

Ayoungperson’slegalrepresentative:“IsupposeoneofthethingsthatIsayaboutthatisthat'snotforthepurposeofmakingyoungpeoplekindofnormalisecourtasbeingsomewherewheretheynecessarilybelongoranythinglikethat,butit'sabouthavingasense[that]courtisaplaceiswhereyouknow,youfindyourselfinthemforwhateverreason,youwillbetreatedfairlyandwithrespectandthatyouwillgetjusticethere.

InseveralcasesayoungpersonwhohasgraduatedfromtheYouthKooriCourthascomebackfromtimetotimetovisitmembersoftheYouthKooriCourt‘family’.TheYouthKooriCourtisnotfundedtoprovideongoingsupportfortheseyoungpeople,butthefactthatsomeofthemcomebackdoesreflectontheperceivedqualityofthesupporttheyhaveexperienced.

ONCHANGINGRELATIONSHIPSBETWEENPOLICEANDYOUNGPEOPLE

Apoliceofficer:“I'mbreakingitdownthefewofthem,andprobablyafewoftheirparentsorthe-alltheirelderlygrandparentsbecausethey'reusedtopolicebeinghorribletothemandpolicehavebeenhorribletothem,butit'salotofworktobedoneandwhetheritcaneverhappenwhoknows.”

AnElder:“Ican’tspeakforoutsidethecourt,butinthecourtithasaprofoundeffectonchildrenandthepolice.Whenthey[theyoungperson]firstcomeupthereisacoldshoulderbetweenchildandthepolicewhositsatthetablealso.Unintentional,justwhatthechildhasexpected.That’satthefirstlevel.Whenthechildcomesinagainandagain,theirbodylanguagechanges,itismorerelaxed.Thepoliceofficerisalwaysthesame,butthefeedbackcomingoutofthemchangestheyoungperson.It’sthesamefeedbackcomingfromEldersandall,buttoseethemseeitcomingfromthe


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policeofficerisaprofoundthing…Thatforme…yougrowupin[Northernstatecity]yourbrothersbeingchased,yourfriendsbeingchasedfornoreason.Youcallthemeverynameunderthesun,toseethatreaction,togrowup,andnowseethisreaction—I’monahigh.”

Theprocessofchanginghistorically,sociallyentrenchedrelationshipsisdelicateandcomplex.TheQueenslandCrimeandMisconductCommissionexplainsthiseloquentlywithregardtopolice:

“TherelationshipbetweenpoliceandQueensland’sIndigenouscommunitiesishighlyvariable,dependingonplace,time,recentevents,andtheparticularpoliceofficersinvolved.Generally,however,itcouldbedescribedasfragile,tenseandvolatile.SuchadescriptionshouldcomeasnosurprisetoanyAustralianwithawarenessofeventsinourcolonialhistory,orindeedofcontemporarypolice-relatedeventsinvolvingIndigenouspeople.”93

AspectsofourdatapointtosensitivitiesaroundhowthisloadedrelationshipplaysoutinYouthKooriCourtmeetings.Wecansummarisethecontentionintermsofadelicateanddifficultbalancebetweenpromotingrespectforpolice,andacknowledgingthefactofhistoricalandcontemporarypoliceinvolvementinAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderover-representationinthecriminaljusticesystem,anddistinguishingindividualidentitiesofpoliceandyoungpeopleintheroomfromthegroupstheyrepresent.Thiscomplexproblemcannotbeeasilyresolvedinareport.Drawingfromdecolonisingmethodologies,wecanonlysuggestframingthisproblemandacommitmenttoworkingthroughitintimeaspartoftheslowfulfilmentofYouthKooriCourt’sobjectivetochangecourtcultureandtochangerelationshipsbetweenAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderandthecriminaljusticesystem.

RESPONSIVETOSHIFTINGPRIORITIESAmoresimplebutfundamentalfeatureoftheYouthKooriCourtistheresponsivenessthatparticipantsandtheprocessitselfmusthavetosuddenshiftsinayoungperson’scircumstances.Itisunderstoodthatplansmayalterandevolvetoaccommodatethingslikenewcharges,aperiodincustody,anewhousingsituation,orahealthmatter(frombrokenbonestopregnancy),butoccasionally,eventsoccurthatmayalterthemeeting’sprioritiesforthatday.Thereareseveralexamplesofthishappeningaroundayoungperson’ssuddenorimpendinghomelessness,asinthefollowingstory,andtheseinstancesnecessitateabriskrevisionofbailordersandsupportplanitems,andparticipants’effortsfindingasolutiontotheproblem.

93CrimeandMisconductCommission(2009)Restoringorder:crimeprevention,policingandlocaljusticeinQueensland'sIndigenouscommunities.Brisbane:CMC,ppxxiv


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STORY:PRESSINGMATTERSDEALTWITHINSUITABILITYMEETING

ThisisTaylor’sfirsttimeintheYouthKooriCourtforasuitabilityassessment,andasofthatmorning,Taylorhasnowheretolive.Thisisthefirstthingraisedincourtfollowingthewelcome.EverybodytriestofigureoutwhereTaylorcansleepthatnight.OneofthecaseworkersstepsouttocheckwhetherTaylorcanstayattheirfacility(hereturnssaying“there’svacanciesbutit’snotpossible”).Taylorhasnofamilynearby;itissuggestedTaylortraveltothenearestrelative.MaristCrisisCareissuggested.“Well,Taylor”theMagistratesays,“you’vepresenteduswithaverybigchallenge”.ItispointedoutthatTaylor’scurfewislinkedtotheresidenceTaylorcannolongerstayat,andthelawyerasksifthatcanberevisedsothereisnoriskofTaylorbreachingbail.TheMagistratesuggeststheylookatthesuitabilityandthenreturntothebail.Theyexaminethecriteriaonebyone,talkingaboutthekindofsupportandtherapyTaylormightbenefitfrom.TheMagistrateexplainstoTaylorthat“Whythat’simportanttomeisifsomeofthesethingswerestableyou’dbelessangry,lesslikelytolashout,offend”.

ThePoliceprosecutorisinvitedtocontribute.HespeakssternlytoTaylorabouttheoffencesandsayshehopesTayloriscommittedtothisprogramafter“committingthesecrimes,andhavingthesevictims…youdon’twantthat,wedon’twantthat”.TheMagistratesays,“ifyoucomeinthisprogramisnotabreeze,youhavetodostuffbutwesupportyou,notmepersonallybuttheseothers,ActionandSupportplan,whatwedo,whatyoudo…”WithTaylor’saccommodationsituationleftopen-endedattheendoftheassessment,andforthecaseworkers,lawyerandYouthKooriCourtofficertoworkonoverthecourseoftheday,Taylor’slawyerrequeststhatTaylorbesubjecttodailyreportingbutwithTaylor’scurfewandresidenceconditiondeleted.TheMagistrateinvitestheprosecutortosharehisthoughts.

Prosecutor: “CanIjustaskTayloraboutthat?Taylor,I’mgoingoutonalimbhere-ifyougetintotroubleitcomesontomeandIdon’twanttobeinthatposition....”Magistrate: “CanIechotheSergeant’sconcern?…Weareallgoingoutonalimbhere,pleasedon’trewardthatwithfailure.”

INSPIRATIONTWINNEDWITHSTRUCTURALSUPPORT:Theterm‘ActionandSupportplan’succinctlycapturestheprogram’srequirementforreciprocity,whichtheMagistraterepeatedlyremindsyoungpeoplebydescribingtheplanas“Whatwe’regoingtodoto,andwhatyou’regoingtodo”.Inkeepingwiththis,the‘wrap-around’supportapproachtostructuralcircumstancesinYouthKooriCourtyoungpeople’slives


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(detailedinChapter7)istwinnedwithencouragementofandcultivationofthatyoungperson’sagency.Thisoccursfirstintheinteractionsthroughwhichyoungpeople’sengagementandcomprehensionofcourtprocessesisfacilitated,andisafactorinyoungpeople’saccountabilitytothecourt,andinbuildingchangedrelationshipsbetweenyoungpeopleandthejusticesystem,allofwhichtapintootherfeaturesdiscussedinthissection.Itisalsomadenoteofretrospectively,astheMagistrateremarkedatoneyoungperson’ssentencinghearing:

“ThiscourtrecognisesthatyoudidnotwantFACS’involvement,butovertime,withsupport,youembracedit.…Robberyincompanyattractsamaximumof20years.TheworkyouhavedonehereIhopewillshowyouthatthatisnotyourdestiny…youhavenotoffendedthiswholeyear,andthatistoyourcredit”

Effortstoinspireyoungpeoplealsoextendbeyondtheprogram’sconclusions,asallyoungpeopleintheprogramareencouragedtoraisetheirexpectationsforthemselvesandtheirlives,toimaginefuturesforthemselvesthatbreakwithcriminaljusticecyclesthatmanyareinwhentheyfirstentertheYouthKooriCourt.Thereisafocusonidentifyingeachyoungperson’sstrengths,skillsandinterests,andtryingtofacilitateopportunitiestoturnthoseintoacareerandincome(seesectiononEmploymentandEducationinChapter9)–thisgenerallyhappensatthefirstsuitabilitymeetingandisrevisitedandcheckedinonthroughoutreview.(AswehavediscussedinChapter7,theYouthKooriCourtrequiresmoresystemicsupportandcollaboratorstodeveloptheextenttowhichcareeropportunitiesareaccessibletoyoungpeople,seealsotheRecommendations.)SomeintervieweesalsonotethathavingworkerswhoidentifyasAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderaroundthetablealsoimpartsamotivationtoyoungpeoplethatmighthavenotbeenforthcomingintheirlivesprior.

“WeneedkidslikeM----,whohasprobablyneverseenanyonegotoUni[seesomeonelike]Amy,thisAboriginalgirlfromQueenslandwho…isouttherewritingpapers,doingallthisresearch…andhegottomeetherandshewashislawyer.ItisinvaluableforakidlikeH------,whogrewupinsimilarcircumstancestoJames(anothercourtworker),andtheyarebothfromthesameplacedownthecoast”

Somestaffreportdiscernibleeffectsofthisinyoungpeopleexpressinganddiscussinglonger-termaspirations.AstheAboriginalLiaisonOfficernotesofoneyoungperson:

“…ThisyoungkidhasstayedoutofcustodyforthelongestperiodoftimeinthesixyearsIhaveknownhim.Andwhenyoutalktohimnow…[heis]talkingaboutgoingontrips,talkingaboutgoingtoFiji.…Kidslikethisdon'talwayshavethoseambitionsbecauseit'sveryhardwhenyou'resurroundedbyallyourbrothersandsisters,unclesandaunties,parentsgoinginandoutofcustodyandnothavingmuchmoney,it'shardtodreamaboutstufflikethat.”


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DISCUSSION

Thischapter’squalitativeanalysisofthepractical,symbolic,ritualandinteractivequalitiesofYouthKooriCourtmeetingshasaccumulatedasenseforsomeoftheprogressivewaysthattheYouthKooriCourtismeetingthreesetsofobjectives:1. Toprovideapractical/tangiblescaffoldtotheprocess2. Toaddresstheprogram’sstatedobjectives3. ToaddressobjectivesunderstoodaspartofaFirstPeoplesorientatedmeetingTheacknowledgementofland,clan,lineageandrelationshipsatthebeginningofeverymeetingestablishesvaluesthatthemeeting’sconversationreflectsandreturnstoasitcontinues.Meetingsactasatherapeuticplaydirectedatinspiringandsupportingyoungpeople,andfosteringtheirengagementanddevelopmentthroughmeetinginteractions.Meetingsmighteveninspireyoungpeople’scomplianceandtheirandtheirfamilyandbroadercommunity’sattitudes.Itisimportanttoalsonotethatmeetingsareemotionallylaboriousandcanbe“greatandupliftingordraininganddepressing”,touseoneElder’swords,dependingonyoungpeople’scircumstances(progressandsetbacks).Overall,thischapterhasdevelopedanunderstandingofhowYouthKooriCourtmeetingsinvolveinterplaysofindividualsandinstitutions,structureandagency,faithandprudence,lineageandthepresentmoment.94Wehavealsodevelopedanunderstandingofsomeofthemorechallengingoftheseinterplays.Elsewhere,wehavedescribedchallengesasanimpossiblebalancingact,orintermsofcrossedlogics.Theseclashesarerootedinthefactthatdifferentparticipantsarebringingdifferentorientationstotheirinvolvement,andsubtlydifferentinterpretationsofwhattheYouthKooriCourtisandoughttobeandwhatitsobjectivesareandoughttobe.Shouldthesuitabilitycriteriabestricter,restrictedtoyoungpeoplewhoareabletoengagewiththeprogramanddemonstratediscernableimprovementsinbehaviourthusmakingeffectiveuseofcourtresources?Inwhichcase,istheYouthKooriCourtaprescribedprogramthatisabletoperformaspecifickindofstreamlinedtherapeuticrehabilitation?OrcanthesuitabilitycriteriaremainbroadalongsidedevelopingtheYouthKooriCourtasaflexibleprogramabletoadapttotheneedsandcapacitiesofeachyoungperson’scircumstances?Ifso,wherewouldthecourtdrawalineinacceptingayoungpersonintotheprogram?

94AdaptedfromRayPawsonandNickTilley(1997)RealisticEvaluation.London,CaliforniaandNewDelhi:SAGE,ppxiii


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CHAPTER11:CRIMINALJUSTICEOUTCOMESInthischapterwereviewthedifferentwaysthecriminaljusticeoutcomesoftheYouthKooriCourtprocesscanbedefined,measuredandoperationalised.Wediscusstheissuesinvolvedinobtainingthesemeasures,andthestrengthsandweaknessesofeach.Weprovideestimatesfortwomeasuresthatareparticularlyrelevanttotheoperationofthecourt.AspreviouschaptershaveshowntheclientsoftheYouthKooriCourttendtobehighlymarginalised,andfaceacomplexrangeofhealth,housing,educationalandemploymentchallenges.Muchofthecourt’sattentionisdirectedtoattemptingtoassisttheyoungpersontoaddresstheseproblemsanddevelopasaferandmorestableenvironment.ActionandSupportplansaredevelopedtoadvancetheseobjectives,supportagenciesareidentifiedandprogressmonitored.Howeversocialdeprivationisnotwhatbringstheyoungpeopletotheattentionofthecourt.Itisthecriminalchargestowhichtheyoungpersonhaspleadedguilty(orforwhichtheyhavebeenfoundguilty).Indeedtheprimaryformalroleofthecourtistobeasentencingcourt,thepartofthecriminaljusticesystemwheredecisionsaboutappropriatesanctionsaremade.Thesetwotypesofoutcomearenotcontradictory.Sentencingforchildrenandyoungpeople–whetherinaKooricourtorregularcourt–tendstoprioritiserehabilitation,whichnecessarilyinvolvespayingattentiontolifestylefactorsandsocialenvironment.Neverthelesssentencingmagistratesarealsorequiredtotakeintoaccounteffectsonotherpeople,includingprotectingthepublicfromfutureoffendingbytheoffender(‘individualdeterrence’).Othersentencingprinciplesmayincludediscouragingothersfromoffending(‘generaldeterrence’),retribution,incapacitation(puttingsomeoneoutofactionforaperiod)andavoidingvigilantejustice.Sowhilehelpingtheyoungpersongettheirlivestogether–rehabilitation–mightbeseenastheprimaryobjectiveofjurisdictionsliketheYouthKooriCourt,individualdeterrencedoeshavearole.Itiscertainlyofinteresttopolicymakersandthepublic.SodoestheYouthKooriCourtmakeadifferencetotheoffendingbehaviouroftheyoungpeoplethemselves?Thereareseveralwaysofaddressingthisquestion:1. HowwelldoestheYouthKooriCourtprocessaddresstheriskfactorsrelevanttore-

offending?• Riskfactorsforre-offendinginclude:reducingcontactoftheyoungpeoplewith

anoffendingpeergroup,avoidingplaceswhereoffendingismostlikelytooccurandprotectingfamilymemberswhohaveexperiencedviolencefromtheyoungperson.Asthepreviouschaptersshowed,no-contactorders,curfewsandsaferhousingoptionsaresomeofthestrategiesputinplacetoaddresstheseissues.ReferralstodruginterventionprogramsaimedtobreakaddictiontoIce(orotherhazardoussubstances)andpromotemoreresponsibleuseofalcohol,whileparticipationinprogramstoincreasejob-readinessorhealthierrelationshipsaddressedtwoofthemajorfactorsassociatedwithdesistancefromcrime–gettingajobandbeinginastablerelationship.


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• Fromtheperspectiveofriskmanagement,thelifestyleinterventionsinitiatedduringtheYouthKooriCourtprocessarepreciselythetypesofactionthatcouldbeexpectedtoreducefutureoffending.Inotherwordstheyprovidetheframeworkforindividualdeterrence.

• Throughtheimplementationofactionplans,riskmanagementstrategieswereputinplaceformostoftheyoungpeoplewhocamebeforethecourt.Basedonwhatthecriminologyliteraturesaysaboutdesistance,iftheopportunitiesforengagingindelinquentactsarereduced,themotivationtoengageinsuchactsdiminishedandcapableguardiansprovidedtokeepaneyeontheyoungperson,thenre-offendingislikelytobereduced.‘Capableguardians’referstomentorslikeElders,rolemodelslikeotheryoungAboriginalpeopleandprofessionalslikesocialworkers(whomayalsobeotheryoungAboriginalpeople).

• Ifopportunity,motivationandcapableguardiansareindeedthekeytoreducingrisk,thenthe‘intervention’thatshouldbemeasuredisnotparticipationintheYouthKooriCourtassuch;itisthevariousactionsthatflowedfrominvolvementinthecourtprocess.Theseactionsnaturallytooktimetoarrange,sothestartpointtomeasurethere-offendingperiodshouldarguablybethepointwhentherelevantmeasureswereputintooperation.Ofcourseiftheriskmanagementplanwasnotactivated–forexampleiftheyoungpersoncontinuedtoliveininsecurehousingwithco-offenders,itwouldbeexpectedthatthedelinquentbehaviourwouldcontinue.

2. Doesindividualre-offendingdeclineasaresultofparticipationintheYouthKooriCourt?

• Individualre-offendingcanbespecifiedintermsofquantity:numberofcustodyevents(discussedabove),numberofoffences(self-reportedbyoffendersorrecordedbypolice),ornumberofvictims(eitherself-reportedbyvictimsorrecordedbypolice).Atimedimensionisalsorequired,optionsinclude:timetofirstre-offence,timetore-sentenceortofirst(re-)imprisonment,andestimatingratesofeverre-offending,byprojectingasurvivalcurvefromre-offendingratesat6months,ayearetc.Typeofoffenceisoftenconsidered–whetherthenewoffenceisviolentornot,andwhetheritisofthesametypeasthepreviousone(e.g.drugs,burglary,cyberfraud).Oneofthemostwidely-usedmeasureofre-offendingiswhetherapersonre-offendswithinaspecifiedperiod(typicallytwoorthreeyears)ofaprevioussentence,withre-offendingmeasureduntilthedateofnextoffence.

• Toworkoutwhetherre-offendinghasincreased,decreasedorremainedstableitisusualtocomparetheindividualoffendingrecordwiththatofequivalentoffenderswhodidnotreceivetheintervention.OncetheYouthKooriCourtmodelisfullydevelopedthiswouldbeoneofthemeasuresthatcouldcontributetoanunderstandingofoutcomes.Forapilothoweveritisnotpracticalforthefollowingreasons:

a) Timeperiod.Mostpilotprojectsneedresultsreasonablyquickly.Togetusefulre-offendingratesitwouldbenecessarytowaittwoyears(preferablythreeyears)aftertheyoungpersonhadgraduatedfromtheprogram,orassuggestedabove,fromthepointatwhichtheactionplanhadbeenputintooperation.TheBOCSAR2012evaluationofYouth


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Conferencingusedathree-yearrecidivismrate.However,becausetheinitialimplementationstageofapilotfocusesonrefiningthemodel,onlydatafromthefinalcohortsprovidereliablemeasuresoftheimpactoftheintervention.

b) Samplesize.Toachieveastatisticallysignificanteffectintheproportionre-offendingwithintwoorthreeyearsasamplesizeofseveralhundredwouldberequiredtodetectaneffectsizethatmightbeconsideredrealistic–about5percentagepoints.AnevaluationofYouthConferencinginNSWbyBOCSARrequiredasamplesizeof916.

c) Findingcomparablegroups.Theexperimentalmodelassumesthatthetwo(ormore)groupsbeingcomparedhavebeenrandomlyassignedtothedifferentexperimentalconditions.Whilethiswouldbetechnicallypossible–halfofthosefoundeligibletoenterYouthKooriCourtmightbeacceptedandhalfrandomlyassignedthe‘standard’condition–itwouldnotbeacceptabletothecommunityorthecourts,andwouldatanyratebeveryhardtoputintopractice.Manyevaluationstudiesuseinsteadwhatiscalledaquasi-experimentaldesign.Insteadofrandomassignment,thosewhoenteraprogramarematchedwithotherswhoappearatthatpointintimetobealmostidentical.Itwouldbeamajorlogisticalexercisetoobtaincomparabledataforanothergroupofyoungpeopleaboutkeyriskissuessuchasthoserevealedonactionplans–contactwithextendedfamily,mentalhealthconcerns,periodsofhomelessnessanduseofdrugs,totakefourexamples.Askingtheyoungpeopleinthecontrolgroupdirectly–developinganactionplanfortheminotherwords–wouldbepossible,butiftheactionplanwasnotfollowedup,itwouldberightlybeseenasunethical.Iftheactionplanswerefollowedup,thiswouldthreatentheexperimentaldesign.Further,notgettingthislevelofdetailwouldmakeanycomparisonsunreliable.

3. HowsuccessfullydoestheYouthKooriCourtprocesscontributetoreducingtheover-

representationofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleinprison?• TheRoyalCommissionintoAboriginalDeathsinCustodymadeclear

recommendationsthatallpartsofthecriminaljusticesystemshouldtakestepstoreducethehighlevelsofimprisonmentofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeople.Inthecontextofthisnationalpriority,onemeasureofsuccessrelevanttothecriminaljusticeprocessistheextenttowhichtheyoungpeoplewhocamebeforetheYouthKooriCourtwerekeptoutofcustody.

• Useofcustodyisalsorelevanttore-offending.AsJudgeBarryStuartpointedoutintheMosescaseinYukonreferredtoinChapter2,spendingtimeinprisonfortheIndigenousmanwhocamebeforehimforsentencingdidnotreducere-offending–prisonhadbeentriedandfailed.Thisfindingofnopositiveimpactofprisononre-offendingisconsistentlyreplicated,includinginNSW.Oneexperimentalstudyfoundthatthatimprisonmentmayactuallyincreasesubsequentre-offending.Thismaybebecausefamilytiesarebrokenandemploymentprospectsreducedbytimespentincarcerated,whilecriminalnetworksmaybestrengthened.Atacommunitylevel,communitiesmaybe


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disruptedbymassincarcerationoftheirmembers.EstimatesfortheimpactoftheYouthKooriCourtonuseofcustodyareprovidedinthefollowingsection.Daysincustodyandnumberofcustodyeventsalsoprovideauseful,andwidely-used,indicatorofindividualre-offending.Nodistinctionisavailablefromthestatisticsbetweenpolicecustody(usuallymeaningthepersonwasheldinapolicelock-upuntileitherreceivingpolicebailorbailfromacourt),orcustodyinayouthdetentioncentre.

• Some20youngpeoplegraduatedfromtheYouthKooriCourtintheJuly-December2016period.Ofthese,1filecouldnotbefoundandfor1theinformationwasincomplete.Thisleavesapopulationsizeof18.Theyoungpeoplespentonaverage291daysintheYouthKooriCourt.Thisrangedfrom135daysto470days.Someofthosewhospentmorethanayearontheprogramgraduatedonceandhadbeenre-admittedduetosubsequentre-offending,othershadtheirgraduationdatespostponedforasimilarreason.Theengagementoftheyoungpeoplewiththecourtwasfairlyintense:eachparticipanthadonaverage10hearings;thisnumberrangedfrom5to18.Eachparticipanthadonaverageonehearingevery29.1days.Thetotalnumberofhearingsforthiscohortwas175.

• Generalisingfromsuchasmallgroupisproblematic.Thereisconsiderablevariationwithinthegroup,anditislikelythatthepreviousorsubsequentcohortsmaydiffersomewhat.Neverthelessthisisthegroupwehaveinformationaboutandtherearesometentativeconclusionsthatcanbedrawnfromtheirexperience.

• Twomeasuresofcustodywereavailableforthisgroup.ThefirstisthetotalnumberofdaysincustodyfromthefirstYouthKooriCourtappearanceuntilthedateofsentence–whichwascomparedtotheequivalentnumberofdaysbeforeenteringYouthKooriCourt.ThesecondisthenumberoftimestheyoungpersonenteredcustodyduringtheYouthKooriCourtperiodcomparedtoanequivalentperiodbeforehand.

Thesamplesizeof18istoosmallfornormalstatisticalteststobevalid.Atanyrate,thedistributionassumptionsforparametrictestsarenotmet:forexample,5oftheYouthKooriCourtparticipantshadnoexperienceofcustodyeitherduringtheYouthKooriCourtperiodorintheequivalentperiodbeforehand,sothatmeansthetailofthedistributionisflat.Howevertherearetwostatisticaltestswhicharevalidintheseconditions,andcanprovideausefulindicationofthepossibleimpactoftheYouthKooriCourtoncustody:thesigntestandtheWilcoxonsignedranktest.Bothoftheseeliminatepairs–suchasthe5caseswherethenumberofdaysis0forbothperiods.First,thenumberofdaysthepersonspentincustodyduringtheperiodtheywereintheYouthKooriCourtcomparedtoanequivalentperiodbeforehand.TheaverageyoungpersoncomingbeforetheYouthKooriCourtspent25daysincustodyduringtheirYouthKooriCourtperiod,comparedto57daysincustodyintheequivalentperiodbeforehand.Expressedinpercentageterms,theaverageparticipantspent9percentoftheirtimeinYouthKooriCourtincustodycomparedto20percentbeforehand.ThenumberofdaysincustodyduringYouthKooriCourt


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rangedfrom0to141;beforeenteringYouthKooriCourttherangewasfrom0to279duringanequivalentperiod.ThesignstestcountsthenumberofyoungpeoplewhohadmoredaysincustodybeforeYouthKooriCourt(11)andthenumberofyoungpeoplewhohadmoredaysincustodyduringtheperiodtheywereinYouthKooriCourt(2).Fivewereeliminatedbecausetherewasnodifference.Thisdifferenceissignificant(1-tailedtest,z=2.50,p=.006).TheWilcoxonsignedranktestislikethesignstest,butitalsotakesintoaccountthesizeofthedifferenceinthenumberofdayscustody.Thisdifferenceisalsosignificant(Z=-.2.34,p=.0096;W-value=12,criticalvalueofW=21,p≤0.05).Thesecondmeasureisthenumberoftimesthepersonenteredcustody.Ofthe18youngpeople,14hadexperiencedaperiodofcustodybeforeenteringYouthKooriCourt(twoofthemforlessthanaday),while7hadbeenincustodyatsomestageduringtheirperiodinYouthKooriCourt.Usingthesignstest,thedifferenceissignificant(1-tailedtest,Z=1.94,p=.03).ThesemeasuressuggestthatparticipationintheYouthKooriCourtdoesreducere-offending,atleastofthesortthatresultsinbeinglockedup.Ittellsuslittleaboutlessseriousoffences,likeshoplifting,graffitiandfareevasion,thatdonottypicallyresultinarrest.Butwhywouldparticipantsexperiencesuchadramaticdeclineintheirtimeincustodywhiletakingpartinacourtprocess?Thereareseveralpossibleexplanations.ThefirstexplanationisthattheYouthKooriCourtinvolvedamoreintensiveformofmonitoringandsupervisionthantheyoungpeoplehadpreviouslyexperienced,combinedwithlessidletime.Thisreducedtheiropportunitiesforgettingintotroubleeveniftheirinclinationtodosoremainedundiminished.Thisisconsistentwithresearchshowingtheeffectivenessofintensivesupervisioninreducingre-offending.AsecondexplanationisthatenteringtheYouthKooriCourtdidindeedbringaboutagenuinechangeinbehaviour,throughengagingwithAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersandsupportorganisations,participatinginmeaningfulactivitiesandbeinginsaferenvironments.AthirdexplanationisthattheYouthKooriCourtwasmorereluctantthanotherchildren’scourtstouseyouthdetentionasasanction,soforthedurationoftheYouthKooriCourtperiodtheyoungpersonwaslesslikelytobesentencedtoadetentionorderthanforsimilaroffencesinthepreviousperiod.Theymightstillbeheldincustodybythepoliceuntilacourthearingdeterminedtheirstatus,butoncetheyappearedincourt,theywerelikelytobereleased.Afurtherpossibleexplanationisthattheyoungpeoplewouldhavegivenupsomeoftheircriminalwaysanyway,aspartofamaturationprocess,andthismaturationjusthappenedtocoincidewiththeperiodintheYouthKooriCourt.(Itistocounterthisclaimthatlarger-scaleevaluationsincludeacontrolgroup).ItispossiblethateachoftheseexplanationsisrelevanttosomeextenttooneormoreoftheYouthKooriCourtparticipants.Whilethereisroomfordebateaboutexactlywhatthetimeincustodymeasuresmeanforrecidivism,theinterpretationintermsofthechallengelaiddownbytheRoyalCommissioninto


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AboriginalDeathsinCustodyisclear–theYouthKooriCourtsucceededinsubstantiallyreducingthetimeAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeoplespentincustody,andthereforereducedtheriskofinjury,self-harmordeathsincustody.

CONCLUSIONS

Reducingtheharmdonetothecommunitycausedbyre-offendingisanimportantgoalinanycriminaljusticesystem.Measuringthetimetore-offendingorthenumberofnewoffencesisausefulmeasureofthis,butitwassuggestedthatitwasnotrealistictomeasuretheseinapilotstudy.Notonlyisthesamplesizetoosmall,thewaitingperiodtogetresultsistoolong.InChapter2wealsosuggestedthatitwouldbemoreproductivetomeasureimpactsassociatedwithchangesinparticularriskfactors–employmentandeducationinparticular–thansimplylookingatparticipationintheYouthKooriCourtprogram.Insteadacomparisonwasmadebetweenperiodsincustodyduringtheyoungperson’stimeontheYouthKooriCourtandanequivalentperiodafterwards.ThecomparisonprovidedaconclusionthatwasconsistentwiththeclaimthatparticipationintheYouthKooriCourtreducesre-offending,specificallythemoreseriousformsofoffendingthatresultindetention.Thisprovidesameasurethatisavailableimmediatelyongraduation,andonethatmeasuresmoreseriousoffending.Itisnotofcoursetheonlymeasureofrecidivismthatcanbeused,andinalonger-termstudyitwouldbesetalongsideseveralothermeasures.ReducingtheharmthatthecommunitydoestotheyouthoffenderwasalsoaddressedbytheYouthKooriCourt.FeweryoungpeoplewerelockedupinjuveniledetentionasaresultoftheYouthKooriCourtthanwouldhaveotherwisebeenthecase.Daysincustodywerereduced,diminishingriskofharmtotheyoungpeoplethroughincarceration.Whileitisrelevanttomeasurenegativeindicatorslikedaysindetention,thecourt’sphilosophysuggeststhatasmuchattentionbegiventodevelopingprecisemeasuresofpositiveindicatorsforitsclientslikebeinginasafelivingenvironment,engaginginproductiveactivitiesandrestoringcontactwithlandandpeople.ItishopedthatoncethecourtbecomesfullyoperationalthroughNSW,thequalityofstatisticsforoutcomemeasuressuchasthesearegivenasmuchattentionasestimatesofrecidivism.


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CHAPTER12.POLICYIMPLICATIONSThischapterreflectsonthepolicyimplicationsofthefindingsmadeinthisreport.ItpositionstheexperienceofthefirsttwoyearsoftheParramattaYouthKooriCourtwithinthewidercontextoftheexperienceofotherspecial-purposecourts,andexaminessomeofthecritiquesmadeofsuchinnovations.

SELECTIONOFPARTICIPANTS

Theyoungpeoplewhoenteredtheprogramhadtomeetcertainbasiccriteria;theyhadtobeofAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderbackground,bechargedwithalimitedrangeofoffences(notsexualoffences),andpleadguiltyorbefoundguiltybyanothercourt.Theyalsohadtofacethepossibilityofaserioussanction,suchasacontrolorder,orsupervisedJuvenileJusticeorder.Finallytheyhadtobeacceptedbythecourtassuitable.AsentencingMagistrate(orthelawyerrepresentingtheyoungperson)alsohadtoknowthattherewasanoptiontoreferthemattertotheYouthKooriCourt.GiventhenumberofChildren’sCourtMagistrates,thiscouldnotalwaysbeassumed.InpracticetheAboriginalLegalServicehelpedtoidentifythosewhowouldbeeligible,atleastfortheyoungpeoplewhoidentifiedasAboriginalandwererepresentedbytheAboriginalLegalService.Howeverwedonotknowhowmanyeligibleyoungpeoplewerenotreferredtothecourt.Theconcentrationofhigh-riskoffendersintheprogramposesarisktotheYouthKooriCourtsimilartothatfacedbyparoleauthorities–manyofthesepeoplewillre-offend,andsometimestheoffenceswillbeonesthatattractbadpublicity.Inthesecases,thecourt–ortheparoleauthority-mightbeattackedbysectionsofthemediaforfailingtoprotectthecommunity.HowevertotheextentthecourtcanshowithascarriedoutitsduediligencebydevelopinganActionandSupportplantoreducerisk,andactivelyworkedtoimplementtheplan,thecriticismcouldbecounteredbypointingtotheactionstakentominimiserisk.CollectingregularstatisticsaboutoutcomesofitsprogramthroughupdatedActionandSupportplanswouldstrengthenthecourt’sabilitytoofferacounternarrative.Havinggraduatesoftheprogram,referredtoas‘stars’bytheMagistrate,whocouldtelltheirstories(anonymously)wouldmakethestatisticscomealiveforapopularaudience.Onecommentmadebyseveralpeopleinterviewedfortheprojectisthattheoptiontogotoaspecial-purposecourtforjuvenileoffendersshouldbeextendedtoyoungpeopleofnon-Aboriginalbackground,onthegroundsofequity.TheRangatahicourtinAotearoaNewZealandisopentoPakeha95NewZealandersinprinciple,althoughfewtakeuptheopportunity–itisonerousandrequiresdeliveringaspeechinMaori.AsomewhatsimilarcourtisavailabletoyoungPasifikapeople.HoweverintheAustraliancontextitisclearthatyoungpeopleofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandbackgroundshaveparticularlydisadvantagedbackgrounds.

95NewZealanderswhoarenotMāori


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UnlikeotherFirstPeoplesinCanada,AotearoaNewZealandandtheUS,AboriginalpeopleinAustralialackedtheprotectionofatreaty,andtheyhavethelowestlifeexpectancyofFirstPeoplesinanyofthefourcountries96.Further,intermsofequitytherearegenerationsofdispossession,removalofchildrenandotherdiscriminatorypoliciestoovercome,somethingnotgenerallyinflictedonimmigrantstothecountry.Soevensimplyonequitygrounds,aspecialFirstPeoples’courtcanbejustified.Neverthelessthepracticesithasdeveloped–respectingdiversity,allowingpeopletotelltheirstoriesandprovidingagatewaytoservices–areonesthatcouldbetranslatedintoothercontexts.

JURISDICTIONALCONSTRAINTS

Thelimitationofmatterstothosewheretheyoungpersonpleadsguilty(orwasfoundguilty)iscommontomostspecial-purposecourts,andallowsafocusonhealingandrehabilitationwithoutadversarialovertones.Itpotentiallyrunstheriskofexcludingyoungpeoplefromthejurisdictionofthecourtwhodecidetopleadnotguiltyafterexperiencing(forexample)analtercationwithpolice.Inpractice,thecourthandlesthisbytransferringthecontestedmatter‘nextdoor’toanothercourtroom,withthecasepotentiallybeingheardbythesameMagistrate.Thisallowstheevidencetobeheardinamoreformalsetting,before–ifthechargesareproven-returningtothemoresupportiveenvironmentoftheYouthKooriCourt.Theothercourtcouldofcoursedismissthecharges.HoweveritwouldnotbeincidentsinvolvingpolicethatwouldbelikelytotriggerreferraltotheYouthKooriCourt,thesewouldprobablybeadditionalchargesaddedlater.SothereisindeedanappearanceofunequalaccesstotheenhancedserviceprovidedbytheYouthKooriCourt:itisnotoffered–atleastinthefirstinstance-tothosewhomaintaintheirinnocence.Buttherealityisthattheyoungpeopledohaveachancetopleadnotguilty,andiftheyarefoundnotguiltyofallchargesthatistheendofthematter.IftheyarefoundguiltytheycanthenparticipateintheYouthKooriCourt’sprogram.TheexclusionofsexualoffencesfromthejurisdictionoftheYouthKooriCourtfollowsaconventionestablishedinotherFirstPeoples’courtsandinrestorativejusticeprogramslikeNSWForumSentencing.ThisexclusioncouldbearguedtomeanthatsomeoftheyoungpeoplewhocommitmoreharmfuloffencesarenotprovidedwiththesamepathwaysforreformingtheirbehaviourthatyoungpeoplewhoareadmittedtotheYouthKooriCourtprogramaregiven.HoweveritcouldbecounteredthatthemosteffectivetreatmentregimeforpeoplewhocommitsexualoffencesissufficientlydifferentfromthatprovidedbytheYouthKooriCourttowarrantadifferenttrack97.WhetherthealternativepathwaysincludesufficientrecognitionofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderculturalcontextislesscertain;programsbasedongroup

96AustralianInstituteofHealthandWelfare(2011)ComparinglifeexpectancyofindigenouspeopleinAustralia,NewZealand,CanadaantheUnitedStates,,availableat:http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=10737418932(lastaccessedAugust102017).97TheWashingtonStateInstituteforpublicPolicyprovidesareviewoftreatmentprogramforsexoffendersinthecommunity,see:http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/BenefitCost/Program/113[lastaccessedAugust102017].


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activitieshavebeenfoundtobemorerelevanttoFirstPeoples,butthesearenotwidelyavailable98.Anotherexclusion,arisingfromthecourt’smandateasasentencingcourtisbail,unlesstheyoungpersonisalreadyacceptedintothecourtprogramoranurgentreferralismade.Thecourtactivelymonitorsbailconditionsandvariesconditionstomakethemmoreculturallyappropriatebutitdoesthisonlyforthosewhoarealreadyunderitsprotection.Theproblemisamajorone:lessthanhalfoftheyoungAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderpeopleindetentioninNSWaretherebecausetheyhavebeensentenced(the‘stock’ofdetainees,seeChapter2,AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplesandincarceration).TheRoyalCommissionintoAboriginalDeathsinCustodysawalldetentionofAboriginalpeopleasarisk,soacourtthatislimitedtoonlyhalftherelevantpopulationmightbesaidtobeabletotackleonlyhalftheproblem.Buteventhisunderstatestheproblem:fully80percentofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeoplewhoexperienceyouthdetentioninNSWdosoonremand(the‘flow’ofdetainees)butdonotgetasubsequentcustodialsentence.Only14percentareactuallysentencedtoyouthdetentionafteraperiodonremand.Theperiodsonremandbeforesentencemightbeshort–onaverage12days–butremandprisonersareathigherriskofdeaththansentencedprisonersandthemostdangeroustimesareshortlyafterenteringdetentionorshortlyafterleavingit.OneoptiontoaddressthechallengehandeddownitbytheRoyalCommissionintoAboriginaldeathsincustody,istoexpandthescopeofthecourtinsomewaytoincludeyoungpeopleremandedincustody.Expandingthescopeofthecourttoincludebailmatters(forthosenotalreadyintheYouthKooriCourtsystem)wouldposeconsiderablechallengesfortheYouthKooriCourt.Youngpeoplewhojointheprogramdosovoluntarily,andafteracarefulassessmentofneed.Personsonremandwouldneedspeedyaccesstoabailhearing;therewouldnotbetimeforaneedsassessment.Someyoungpeopledonotseekbail,assuming(oftencorrectly)theywouldnotbegrantedit,andinanycaseiftheyarefacingasentenceofdetentiontheywouldratherserveitbeforethedateofsentence.TheymightnotwishtocomebeforeaYouthKooriCourt.Othersmaybecontestingthecharges,orhavenotyetdecidedwhatpleatoenter,sowouldnotmeetthecurrentthresholdrequirementofpleadingguilty(orhavingbeenfoundguilty).Theurgencyofbailhearingscouldplacepressuresonthecourt’stimetable,andmakeitharderonotherclientswhosehearingsaredelayed.TheCanadianAboriginalYouthCourtthatdoesaroleinbaildecisionsincludesacoupleoffeaturesthatmightmakeitdifficulttoapplytoNSWconditions:thepersonhastopleadguilty(requiringearlyaccesstoalawyer)andthedecisionsaremostlymadebybailjustices(JPsarenolongerusedforthesepurposesinNSW).Soifthisideawastobeexploredmorefully,itwouldneedtoaddresstheselogisticaldifficulties.ItispossiblethatthehighratesofbailrefusalforyoungFirstPeoplesaresomewhatintractableandnoteasilyshiftedbysimplyaddinganothertasktotheworkloadoftheYouthKooriCourt.Theratesofbailrefusalarecomparablefornon-Aboriginalyoungpeople,sothereisno

98SarahMacgregor,2008.Sexoffendertreatmentprograms:Effectivenessofprisonandcommunity-basedprogramsinAustraliaandNewZealand,IndigenousJusticeClearinghouse,https://www.indigenousjustice.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/mp/files/publications/files/brief003.pdf[lastaccessedAugust102017].


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evidenceofdiscrimination.Whatislargelyabsenthoweverareculturallyappropriateandsafeplaceswhereyoungpeoplecanstaybeforetheirdayincourt99.BailhostelsarearguedbytheAustralianLawReformCommissiontobeanessentialpolicytooltoprovideasuitablelevelofsurveillancewhileavoidingtherisksassociatedwithdetention100.InSouthAustraliatheAboriginalChildCareAgencyprovidestwosafehousesforyoungpeoplewhocannotsafelystaywithrelatives.InVictoriaaspecialistKooriyouthbailsupportprogramisoffered.InNSWaccommodationmaybeofferedthroughsomeNGOssuchasCatholicCareandLink-up;somefacilitiesareofferedtoyoungoffendersinwesternSydney.AnotherjurisdictionallimitoftheYouthKooriCourtisitsrestrictiontoacriminaljurisdiction.ThisisconsistentwithotherFirstPeoples’courtsinAustraliaandAotearoaNewZealand,andreflectstheprioritygiventokeepingtheclientsofthesecourtsoutofcustody.YetgiventhatmostoftheYouthKooriCourt’senergiesaredevotedtofocusedondevelopingthesocial,economicandculturalcapacitiesoftheparticipants,thequestionarisesaboutwhetherthejurisdictionofthecourtshouldbewidenedtoexplicitlyincludecareandprotectionresponsibilities.ThiswouldmakeitconsistentwiththeapproachtakenbyScottishChildren’sPanels–‘childrenintrouble’aregivensupportregardlessofwhethertheyareseentobeneglectedordelinquent.Therecouldbesomedangersinsuchanexpansion.Broadeningthemandateinthiswaycouldruntheriskofbringingyoungpeopleunderstatesupervisionunnecessarily.Howeverhavingadualmandate–somethingtheNSWChildren’sCourtalreadyhas–couldallowsomehighriskprotectivecasesinvolvingAboriginalandTorreStraitIslanderchildrentobeheardinaculturallycongruentsetting.Inoneofthecasesweexamined,ayoungwomandidnothaveaseriouscriminalrecordorindeedanyrealriskofacustodialsentence.Shehadwhatappearedtobeaminoraltercationwiththepolice.Butshehadseriouschallengeswithmanyotheraspectsofherlifeandwasacceptedintothecourtprogramtohelpheraddressthese.Thequestionthatarisesfromthiscaseiswhysuchapersonwouldhavetogetintotroublewiththepoliceinordertogetaccesstoaprogramthatwouldhelpherwitheducation,housing,healthcareandothermatters?Shouldsuchachangeinjurisdictionoccur,itwouldlikelyrequireaseparate‘list’,withitsownsetofprotocols.GiventhattheYouthKooriCourtseemstohavedevelopedasensiblework-aroundforthisjurisdictionallimit,thereseemsnoneedtomakeanyformalchanges.

RESIDENTIALFACILITIES

ThesuccessoftheYouthKooriCourtwilldependoncollaborationwitharangeofotherservicesandorganisations.ActionandSupportplansrequireco-operationbetweenseverallegal,housing,educational,healthandotheragencies.Managingday-to-dayinteractionsonthestreet

99Burnside,UnitingCare.(2009).Releasingthepressureonremand:BailsupportsolutionsforchildrenandyoungpeopleinNewSouthWales.

100AustralianLawReformCommission.1997.Seenandheard:Priorityforchildreninthelegalprocess(ALRCReport84).Canberra,Recommendation228


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withpolicerelybothonrespectfulpolicepracticesandrestrainedbehaviourbytheyoungpeoplewhocomeincontactwiththem.Howeverthereisoneenvironmentthathashardlybeenmentionedinthisreport,butwhichisfundamentaltoaddressingtheconcernsoftheRoyalCommissiononAboriginaldeathsincustody–detentionfacilities,ormoregenerallysecureaccommodationfacilities.WhileparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourthavereducedtheamountoftimetheyspendincustody–25daysonaverageduringtheprogramcomparedto57daysinthepreviouscomparableperiod–theystillspendconsiderabletimeindetention.

UncleWes

More [residential] establishments need to be made in areas such as Mt Druitt, Dubbo to help our youth.

This will help with the waiting list, waiting to see the outcome can be more stressful for our youth.

If our youth are incarcerated for months at a time, waiting for their case to be heard it is less likely the client will contribute to the community once released.

We as Elders need to be aware that while our youth are being incarcerated their sense of belonging and loss of culture can mentally affect them in the long term.

OntheassumptionthatfutureparticipantsinYouthKooriCourtswillcontinuetobeplacedinresidentialfacilitiesthatrestricttheirfreedom,itmakessensetoprovideresidentialenvironmentstomatchthehighstandardsforculturalsafety,skilldevelopmentandsocialsupportidentifiedbythecourt.Levelsofsupervisionandcontrolvarybetweenbailhostels(whichmayenforcecurfews,restrictionsonmovement,restrictionsonuseofalcoholandparticipationinsomegroupactivities)andjuveniledetentionfacilities(whereyoungpeoplearerequiredtofollowadailyroutineandcannotleavethefacilitywithoutspecialpermission),butineithercasethereisalevelofexternalcontrolovertheyoungperson’sfreedom.TheNSWDepartmentofJusticehasdevelopedafacility,whichcouldbeseentobesomewherebetweentheconstraintsofabailhostelandadetentioncentre.PlacedwithintheDepartment’scommunitycorrectionsareaandlocatednearCasinointhestate’snorth,itiscurrentlylimitedtoadultAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderadultswhere‘intensiveresidentialintervention’isrequired,althoughitcouldbeseenasasuitablemodelforyoungFirstPeoplesaswell.Thefollowingdescriptionoutlinesitsprogram:

TheBalund-aProgramisaninnovativeresidentialdiversionaryprogramformaleoffendersover18yearsofage.LocatedatTabulam,withintheBundjalungNation,theprogram'saimistoreducere-offendingandenhanceskillswithinaculturaland


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supportivecommunityenvironment.TheAboriginalname,BugilmahBurubeWullinjeBalund-aroughlytranslatesas"Begoodnowyouhaveasecondchancedownbytheriver".Offendersentertheprogramasaconditionofasection11bondforaninitialassessmentperiodoftwoweeks.OffenderscanalsobereferredtotheprogrambyCommunityCorrectionsstaffwhenrevocationofparoleorcommunity-basedorderisbeingconsidered,orwhenfactorsemergeinthecourseofsupervision,andareassessedasrequiringintensiveresidentialintervention.Followingacceptanceintotheprogramoffendersparticipateinstructuredprogramswithinaculturallysensitiveframework.Programsaddressspecificareasofrisktoassistonimprovinglifeskillsandreintegrationintothecommunity,forexample,cognitivebasedprograms,drugandalcohol,angermanagement,educationandemployability,domesticviolence,parentingskillsandlivingskills.Culturalactivitiesincludeexcursionstosacredsites,music,danceandart.Eldersemployedbytheprogramprovidesupportandassistresidenttorecognise,restoreandvalueculturallinkswiththeirlandandhistory.

ThereareseveralfeaturesoftheBalund-aprogramthatcouldmakeit,orsomethinglikeit,highlyappropriateforsomeoftheyoungpeoplecomingbeforetheYouthKooriCourt,ortheevenlargernumberoftheircolleagueswhoarelikelytoberemandedincustodybeforeahearing.

1 Itcombinesculturally-relevantprograms,suchasvisitstosacredsitesandartisticactivitiesundertheguidanceofElders,withprogramsknowntohaveaneffectonre-offendingbehaviour(suchascognitivebehaviouralanddrugprograms)aswellasactivitiesthatfocusonissueslikelytobeincludedinActionandSupportplans.

2 Thereareseveralpathwaysintotheprogram:thepersoncanbegivenadeferredsentence(thesameapproachusedintheYouthKooriCourt)andreferredtotheprogramforassessment,orviaacommunity-basedorderofsomesortthatrequiresmoreintensivesupport.Withjuvenileoffenders,itislikelythatatleastsomeofthosegivenacustodialsentencecouldbenefitfromthisregime,whetherafteradeferredsentence(forthosewhocomebeforeaYouthKooriCourt)orforthosewholiveinareasnotcoveredbyYouthKooriCourts.

3 ThevastmajorityofthoseexperiencingyouthdetentioninNSWdosobecausebailisrefused.Whilemixingremandandsentenceddetaineesisgenerallynotconsideredgoodpracticewithadultprisoners,usingsuchafacilityforyoungFirstpeopleswhowouldotherwiseberemandedincustodycouldbeanoptionworthpursuing.Aseparatefacilitywouldbepreferableifitwasfoundtobeviable.

Whilehavingaspecially-designatedfacilityforyoungFirstPeopleshassomeattractions,havingspecialistprogramsorserviceswithinmoregeneralfacilitiesallowsmoreextensiveaccesstoservicesacrossthestate.TheintensiveinterventionmodelbeingdevelopedbyCorrectionsNSWaimsatspeedyinterventions,ifpossiblefromthefirstdayincustody,whetheronremandorundersentence.Theapproachisalsoshort-term101.

101TheauthorsacknowledgetheassistanceofPeterSeverinandLukeGrantinidentifyingtheseissuesanddescribingtheprograms.ThedescriptioncomesfromtheDepartmentofJustice’swebsiteat:


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IffacilitieslikeBalund-abecameusedforlonger-termplacements–theYukonexampleprovidedaboveinRvsMosesinvolvedayear-longplacement–itcouldhelptodevelopanalternativeidentitytothatprovidedby,forexample,hangingoutwithothertroublemakersonthestreetsofBlacktownorMtDruitt.Ontheotherhand,bringinggroupsofhigh-riskyoungpeopletogetherhasitsownsetofrisksandopportunitiesformodellingbehaviour,soshort-termintensiveinterventionscouldminimisethatdanger.Whether‘pan-Aboriginal’–tousetheCanadianterm–activitieslikethisareeffective,ormob-specificeventsarebetteraremattersthatshouldbeworkedoutwithEldersandotherrepresentativesofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunities.

DEVELOPINGCULTURALCONNECTIONS

DuringthedevelopmentofActionandSupportplansconsiderableattentionispaidtore-establishing(orsometimesestablishingforthefirsttime)theyoungperson’slinktocountryandotherAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderpeople.ThisisdonethroughtheworkofEldersandotherrespectedmembersoflocalAboriginalcommunities,bothinhearingsandfollow-upactivitiesafterwards.ItisdonethroughsomeoftheactivitiesproposedintheActionandSupportplans,particularlyAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderculturalcampsandevents.OneofthediscrepanciesidentifiedbetweenthecontentoftheActionandSupportplansandthediscussionsinthefinalgraduationhearingwastheamountofattentionpaidtoitemstodowithculturalconnection.IntheActionandSupportplansuchactivitieswereseenascentral;inthegraduationhearingtheybarelywarrantedamention.Thismayhavebeenbecausetheculturalconnectionactivitieshadalreadybeendealtwith,orthatprioritywasaccordedtomoreimmediateissueslikefindingahomeordealingwithadrugaddiction.Butitmighthavebeenexpectedthatthegraduationwouldbepreciselythetimewhenculturalidentitycouldbeexpressedmoststrongly.

UncleGreg

We as Elders and the community need to teach the youth to respect culture.

Cultural Camps would be a great tool with our kids who are disconnected from family, culture and values.

When applying for funding we need to ensure that the people we are placing in these jobs are culturally educated.

Theritualofthe‘graduation’isborrowedinpartfromthedrugcourtmodel.Thepersoniscongratulated,participantsshakehandsorhugeachother,theaudienceclaptocelebrate,andsometimesapresentisgiventothe‘graduate’.Thiscreatesageneralsenseofpositiveachievement,bothfortheyoungpersonandtheotherparticipantshaveworkedsohardto

http://www.correctiveservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/CorrectiveServices/Community%20Corrections/offender-management-in-the-community/balund-a_tabulam.aspx


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producethisoutcome.Butwhilethedrugcourtmodelhasmanyusefulfeatures–notleastofwhichthatithasoneofthemostsuccessfulmodelsforreducingrecidivism–therearemodelsfromotherFirstPeoplescourtsthatmightbeevenmorerelevant.OnedifferencebetweentheYouthKooriCourtandRangatahicourtsinAotearoaNewZealandisintheexpectationsplacedontheyoungperson.IntheYouthKooriCourt,mostofthesubmissionsaremadebylawyers,withtheyoungpersonbeinginvitedtospeakbutnotrequiredtodoso.InRangatahicourtsalayadvocateisgenerallypresent,buttheirroleisnottorepresenttheyoungperson;itistoincreasetheculturalcompetenceoftheyoungperson.Bythefinalsessiontheyoungpersonisexpected,indeedrequired,tobeabletoreciteapepeha(anintroductionthatestablishestheperson’slinkstoancestorsandtoland),andamihi(aformalspeechusedinawelcomeritual).Foryoungpeoplewhodonotknowtheirlanguagethisprovidesachallenge,onethatmostofthemsuccessfullymeet.AdaptingsuchpracticestoNSWconditionswouldnotbeeasy–itwouldbenecessarytohavelanguagetutorsinatleasthalfadozenAboriginallanguages,itmightrequireconsiderableresearch(includinginterviewingElders)andtounderstandeachclangroup’shistory.ThegreetingandacknowledgementritualsusedwouldneedtobedoneundertheguidanceofElders,andconsistentwiththeappropriateprotocolsfortheparticularmob.Musicordance,paintingorsculpturemightbemoresuitableforsomegraduatesthanaformalspeechinlanguage.ButsomeformofdemonstrationofculturalprideduringthegraduationceremonywouldbeconsistentwiththeobjectivesspecifiedbytheYouthKooriCourtinActionandSupportplans,andreflectthecourt’scommitmenttostrengtheningculturalconnections.

AuntyNormraisessomepracticalissuesaboutthesesuggestions:

Speaking Language – who is going to teach this and are they in a position educationally to teach this.

Who will provide the funding for the tutors – Teaching Language?

Making sure the Educators who are teaching language are approved - very few people know the whole language, yes many words but not all.

What language would be taught, Mothers, Fathers, the country the currently reside in?

ItisnotjustthefinalhearingwheregreateruseoftraditionalritualsorfullerparticipationofpeoplefromAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderbackgroundsmightbeconsidered.Recentgraduateswhomthecourtconsiders‘stars’mightreturntoparticipateinAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderritualsthatarepartofYouthKooriCourtproceedings.IftheyhaveknowledgeofanAboriginallanguagetheymightbeabletoparticipateasa(paid)languagetutorforcurrentprogramparticipants.Thelocationofhearingsisalsoanissuethatalsohasanimportantculturaldimension.Rangatahicourtsareheldonmaraes,Māorimeetinghouses,whereparticipantsarerequiredtoparticipateinaseriesofformalritualsofremovingshoes,challenge,greeting,removaloftapu


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throughsharingfood,andbehaviourappropriatetoaculturally-significantsite.Liftingtapuisnecessarybecauseofthepresenceofstrangersonthemarae.Whatisimportanttonoteisthattheyoungpersonisathomesymbolicallyonthemarae,thestrangersarelikelytobethejudgeandothercourtofficials.SomehearingsfortheYouthKooriCourtmightsimilarlybeheldonsitesinvariouspartsofwesternSydneythathavehistoricallybeenmeetingplacesforAboriginalancestors,orhaveotherhistorical,symbolicsignificance.TraditionalmeetingplaceshavebeenidentifiedinseveralplacesaroundParramatta;someofthesemightbeavailableforcourthearings.

AGREATERROLEFORVICTIMS?

OnecommentthatsomeobserversmakeabouttheYouthKooriCourtmodelisthatitfocusestoomuchonthe‘offender’andnotenoughonthosewhoareclassifiedasthe‘victims’ofcrime.ThedemandforjusticeforvictimsmightbeparticularlyresonantinAboriginalcommunities.AnAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderpersoninNSWisfourtimesmorelikelytobeassaultedthananon-AboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderperson,andAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderwomenaretwiceaslikelytobeassaultedasAboriginalmen102.Mostoftheassailantsarepeopletheyalreadyknow;thisistruefor78percentofmaleAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandervictimsofassaultcomprise92percentoffemalevictims.Theseestimatesareforallpersons,notjustyoungpeople,butitislikelythatthepatternisnottoodifferent.AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderwomenarethehighestat-riskofsexualassaultwhenaged15-19yearsold,andAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandermenaged15-19yearsoldaremostatriskofbeingrobbed103.Meanwhileyoungviolentoffendersareabouttwiceaslikelyasotheryoungpeopletohavebeenvictimsthemselves,andtohaveattemptedtoharmthemselves104.SoitishighlylikelythattheyoungpeoplewhocomebeforetheYouthKooriCourtas‘offenders’arealsovictims.Notonlyaretheylikelytobevictimsasindividuals,many–perhapsmost–oftheirfamilieswillhaveexperiencedtheconsequencesofchildremovalpolicies,breakingdownfamilystructuresanddisadvantageoverseveralgenerations.Victimsdosometimesfeatureinhearings,particularlywhentheyarefamilymemberssuchaspartnersorparents.Notinfrequentlythevictimwhohadtakenoutanapprehendedviolenceorderoutagainsttheyoungpersonispresentincourt,sittingalongsideasakeysupporter.Evenwhentheywerenotpresent,thewelfareofthepartnerwassometimesthesubjectofenquiry,particularlyintheseveralcaseswheretheformerpartnerwasthemotheroftheyoungperson’schild.Further,theoutcomesspecifiedinActionandSupportplansareoftensimilartothesortsofoutcomesemergingfromthesortofrestorativejusticeconferenceswherevictimsplayacentralrole–counselling,drugtreatment,training,apologies,eveniffamilygroupconferencesmayaddanadditionalsanctionwithapunitiveelement,suchascommunitywork. 102AustralianBureauofStatistics,4510.0-RecordedCrime-Victims,Australia,2012,Datacube,45100DO010_2012Table1103AustralianBureauofStatistics,4510.0-RecordedCrime-Victims,Australia,2012,Datacube45100DO001_2012,Table2104McAra,L&McVie,S(2010)YouthCrimeandJustice:KeyMessagesfromtheEdinburghStudyofYouthTransitionsandCrime.CriminologyandCriminalJustice,10(2):179-209,Table1.


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Theremaybesomeadvantagesinconsideringinvitingvictimsnotknowntotheyoungpersontoparticipateinhearingsatanappropriatestageofthejourney.Thiscouldincludethosewhopropertywasdamagedorstolenbytheyoungperson,orpolicewhohadbeeninvolvedinincidentswiththem.Acarefully-managedexchangeinthesafeenvironmentoftheYouthKooriCourtcouldleadtogreaterunderstandingonbothsides.Howeveritshouldonlybedoneifthecourtconsidersitwouldbebeneficial.SeveraloftheyoungpeopleontheprogramwerealsoattendingYouthJusticeConferences,wheresuchpracticesareroutine,soperhapsthatwouldbeamoreappropriateforumforvictim-offenderinteraction.

RESOURCINGTHECOURTANDPROGRAMSFORYOUNGPEOPLE

Anyinnovationrequiresfunding,andeveniftherearestronglypreferredmodelsfordeliveringfinding,itisatleastworthconsideringwhattheoptionsare.ThereareseveralpossiblemodelsforfundingtheextensiverangeofservicesthattheActionandSupportplansidentify.Eachofthesehasadvantagesanddisadvantages.Theindividual-purchasermodel,or‘vouchermodel’,allocatesfundingtoindividualsbasedonneed.ThisistheapproachusedbytheNationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme.Theclient,assistedbyabroker(suchasacaseworker)wouldpurchaseasuitablemixofservicestoaddresstheclient’sneeds.ForparticipantsontheYouthKooriCourtprogramthiscouldmeanthattheycoulddirectlypurchaseserviceslistedontheirActionandSupportplan,suchasaplaceonaculturalcamp.Inthisexampleifenoughclientspurchasedtheservice,theproviderwouldhaveenoughfundingtorunsuchactivitiesregularly.Thereareseveraladvantagesofthismodel:

• Allocationofserviceswouldbebasedonneeddeterminedbythefunder(inthiscasethecourt)whichisinthebestpositiontorationtheresourcesfairlybetweenclients

• Theconsumerhaschoiceoverwhichprovidertoemploy,thusprovidinganincentiveforserviceproviderstoprovideahigherlevelofservice

• Consumershavemoresayinwhichservicestheyneedratherthanrelyingonserviceagenciestosaywhichservicesareavailable-forexampleayoungpersonmaybeabletogiveprioritytoparticipationinaTAFEcoursethanworkingwithajobplacementagency

Therearealsodisadvantagesofthismodel:

• Serviceagenciessometimesneedadegreeofcertaintyandacriticalmassofclientstocontinueoperationsandofferstableemploymenttotheirworkers.Relyingonfluctuatingpreferencesofconsumerscouldactuallyleadtotheprovisionoffeweroptionsandlower-qualityservices,orlongerqueues.Start-upcostsandremote-areaservicesoftenneedtobesubsidised.

• Someservicesaremoreefficientlyprovidedbygovernmentwithoutchargingindividualconsumers(evenwithavoucher).Educationandhealthareprobablyinthatcategory,atleastforcoreservices.TheTAFEsystemiscriticaltomanyyoungpeoplewhocouldbenefitfromthehands-onandpracticaltrainingithasprovidedoverseveral


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generations.ManyoftheyoungpeoplewhocomebeforetheYouthKooriCourtseeTAFEeducationastheirpathwaytoeconomicsecurity.ContinuedfundingofaviableTAFEsystemisessentialforthesedreamstoberealised.

• TreatingyoungpeopleasconsumerscouldundermineoneofthekeyprinciplesoftheYouthKooriCourt–thattheyaremembersofasocialgroup,amob.BeingmentoredbyanElder,albeittogetaMedicarecardorattendadrugprogram,couldbejustasimportantastheservicetheyareaccessing.

• Thefundingfortheserviceswouldbeup-frontandtransparent.Itmightbehardertojustifythanafundingarrangementsinwhichmostofthecostswerehiddenwithinotherbudgets.

Thesecondmodelisdirectprovision.Thefunder(thecourt)itselfpurchasestheservicesandallocatesthemtoindividualsasappropriate.Thisisthemodelusedtosomeextentbydrugcourts,anddevelopedmostfullyincommunitycourts,suchastheNeighbourhoodJusticeCentreintheCityofYarrainMelbourne.Theservicestendtobeco-locatedinthebuilding,whileotherservicesmaybepurchaseddirectlyfromthecourt’sownbudget.Theadvantagesofthisinclude:

• Thecourtitselfworksoutthetypesoflevelofservicerequiredandpurchasesthemdirectlyratherthanhopingthemarketmaymeettheneedsidentified

• Thecourtcanmonitorthequalityofserviceprovided,maintaincloseliaisonwiththeservicesinthewayplansareputintoeffect,andbuildateamapproachtoserviceprovision

• Serviceproviderscanbecontactedandincludedinmeetingsatamoment’snotice,whileclientscansetuparrangementswiththerelevantagenciesbeforetheyleavethebuilding

• Costspercompletedactionarelowerthanthoseforcomparableclientswhoarereferredtoserviceselsewhere(highercompliancerates),basedonestimatesfromtheNeighbourhoodJusticeCentreinMelbourne

Disadvantagesofthedirectprovisionmodelinclude:

• Theset-upcostsarehigherthanforaregularcourt,intermsofspacerequirements,andpaymentforagencyworkers(evenifsomeofthemareout-postedandpaidbytheirownagency)

• Theservicesareconcentratedinoneplace,viableonlyifthereisacriticalmassofcases,andthecorebusiness(thecourt)isitselfcentralised.IftheYouthKooriCourtmeetsinawidervarietyofsites,theadvantagetoco-locationwouldbereduced.

• Thehigherset-upcostsmakediffusionofthemodelmoredifficult.ThisispartlywhyoneofthemostsuccessfulinnovationsintheNSWjusticesystem–thedrugcourts–arenotavailableeverywhere.

Toconsiderthepossibilityofco-locatedservices,itisusefultoconsiderthesiteoftheYouthKooriCourt.Itislocatedintheheartofacomprehensiveandwell-plannedJusticePrecinct.ThePrecinctincludeseverylevelofstatecourt(exceptCoroner’s),aprosecutor’sbuilding,anofficebuildinghostingmanysupportservices(theJusticeBuilding),andtheCommonwealthLawCourts,includingtheFamilyCourtandFederalCircuitCourt.Thestatetribunal,NewSouth


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WalesCivilandAdministrativeTribunalholdshearingsintheCommonwealthbuilding.TheJusticePrecinctalsohostsNSW’sfirstdrugcourt.IfanyconcentrationofjusticeservicesinAustraliacouldjustifyprovisionofco-locatedservices,itissurelytheParramattaJusticePrecinctThethirdmodelistheonecurrentlyusedbytheYouthKooriCourt.Itinvolvesbringingtherelevantserviceagencies,orpeoplewholiaisewiththeagencies,togetherforhearings.Theadvantagesofthisinclude:

• ThecourtcangetregularupdatesonprogressbeingmadeonActionandSupportplans• Theserviceagenciesareenabledtobuildupacollaborativeapproachtotheiractivities;

therelationshipsbuiltupduringhearingscancontributetosuccessfuloutcomesfortheyoungpeople

• Themodelisalmostcost-freeforthecourtitself;thecostsaretransferredtootheragencies

• Themixofservicescanbemorediversethanthemorelimitedrangethatmightbeavailableinaco-locatedmodel

• Thecourtcanuseitsauthoritytoencourageagenciestoprovideahigherqualityofservicetoparticipantsinthecourtprogram,notjustthepersonwhosecaseiscurrentlybeingconsidered

Thedisadvantagesofthismodelinclude:

• Serviceagencieshavetheirownprioritiesandfundingconstraints.Eligibilityrulestendtovarybetweenagencies,oftenrequiringconsiderablenegotiationtogetaccesstoservices

• Theremaybedelaysinaccessingservicescomparedtotheco-locationmodel,particularlyforyoungpeopleforwhomtherearechallengestokeepingappointments

• Servicesmaynotbeavailableatall,ornotintheplacesortimescalesneeded• Serviceagenciesaregenerallynotfundedtofollowuppeoplewhoarereferredbutdo

notturnupordropout• Thecourtisasupplicantratherthanapurchaser:itrelieslargelyonitspowersof

persuasiontogetitsparticipantsintoservicesThebestelementsfromthethreemodelscouldwellbebroughttogether.Thereareseveraldifferentpossiblecombinationsandthefollowingprovidessomepossiblecombinations:Thedirectpurchasemodelmightbeusedforsomeservicesthatareinshortsupplywherethemarketisunabletomeetthecurrentneedsorwhereitneedstobedeveloped.Prioritymightbegiventoculturalconnections:

• Placementinprogramsthatconnectyoungpeopletotheirmobandheritage,suchasculturalcamps.Ratherthanwaitinguntilplacesbecomeavailableoranotheragencyfindsthemoney,thecourtcouldpurchaseplacesforeachoftheprogramparticipantsthatitbelievescouldbenefitfromtakingpart.


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• Languagementoring.Ifyoungpeoplearetobeenabledtoprovideanarrativeoftheirpersonallinkstocountryandpeople,fortheirgraduationceremony,therewouldneedtobesuitabletutorsfound,andpaidappropriately.WhichlanguagetochoosewouldbeamatterfortheyoungpersonandthesupportingElder.

Theco-locationmodelmightbesuitableforservicesthatcanbesharedwithotherjusticeagenciesintheParramattaJusticePrecinct,suchastheotherpartsoftheChildren’sCourt,thedrugcourt,adultKooricourt,andtheFamilyCourtandFederalCircuitCourt.Theseservicesmightinclude:

• Drugandalcoholrehabilitation• Mentalhealth

Otherservicescouldbeaccessedusingthecurrentcollaborativemeetingmodel,supplementedbyacasecoordinatororcasemanagertokeeptrackofprogressandensurethatservicesthatarepromisedaredelivered.Whichofthethreefundingmodelsisthemostappropriateapproachforeachpolicyareacouldbereviewedfromtimetotime,basedonoutcomesfortheprogramparticipants.Abailhostel,withdesignatedspaceforyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeople,isessentialforhelpingtokeepyoungpeopleoutofcustodywhileprovidingalevelofculturally-appropriatesupervision.AlimitednumberofplacesiscurrentlyavailablethroughNGOsfundedbystategovernmentgrants.Futureprovisionwillbedependentonongoingcommitmentofthestategovernmenttomaintainandexpandtheprogram.

TRANSITIONISSUES

Someoftheyoungpeoplegraduatefromtheprogramwithreasonableprospectsforworkorstudy,withfinespaid,identitydocumentsobtainedandotherproblemsresolved.Giventhecomplexityoftheirissues,manyyoungpeoplegraduatefromtheprogramwithsomeoftheissuesidentifiedontheActionandSupportplanstillunresolved,oratleastnotfullycompleted.Theygofromasituationofregularsurveillanceandsupporttoonewithlowerlevelsofboth.Keepingtheyoungpeoplewithinthecriminaljusticesystemrunstheriskof‘netwidening’–expandingtheinvolvementofthestateinpeople’slivesbeyondwhatisstrictlynecessary.Butreleasingthembeforetheunderlyingproblemsareresolvedcouldleadtoongoingcriminalactivityfromtheyoungpeopleandfurthercoststothecommunity.ThecurrentapproachtakenbythecourtistotransferresponsibilityforkeepinganeyeontheyoungpeopleaftergraduationtoanagencysuchasJuvenileJusticethroughasentenceofsupervision.OtheryoungpeoplegoontoaYouthJusticeConference,whichmaythenimposeitsowntypesofsanction,someofthemoverlappingwiththosehandeddownbytheYouthKooriCourt.Someyoungpeoplere-offendandaresubsequentlyarere-admittedtotheYouthKooriCourtprogram.


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Theoverallrateofre-offendinginregularchildren’scourtsandthosewhogothroughYouthJusticeConferencesarebothabout65%within2years105.Fortheveryhigh-riskyoungpeoplewhogothroughYouthKooriCourt,itislikelythatacertainnumberofthemwillreturntothecourt.Giventhetraumaticlivessomeoftheyoungpeoplehavehad,andthefriendshipnetworkstheyhave,acompletechangeoflifestyleisnotrealisticandwouldprobablytakeanumberoffalsestarts.Itispossiblethatasomewhatdifferentinterventionmightbeappropriateforthosewhocomeback.Thiscouldinvolvemoreintensivejudicialsupervision,moreactivementoringfromEldersoradifferentmixofservices.Thecourthasmoreinformationaboutthereturningparticipantsthanaboutthosewhocomeforthefirsttime.Inparticularithasinformationaboutwhatapproachesweretriedthefirsttime,andwhichonesseemedtowork,ornotwork.Whilefromthecourt’sperspectivehaving‘stars’whonotreturnisamarkofsuccessandcauseforcelebration,thosewhodoreturnarelikelytoneedthecareandprotectionofthecourtevenmore.Theirhousingneedsmightbemoreacute,educationaldisadvantagegreaterandriskofself-harmmoreserious.Theproportionofreturnparticipantsislikelytoincreasethelongertheprogramisinoperation,soaveragerisklevelsofparticipantswillincrease.WhattheYouthKooriCourtwillthereforetrytodoispreventthesehigh-riskyoungpeoplebeinghandedoverattheageof18totheadultcorrectionssystem.Investment-evenhighlevelsofinvestment-madeinthelivesofyoungpeoplecouldcontributetoreducingthehugeover-incarcerationrateofadultAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoples.Onegroupofhigh-riskyoungpeopleforwhomthecourtcouldusefullysupportaftertheyhaveformallygraduatedfromtheprogramarethosewhoaresentencedwhilestillincustody.HoldingaceremonytowelcometheyoungpersonbackintothecommunityonreleasefromdetentioncouldprovideausefulopportunityforthelessonslearnedduringtheYouthKooriCourtjourneytobere-emphasised.Giventhatthecourtdoesnothaveanyformalroletoplayatthisstage,itcouldbesomethingorganisedbyElders,supportedbythecourtprojectofficer.

COLLECTIVEOUTCOMESANDLEGITIMACY

Oneofthelong-termgoalsoftheYouthKooriCourtprogramistoimproverelationshipsbetweentheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunityandthejusticesystem.Notonlyshouldtherebeameasureableimpactonthelivesoftheyoungpeopledirectlyaffected,buttheprogramshouldideallyhaveapositiveoutcomeforotherswhodidnotpersonallyexperiencethecourt,andindeedthewidercommunity.Thereissomeevidencethatindividual-levelinterventionscanproducehavewiderimpactsbeyondthosewhoweretheimmediatetargetoftheinterventions.Vaccinationofindividualscancreateaherdimmunity–reducingtherisktoeveryone-iftheappropriatesaturationlevelisachieved.Drink-drivingcampaignsmayinfluencesomepeoplewhointurnhelptoregulate

105NadineSmithandDonWeatherburn(2012),YouthJusticeConferencesversusChildren’sCourt:Acomparisonofre-offending.BOCSARNSWCrimeandJusticeBulletinno.60.NSWBureauofCrimeStatisticsandResearch


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thebehaviouroftheirpeers.Classroominterventionstoassistdisadvantagedstudentsmayliftthetestscoresofothermembersoftheclass106.Whetherexperienceinarelativelyintensivecriminaljustice-basedprogramcanimpactonothersislessclear.The‘brokenwindows’theoryofcrimepreventioninwhichpolicetargetminorincivilitiesinordertoreducemajorcrimeshasbeenfoundtohavenomeasureableeffectoncrimerates;norhoweverdoesitreduceperceivedlegitimacyofthepoliceintheeyesofthecommunitiesaffected107.OneofthereasonswhyyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplemaydistrustpolice,andthereforeaccordthecriminaljusticesystemlesslegitimacythantheymightotherwisedo,couldbearespondtopolicingtactics:ifpoliceroutinelystopyoungpeopleforsuspecteddisorderlybehaviourthereisresearchevidencetosuggestthatthiswillreducetheperceivedlegitimacyofthepolice.108Ifpoliceinsteadengageinpositiveinteractionswithyoungpeople–perhapsbasedinpartoftheirownparticipationinYouthKooriCourtprocesses-itmightbepredictedthatperceivedlegitimacyofthepoliceintheeyesofyoungpeoplecouldincrease.

AuntyPearlcomments:

Thispilothasdemonstratedbyitsoutcomesthatthereispotentialforfurtherdevelopmentofthisthissignificantandimportantwork.Ithasprovedthatgiventherightmixofpeopleworkinginmutualrespectfulrelationshipswiththefocusonimprovingayoungpersons’lifedoesbringpositiveoutcomesforthem,theirfamiliesandcommunity.Congratulationstoallthosewhotookpartinthispilotandhopewecancontinuetobuildonthefoundationsetforitsfuturegrowthanddevelopment.

106Powers,J.T.,Cook,J.E.,Purdie-Vaughns,V.,Garcia,J.,Apfel,N.,&Cohen,G.L.(2016).Changingenvironmentsbychangingindividuals:Theemergenteffectsofpsychologicalintervention.Psychologicalscience,27(2),150-160.107Weisburd,D.,Hinkle,J.C.,Famega,C.,&Ready,J.(2010).DocumentTitle:Legitimacy,FearandCollectiveEfficacyinCrimeHotSpots:AssessingtheImpactsofBrokenWindowsPolicingStrategiesonCitizenAttitudes.108Gau,J.M.,&Brunson,R.K.(2010).Proceduraljusticeandordermaintenancepolicing:Astudyofinner-cityyoungmen’sperceptionsofpolicelegitimacy.Justicequarterly,27(2),255-279.


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RECOMMENDATIONS

NSWSTATE-LEVELPOLICIESTheNSWDepartmentofJusticeandtheChildren’sCourtofNSW,togetherwithotherrelevantgovernmentagencies,shouldinvestinscalinguptheYouthKooriCourtpilotandfundtheresourcesrequiredtoaddressgapsinaccessandwellbeing.ManyoftheidentifiedresourcesarerelevanttoallyoungpeopleinAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunitiesnotjustthosewhocomebeforeaYouthKooriCourt.Specifically,therelevantgovernmentagencies(inpartnershipwithcommunityagencies)should:

• ProvideongoingtrainingandsupportforYouthKooriCourtmagistrates,buildingontheexperienceofcurrentmagistrates,leadersoftheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunitiesinNSWandotherswithexpertiseintheissuesfacingyoungpersonswhocomebeforethecourt

• ConductongoingresearchabouthowtheYouthKooriCourtisimprovinglifeopportunitiesforprogramparticipants,addressingtheriskfactorsthatmakeoffendingmorelikely,andexaminingtheextenttowhichtheprogramismeetingitsobjectivesbymaintainingdigitised,searchablerecordsonyoungpeopleintheprogram.

• ProvidetheYouthKooriCourtwithopportunitiesandresourcestoenableeveryyoungpersontheabilitytoconnectwiththeirmob,haveanUncleorAuntytobewith,andpracticeAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderprotocols,loreandculturalobligationsthroughAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderculturalactivitiesoncountry.

• DevelopandsupportliteracyandtrainingopportunitiestoempowerAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeopleoutsideofaconventionalschoolingsystem.

• DeveloppartnershipswithappropriateliteracyservicestohelpparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourttoimproveliteracyandnumeracyskills.

• ProvideopportunitiestoconnectandparticipateinpreservingAboriginallanguages.• Developatransitiontoemploymentmodelwithinputfromexistingleadpractice

models,thoseinthenetworkincludingLendLeaseandinitiativesdevelopedbytheWesternSydneyUniversityOfficeofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEmploymentandEngagement.

• DeveloptrainingandemploymentpathwaysforparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourtprogrambasedbothonexistingrelationshipsdevelopedbytheYouthKooriCourtinParramattaandonesdevelopedbytheNSWGovernmentforsettlementofSyrianrefugees.

• Providegreaterfunding,resourcesandinfrastructuralsupportforemergencyandshort-mediumtermaccommodationoptionsforyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleinNSWfacinghousinginsecurityandfamilydisruption.

• Providegreaterassistanceandaccessforyoungpeopletomoveintoindependentliving,particularlywhenfamilyplacementsarenotfeasible.

• WorkwithNSWstatetransportauthoritiestofindasolutiontotheover-policingofyoungpeopleonpublictransport,whichresultsinunnecessaryconflictwithpoliceandaccumulationoffines.

• Developanimmersivevideo-mediatedYouthKooriCourtfacilitytopermittimelyassessmentsandregularreviewsforparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourtprogramwho


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canmoreeasilyparticipateinthisway.Thiswouldberelevantforpersonswholiveinruralandremotelocations,aswellasthosewhomoveduringtheirinvolvementintheprogramtolivewithfamilyortoavoidthepotentialfortroubleassociatedwithstayingintheareaswhereoffendingoccurs.Animmersivefacilitywithseveralscreens109wouldallowamagistrate,casemanagementworker,ALSlawyer,otherinterestedpartiesandtheyoungpersontomakeeyecontact,andinteractinanaturalmanner.

MEASURESTOADDRESSHIGHLEVELSOFJUVENILECUSTODYTheRoyalCommissionintoAboriginalDeathsinCustodyemphasisedthepriorityofkeepingFirstPeoplesoutofcustody.Some80percentofthosewhocomeoutofjuvenilecustodyinNSWdosobecausebailisrefused,notasaresultofsentence.TheYouthKooriCourtprogramcansuccessfullyaddressthe20percentwhocometocourtforsentence(andmanagetheirbailconditionssubsequently).Whileafullexplorationofalternativestodetentionisbeyondthescopeofthisreport,thefollowingoptionscouldformthebasisofaconversationbetweenrepresentativesofFirstPeoples,andrelevantgovernmentagencies.

• DevelopcontrolledresidentialfacilitiesforyoungFirstPeoplesatriskofdetentionalongthelinesofBalund-a:culturallyappropriate,focusingoncriminogenicneedsandprovidingeducationalandemploymentsupport

• Evaluatethequalityandculturalappropriatenessofjuvenilebailhostelsprovidedbynon-governmentorganisationsinNSW,andtheireffectivenessinreducingthelevelsofremandcustodyforyoungFirstPeoples

• ReviewproceduresandsupportprovidedtoChildren’sCourtmagistratesholdingbailhearingsforyoungFirstPeoples,withaviewtodivertingmoreyoungpeopleawayfromremandcustody

SETTINGSFORHEARINGSOFYOUTHKOORICOURTTheCourtshould:

• Holdsomehearingsoutsideofthecourtatsitesthathavehistoricaland/orceremonialsignificanceforAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeople;thesitestobebasedonadvicefromEldersandotherrespectedpersonswithinlocalAboriginalcommunities.

• InviteAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersandotherrespectedpersons,courtparticipantsandformergraduatesofthecourttoparticipateinmeetingstodiscussanddevelopthedesignforYouthKooricourtrooms,andtheselectionofalternativesitesforhearings.

• WorkwiththeDepartmentofJusticetocommissionartworksfromyoungAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeopleindetention,withaviewtodisplayingtheseinYouthKooriCourtsinNSW.Theyoungartistsshouldbepaidfortheircontributions.

MANAGEMENTOFHEARINGS

109SeemodelsandtechniquesdevelopedandtestedbyDavidTait,BlakeMcKimmie,RickSarre,DianeJones,LauraWMcDonaldandKarenGelb(2017)‘TowardsaDistributedCourtroom’,reportavailableat:http://courtofthefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/170710_TowardsADistributedCourtroom_Compressed.pdf


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TheCourtshould:

• Continuetouseaflexibleschedulingmodeltodeterminethefrequencyofhearingsandlevelofjudicialsupervision.Insomecases,thismightinvolvetwo-weeklyhearingsfollowingthedrugcourtmodel.

• DevelopsentencingritualsusinglanguagethatisconsistentwiththelanguageusedinYouthKooriCourthearings,whichyoungpeoplewhowereintervieweddescribeaseasytounderstand.

• InsentencinghearingsincludeastatementabouttheimpactofpastgovernmentpoliciesonAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderfamilies,countryandheritage,andhowtheYouthKooriCourtprocessrecognizesthishistoricallegacy.ThisissometimesdoneinpartindiscussionoftheHighCourtcaseofBugmy,butitcouldbeexpressedinplainEnglish.Thisstatementwouldreflectthecommunity’stakingresponsibilityforitscontributiontocreatingtheconditionsthatencouragedoffendingbehaviour.

• Developsuitableritualstoallowforvictimparticipationinhearingswhenthemagistrate,inconsultationwithprosecutionanddefence,considersitappropriate.ThismightbemostrelevantwhenotherfamilymembersormembersofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunitiesarethevictims.

• SupporttheorganisationsofceremoniesforyoungpersonsofAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderbackgroundbeingreleasedfromyouthdetentionwhohavebeenthroughtheYouthKooriCourttowelcomethembackintothecommunity.

• Wheretheyoungpersoncomingbeforethecourtisalsoavictimofacrime(orsomethingtheybelievetobeacrime),provideanopportunityduringthehearingforthemtotalkabouttheirexperience.

FUNDINGTheYouthKooriCourtineachlocationshouldbefundedtoprovide:ACaseworkCoordinationOfficer,withresponsibilitiesfor

• Completingthescreeningtoolwiththeyoungperson• Ascertainingtheavailabilityofappropriateservices• Coordinatingyoungperson’scaseworkers• Followinguponreferralstoseehowtheywent• Accompanyingyoungpeopletomeetings/appointments• Keepingcasecoordinationandservicesupportmovingalong• Checkinginwithyoungpeopleandtheirsupportworkers/caseworkersonhowitems

intheActionandSupportplanaremovingalong• Ensurethatemploymentandtrainingopportunitiesthatreachthecourtcouldbe

matchedtoyoungpeoplewhomeetthecriteria• Reportingbacktothecourtontheyoungperson’sprogress•

ThereisalsoneedforadedicatedYouthKooriCourtOfficertocarryoutthefollowingadministrativefunctionstosupporttheoperationofthecourt.Thepersonwouldbeinvolvedin:

• OrganisingYouthKooriCourtpapersandlistsandtheirdistribution• SettinguptheflagsandpaintingsforthesittingsoftheYouthKooriCourtandremoving

theflagsandpaintingsattheconclusionofthesittings


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• Organisingpreliminaryassessments(withthesupportofacasemanagementworker)• LeadingtherecruitmentofElders• Leadingthefacilitationanddevelopmentofproductiveculturalprogramsforcourt

participants.• RosteringElders’attendanceatYouthKooriCourt• Undertakingcourtmonitoringandcourtofficerduties• HelpingtypeupActionandSupportplansaftermeetingforotherstosign• Preparationofcourtpaperworkattheconclusionoftheeachsittingday• ActingastheliaisonpointbetweentheCourtandthestakeholders• Organisingworkingpartymeetings• Collectingdataandkeepingin-housestatisticstoprovidebacktotheworkingparty

CASEFILEMANAGEMENTANDSTATISTICSTheCourtshould

• Replacepaperrecordswithdigitalfiles• Recordlistingdates,no-showandothercomplianceissues,foreachyoungperson,to

allowregularstatisticstobeproduced• ContinuetomakeActionandSupportplanscentraltoitsoperations,identifyingthe

issuesfacingtheyoungperson,theactionsproposedandthepersonsoragenciesresponsibleforfollowingupeachaction

• ProvideacopyoftheActionandSupportplantoparticipantsattheendofhearingwhichdevelopsit

• MaintainActionandSupportplansindigitalform,accessibletocourtstaff,ALSlawyers,JuvenileJusticecaseworkersandallthoseworkingwiththeyoungperson

• UpdateActionandSupportplansaftereachhearingofwhennewinformationisavailable,torecordprogressmadeontheplans,newissuesidentifiedandproblemsencountered

• ProducestatisticalreportssummarisingtrendsandoutcomesofActionandSupportplans,includingtheperformanceofserviceagencies

• MaintainarecordoftheCVsandjob-readinessdetailsforyoungpeopleintheprogram,tobeusedbythecasemanagementworkertomatchprogramparticipantstojobs.

• IncollaborationwithBOCSAR,collectandreportstatisticsaboutyouthdetentionofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderyoungpeopleinNSW,andtheimpactofYouthKooriCourtparticipationonlevelsofdetention

• IncollaborationwithBOCSAR,monitortheimpactofdifferentcontrolledresidentialregimes,forremandandsentenceddetention,bailhostelsandotherintermediateoptionsonrelevantcriminaljustice,educational,communityintegrationmeasures

• IncollaborationwithBOCSARcollectandreportstatisticsaboutthere-offendingratesofprogramparticipants,basedontrackingfourofthemeasuresBOCSARhasidentifiedascloselylinkedtooffendingbehaviour:familystability,housingsecurity,educationalqualificationsandstableemployment.

• IncollaborationwithBOCSARmonitordetentionlevelsofyoungFirstPeoplesinNSW,distinguishingbailrefusal,bailtosentenceandsentenceonly;identifyingimpactontheseratesofparticipationinYouthKooriCourtprogramsbothforimmediateparticipantsandotheryoungpeopleinthesameregion


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• Identifyandreportonsystemicissuesfacingyoungpersonswhocomebeforethecourt,usingpatternsrevealedinActionandSupportplans

CULTURALPARTICIPATIONTheCourtshould

• SupportAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersandotherrespectedpersonstocontinuetoplayanimportantroleinhearings,byprovidingappropriateremuneration,training,mobilitysupportandopportunitiestocontributetopolicydevelopmentandgovernanceofthecourt

• SupportAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersandotherrespectedpersonstoplayamentoringroleforparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourtprogram

• EnsurethatallparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourtprogramhaveanopportunitytotakepartinactivitiesthatbringthemclosertotheirmob,suchascamps,festivalsorsportingevents

• EnableopportunitiesforparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourtprogramtolearntheirclanlanguage,anduseitinappropriatesettings,includingduringYouthKooriCourthearings.

• InvitesuitablegraduatesoftheprogramtoparticipateinAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderculturalritualsforotheryoungpeople,underthesupervisionofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderElders.

• RecruitAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleintheirearlytwentiestoactasmentors(andpotentiallyrolemodels)forparticipantsintheYouthKooriCourtbackground.Thesepeoplecouldalsoserveas‘otherrespectedpersons’inhearingstoincreasethelevelofpeersupporttosupplementthesupportfromElders.

• EncourageopportunitiesforyoungpeopletodemonstrateanyAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandculturalpractices,loreandknowledgetheyhavelearnedattheirgraduationceremony,underthesupervisionofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderEldersandpeers


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