‘Cooling off spaces’ planned for new Cherry Creek youth justice centre

“COOLING off” spaces and isolation rooms will be built in Victoria’s new $288.7 million youth justice centre in a bid to manage violence among inmates.

An artist's impression showing part of the new youth justice facility planned for Cherry Creek in Melbourne’s west. Source: State Government

“COOLING-off” spaces and isolation rooms will be built ­inside Victoria’s new youth justice centre in a bid to manage violence among inmates.

The $288.7 million centre — to be built at Cherry Creek in Melbourne’s west — will also include fewer beds in units, to ward off trouble.

Youths will be housed in zones based on legal requirements, their level of offending, behaviour and maturity, including their ability to “manage their own feelings”.

GOVERNMENT MOVES YOUTH JAIL FROM WERRIBEE SOUTH

An artist's impression of the new youth justice facility at Cherry Creek. Picture: State Government

Tender documents for a managing contractor to handle design and completion of the 224-bed youth justice facility reveal new details about the project.

Accommodation units will be cut from 15 beds in the existing system to eight, capable of being securely divided into two groups at night.

Each unit will have a “low stimulus” room, a group room and space for a counsellor or clinician.

“Intensive supervision” rooms to “isolate young people in need of short-term behaviour management” are also listed as key features.

Outdoor spaces, including cooling off areas, will be provided to help “clients manage their response to heightened behaviours”.

Department of Justice and Regulation spokeswoman Louise Baring said: “We’re significantly increasing the number of beds in our youth justice system, and reducing the number of beds per unit to better manage and rehabilitate young offenders.

“The new centre will provide a wide range of rehabilitative programs and opportunities to assist young people to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to manage their lives effectively without further offending.”

Isolation spaces already exist in the Parkville and Malmsbury youth justice centres but must be used as a last resort.

“Isolation helps ensure the safety of young offenders, staff and the security of youth justice centres,’’ Ms Baring said.

The cooling-off spaces aim to provide an area for youths to “de-escalate” behaviour.

Their design and the way they operate will be developed with the help of experts on mental health and behavioural management.

A new 12-bed secure mental health unit and a multi-faith centre will be included in the Cherry Creek centre.

Educational facilities will include an equivalent of the existing Parkville College and ‘tech school’ training facilities such as a training kitchen.

Originally planned for Werribee South but moved amid outrage from residents, the new centre is scheduled to open in early 2021.

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