Holtze Youth Justice Facility operational, teaches kids new skills instead of detention

A new youth justice facility has opened its doors and will allow the NT’s youngest offenders to learn a skill instead of being sent to detention.

A new residential youth justice facility designed to give occupants the skills to get a job upon release has officially opened its doors.

Courts will be able to sentence up to 16 of the Northern Territory’s young people to the Holtze centre – delivered by First Step Development Enterprises – as an alternative to youth detention.

Territory Families Minister Ngaree Ah Kit said it was important for young people to “learn right from wrong, to understand the impact of their actions on other people”.

Ms Ah Kit said children sentenced to the facility would stay for at least three to six months.

Territory Families Minister Ngaree Ah Kit. Picture: Zizi Averill

“That gives everybody here supporting them the opportunity to help them develop good behaviours, to make sure that they wake up, they get ready for school and education, and they start working on a pathway to success,” she said.

“It’s not just about supporting young people while they’re in the residential facilities, but ensuring that they have a softer landing on the outside so that they can be supported on that trajectory of success and eventually break away from the bad behaviours that landed them in trouble in the first place.”

Each child will have an individualised management plan depending on the complexity of their case and behaviours.

The Holtze facility includes three sleeping zones with ensuites, education and training spaces, outdoor areas, and a home-style and commercial kitchen where they can learn to cook.

Similar facilities are operational in Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, with a fourth to open in Katherine.

Ms Ah Kit said the facility – and others like it – would ultimately ensure young people were held to account for their actions while learning the skills they would need to work and thrive after their release.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said “no Territorian wants to see kids keep re-offending”.

“My government is delivering these youth justice facilities to hold young offenders accountable and make sure they have skills to find and hold down a job,” she said.

“Courts can now sentence young people to the Darwin facility.

“This is part of my government’s common sense plan to reduce crime, which also includes a record $570 million boost to the Police budget over five years.”

The CLP’s election pitch to reduce crime follows a similar process.

In November, Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said she wanted to ensure there was a future for people after crime.

“To lower reoffending rates, we will make sure that prisoners are given the skills for life through custodial work programs like sentence to a job and sentence to a skill,” she said at the time.

“We need people who break the law to come out of prison job ready.”