Youth Justice Blueprint and Function Brief

The Tasmanian Government engaged Noetic to develop a Blueprint for Youth Justice models that followed on from a previously released discussion paper and other Government initiatives in the youth justice system.

Noetic researched into the current youth justice system in Tasmania comparing it against youth justice systems nationally and internationally and obtained data through face-to-face stakeholder engagement with those in the Tasmanian community including the local Indigenous community, wider government, NGOs and young people with experience in the Youth Justice System, in order to develop a Blueprint for that will act as a roadmap for the Tasmanian Youth Justice System for the next 10 years

Noetic provided strategies for the implementation and of a flexible and integrated Youth Justice System, focusing on early intervention and diversion, integrated systems, targeted support to families, and workforce development and retention. Also, in Noetic’s recent engagement with Tasmania’s Department of Communities, we developed an Options Brief and Function Brief for the new Youth Detention Centres being built.

Options paper to identify a new Tasmanian Custodial Youth Justice Model

This project demonstrates Noetic’s ability to identify, design and validate whole-of-government approaches for major youth justice reform, based on contemporary best practice.

The Tasmanian Government engaged Noetic to develop an Options Paper for custodial youth justice models that identified a preferred approach that is relevant to Tasmania’s unique needs. This Options Paper will be a key input into the broader Youth at Risk Strategy, which will provide the strategic direction for responding to the needs of vulnerable young people.

Noetic identified and assessed a number of custodial youth justice options based on their financial benefits, social impact and implementation considerations. Our preferred option places young people’s needs at the centre of Tasmania’s custodial youth justice system and is underpinned by trauma-informed practice and a true therapeutic approach. This option meets all strategic objectives for a new custodial youth justice system defined through Noetic’s extensive stakeholder consultation and proven approach to investment management, problem analysis, and options identification and evaluation.

Tasmania faces particular social challenges from its geographical location, small population and range of economic opportunities. However, these challenges also create opportunities to build on what has been a successful approach to reducing the number of children and young people in Tasmania’s custodial youth justice system. Noetic’s Options Paper provides the roadmap for Tasmania to implement a step-change reform that could result in a generational change for Tasmanian families, who are overrepresented in the youth justice system.

Development of an Effective Practice Guide on Youth Justice

This project demonstrates Noetic’s experience assisting a jurisdiction to redefine long term vision for youth justice from first principles.

Blueprint for Youth Justice in the ACT, Youth Justice Implementation Taskforce

This project demonstrates Noetic’s experience assisting a jurisdiction to redefine long term vision for youth justice from first principles.

Noetic provided a team to support the Youth Justice Implementation Taskforce to produce the Blueprint for Youth Justice in the ACT 2012-2022 (the Blueprint).² We engaged with stakeholders including young people who had come into contact with the youth justice system, the community sector and government directorates.

Noetic used a benefits driven approach, using an investment logic map to identify the goals, actions and targets of the Blueprint. We supported the Taskforce to design and draft the Blueprint, including the development of goals, strategies, actions and key performance indicators.

The Blueprint is now the foundation document for ACT’s youth justice model, which continues to reduce young people’s involvement with youth justice and produce positive outcomes for Canberra’s community.

Bimberi Youth Justice Centre Operational Efficiency Review

Following the development and successful implementation of the Blueprint for Youth Justice in the ACT mentioned above, which led to a sustained reduction in young people in detention, Noetic was contracted by the Community Services Directorate (CSD) to examine the financial performance and future sustainability of the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre (Bimberi) to fall in line with the Blueprint.

Noetic conducted comprehensive desktop research and engaged with a wide range of stakeholders including, but not limited to, young people currently in detention, Bimberi management and staff, ACT Human Rights Commission, Official Visitors for children and young people, ACT Health, the Education Directorate, ACT Treasury, and service providers at Bimberi.

Noetic developed a zero-based funding model in order to compare any operational savings against a cost model that addresses any structural shortfalls in Bimberi’s current agreed funding across salary and wages, fixed costs, and other supplies and services.

Potential options for improving operational efficiency were presented to key stakeholders across the ACT Government in a workshop environment. These options were then further refined and analysed, in order to ensure Noetic’s recommendations would maintain Bimberi’s human rights compliance and guarantee high-quality outcomes for young people, staff and the community, while also improving the centre’s operational efficiency.

Strategic review of the NSW Juvenile Justice System

This project demonstrates Noetic’s comprehensive understanding of Australian and international best practice in custodial youth justice, including strategies to translate evidence-based practice into effective community programs. This Strategic Review Report, and the accompanying Effective Practice Guide, continues to be highly influential and well regarded in the youth justice sector.

Noetic was contracted by the former NSW Minister for Juvenile Justice (the Hon Graham West MP) to review the NSW juvenile justice system and investigate evidence-based strategies and practice to inform options for improving the system. NSW needed to address significant issues including substantial increase in children and young people under control orders, a large growth in young people held on remand and a continued overrepresentation of Indigenous young people in the juvenile justice system.

Noetic produced an evidence base to understand contemporary best practice for youth justice, which identified effective strategies, programs and services to address criminogenic risk factors in Australia and overseas.¹ We considered factors that could create further barriers to successful interventions including the absence of sufficient prevention, early intervention and diversion programs. The Review involved consulting with over 100 stakeholders and provided three strategic options for determining the future of juvenile justice in NSW. Noetic also considered long-term costs and benefits of the recommendations and provided a logical argument for increased investment over a sustained period of time.

The Review provided a roadmap for the NSW Government to undertake significant reform to create better community outcomes, based on contemporary best practice. This report is seen as a landmark report for youth justice in Australia and has informed major reforms in a number of other jurisdictions.

Evaluation of the Commonwealth Indigenous Justice Program (Prisoner Through Care Sub-Program)

This project demonstrates Noetic’s in depth understanding of youth justice approaches in Queensland and the Northern Territory, including the treatment of Indigenous young offenders and the challenges of effective service delivery in remote Australia.

Noetic was contracted by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) to assess the effectiveness of the Prisoner Through Care Sub-Program, which funded projects to rehabilitate adult and juvenile Indigenous detainees, and provided support for their successful reintegration in the community. Noetic also assessed the appropriateness of funding models and compliance with service delivery standards. The project involved extensive consultation with young people in detention, previous program clients, service providers and other community stakeholders in urban, regional, rural and remote areas of Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Noetic used a structured evaluation methodology based on a program logic model, including assessment of activities undertaken, program outputs and program outcomes for both clients and the broader community.

Our recommendations provided options to motivate and support the rehabilitation of juvenile and adult Indigenous detainees. The recommendations also proposed positive pathways on release to support successful reintegration into the community.

Strategic framework workshop and project team plans for the Northern Territory Youth Justice Unit

This project demonstrates Noetic’s expertise in designing and supporting the implementation of tailored early intervention programs for jurisdictions that face longstanding challenges across the youth justice continuum.

Noetic was contracted by the Northern Territory Youth Justice Unit (the Unit) to assist with Family Responsibilities Agreements, which provide an early intervention process to engage families and provide targeted services. Noetic worked with the Unit to develop a framework to define the use of these agreements and assisted six different teams to implement this approach. The program was tailored to the particular circumstances of the Northern Territory and focussed on diverting at risk youth, especially Indigenous youth.