Ashley Youth Detention Centre workers must be supported

HACSU HAS CONCERNS FOR THE WELFARE OF WORKERS AT ASHLEY YOUTH DETENTION CENTRE.

HACSU Assistant Secretary Robbie Moore announced that HACSU Members working for the Department of Health and Human Services at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre have raised serious concerns about the level of support provided to them in the wake of recent incidents at the Centre.

The recent change to the protocols surrounding operations at the Centre and the lack of clear direction provided to Youth Workers and other operational staff was worrying.

Mr Moore said, “HACSU Members go to work every day and work in extraordinary circumstances. For them to face the added stress of dealing with unclear and in some cases contrary directions in relation to dealing with young people is unacceptable.

“Our Members have been further distressed in the last week by public comments being made, in particular by the Minister, in relation to incidents at the Centre when the investigation into those matters is incomplete.”

HACSU will continue to work with local area management to alleviate the issue and calls on the Minister to work with her employees rather than use them as scapegoats when it is expedient to do so.

“We know that many HACSU Members share deep concerns for the young people housed at Ashley and face real challenges when they are forced to deal with review after review and inquiry after inquiry that seemingly lead to no clear direction or vision and a culture of blaming our Members for systematic issues,” said Mr Moore.

“The Tasmanian Government, especially the Human Services Minister, can and must do more to provide clear direction not only to our Members but to the Tasmanian community.”
HACSU Assistant Secretary Robbie Moore