Ashley detainees make 91 requests for child advocate help over staff use of force
Detainees at Deloraine’s troubled Ashley Youth Detention Centre asked for help over the alleged use of force by staff on 91 occasions in the past year, a new report has revealed.
Juvenile detainees asked for help over the alleged use of force by staff on 91 occasions in the past year, a new report has revealed.
The Commissioner for Children and Young People Annual Report for 2024-25 has revealed Ashley Youth Detention Centre detainees made some 640 requests for advocacy support in that time frame.
These included 91 requests over concerns regarding physical holds and restraints by staff at the Deloraine facility, use of mechanical restraints like handcuffs, and alleged assaults by staff.
A further 162 requests were made over other issues concerning staff members, including
including disagreements with staff, concerns regarding staff behaviour, alleged staff misconduct or mistreatment, and inadequate responses to the needs of detainees.
The biggest category was health, safety and wellbeing, with 177 requests for advocacy over issues including access to mental health support, medical treatment, medication concerns, and concerns about physical safety.
A further 114 requests were made over isolation and lockdowns, and 30 requests regarding harmful sexual behaviour or sexual assault at the facility.
The report, authored by interim Commissioner Isabelle Crompton, said the requests had been made to the office’s Advocate for Young People in Detention, who was usually onsite at Ashley three days per week and was also available to detainees by phone.
The report revealed that in 2024-25, the advocate helped young people submit 30 formal complaints to a range of agencies.
Ms Crompton has been appointed as interim Commissioner in the lead-up to a new Commission for Children and Young People, to be headed by three Commissioners.
The upcoming change comes following a recommendation made by Tasmania’s child sexual abuse commission of inquiry.
The closure of the scandal-ridden Ashley Youth Detention Centre, which has repeatedly drawn the attention of international human rights bodies, including the United Nations, has been delayed until 2027.
Earlier this month, the Mercury reported that nearly half of the facility’s 70 detainees were victims of reported abuse in the 2024-25 year.
