A trial taking place at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre aims to give staff better ways of managing behaviour, while equipping young people with the skills to stay out of trouble.
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For two years, the centre - and Parkville Youth Justice Centre - will host a pilot program, delivered by Jesuit Social Services, based on principles of restorative justice.
JSS chief executive officer Julie Edwards said the program aimed to help young people understand their behaviour and its impact, as well as giving them the tools to reset their behaviour and make amends.
Ms Edwards said staff would be trained in practices to minimise hostility and restore relationships, with the aim of creating a safe place in custody with less conflict between young people and staff, and among the young people themselves.
She said this approach, for example, could see a staff member not just stepping in to stop a conflict, but talking with the young people about what was going on to cause it.
The program was about building the capacity of people to not resort to their old behaviours, she said, but find new ways of managing relationships and their behaviour.
Ms Edwards said workers at the youth justice centres were already trained in good behaviour management, but the pilot program would deepen that.
She said staff wanted the tools to resolve such issues in a positive way.
Ms Edwards said incarceration should be a last resort.
"Once someone is inside, we need to do everything to not further entrench the behaviour that landed them in there," she said.
The $350,000 pilot is funded by the Victorian government.
"Through this trial we're supporting young people to make better decisions and reduce reoffending by better managing conflict and interpersonal relationships," Youth Justice Minister Natalie Hutchins said.
It follows the government's release of a youth justice strategic plan, for which one of the 10 underpinning principles is that youth justice "supports young people to take responsibility for their actions and acknowledge the impacts of their offending on the victim and the community".
A 2017 review of youth justice in Victoria found there was evidence of the effectiveness of restorative justice processes, but there were limited opportunities for these in the system.
Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
