Cleveland Youth Detention Centre staff bolstered

More than 80 staff have started work, or are about to begin, at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre since the start of last year, but the department is still pushing for more recruits. Here’s why.

Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer, left, and Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs senior executive director Michael Drane at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre on Thursday. Picture: Blair Jackson

Young people should be left in solitary confinement less often with a staffing boost at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.

New Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer announced on Thursday that 18 new recruits have started work at the centre this year, and 21 new staff were being trained.

The centre has been under pressure for some time, with accounts of disabled teenagers not able to go to the school within the detention centre and staff fearful about going to work, with many issues underpinned by staff shortages.

Department of Youth Justice senior executive Michael Drane said detainees at Cleveland had been kept in their cells for extended periods of time because of staff shortages.

The Townsville Bulletin has reported on the practice, which is colloquially known as ‘night mode’ a number of times, with youth in detention spending 23 hours a day in their cells.

“We certainly have seen some instances of staff shortages, obviously coming out of the pandemic, and then the challenging labour market conditions. Yes, that has not been ideal,” he said.

Cleveland Youth Detention Centre, where 106 youths were detained on Wednesday night. Picture: Matt Taylor

“Regrettably, there has been occasions where we’ve had to risk manage and put young people in their own rooms for safety and security needs. That is the exception, but it is always a requirement to do that in normal business as usual, within a detention centre.”

When staff shortages had made moving youths to the centre’s school difficult, teachers, psychologists and program providers would often go to the youth’s room, Mr Drane said, and the new staff would decrease the need for confinement.

Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs senior executive director Michael Drane says despite new recruits at Cleveland, staff were still being flown up from the south of the state. Picture: Blair Jackson

“They (new staff) certainly prevent that as a risk mitigation that we need to take.”

He also accepted a lack of staff meant children were in confinement when they did not need to be.

“Absolutely, regrettably, on occasions, particularly after the pandemic and our response to that, we were short staffed like most sectors and most industries. As I say, those actions were taken to ensure the safety of those young people first and foremost.”

Youths rioting on top of a building at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in 2016. Picture: Domanii Cameron

Between six to 12 staff are flying to Townsville each week from the south of the state for shifts at Cleveland, Mr Drane said.

However, 45 new staff started at the centre in 2022, and Mr Drane felt $79,000 per annum was a “very attractive proposition” to work at Cleveland.

Youth Justice Minister, Ms Farmer – who previously held the portfolio – said it was early days for the government’s revamped youth crime laws.

However, she said the ALP brought in “real breach of bail” laws, had created a category of serious repeat offenders and introduced a presumption against bail.

Questioned about specific incidents in Townsville in the past weeks, like a teen presenting a gun during a burglary and youths driving at 123 km/h in a stolen car in a 60 km/h zone, Ms Farmer said “the people we’re talking about are the victims of those crimes, and we take that very seriously as a government. It is why we have brought in the strongest youth justice laws in the country.”

CYDC was not at capacity on Wednesday night, as 106 youths were detained in the 112-capacity centre. It is not known how many young people were in the Townsville watch-house on Wednesday night.

Originally published as Cleveland Youth Detention Centre staff bolstered