Making connections during National Families week

Elders from the Cherbourg community spent time at Brisbane Youth Detention Centre this week strengthen connections with youth in detention during National Families Week (15-21 May).

Minister for Youth Di Farmer said this year’s theme of Stronger families, Stronger communities gave young people in detention a chance to connect with family and a time to reflect on what family meant to them.

“The role family and community play in a young person’s life is significant in helping them make good choices and ultimately build better futures,” she said.

“For many of these young people, disconnection from family and community has contributed to their lives going off track.

“For some of them that disconnection has been incredibly traumatic and rebuilding those connections could help to reduce reoffending.

 “Families are our children’s first teachers and role models, they come in all shapes and sizes. They are not just those who share your blood, it’s those you share your life with.

“However, we recognise making connections with families can sometimes be a challenge for young people in detention.”

Helping families connect with a young person’s rehabilitation was a key recommendation from the Independent Review of Youth Detention Centres in Queensland.

Two of the 83 recommendations adopted by the Queensland Government related to the need to help families and communities connect with, and be part of, a young person’s rehabilitation.

“That’s why we are creating a new cultural unit at Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and expanding the cultural unit at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre to make sure there is consistent and culturally appropriate communication between young people and their parents or guardians,” Ms Farmer said.

“We are working hard to reduce the rates of reoffending so these young people can get their lives on track and the community is protected,”

National Family Matters Week celebrates the vital role that families play in Australia society and is promoted as an opportunity for everyone to stop and think about the things our family does for us, and we do for them.

National Families Week is managed by Families Australia, a national, not-for-profit organisation.

To find out more visit www.nfw.org.au. 

ENDS

Media Contact:                                  Ron Goodman             0427 781 920