We are committed to delivering a Youth Justice System that achieves better outcomes for young people and keeps our community safe.

Plans are progressing to close the Ashley Youth Detention Centre and transition to new youth justice facilities that support a therapeutic model of care, as one part of a comprehensive reform of the entire Youth Justice System, which also includes raising the minimum age of detention to 14.

Our overarching strategic Youth Justice Blueprint and our proposed Youth Justice Facilities Model have undergone extensive stakeholder consultation and will be released in coming weeks, together with an initial two-year Action Plan.

A key element of the plan was to construct new assisted bail facilities and supported accommodation facilities in the north and south of the State, as well as a new youth detention facility in the greater Hobart area.

Following a comprehensive assessment process, two preferred sites have been shortlisted for the new youth detention facility: a site on Brighton Road between Pontville and Mangalore and a site on East Derwent Highway, overlooking the Bowen Bridge.

These sites have been identified because of their substantial size, separation from major residential areas, their proximity to Hobart, the limited visibility (or with capacity for screening) from surrounding properties and their appropriate zoning under the relevant planning scheme.

Public consultation on the shortlisted sites begins today (23 March), providing stakeholders and the community the opportunity to review the criteria used to assess the sites’ suitability and provide feedback.

Discussions with the relevant local councils have begun and property and business owners in close proximity to the sites will be contacted directly. The views of key stakeholders and advocates will also be directly sought, as will the views of young people with direct experience of the Youth Justice System.

Consultation closes on 4 May, with all feedback received to be considered before a final decision is made on the location for the new facility.

For more information on youth justice reform in Tasmania and to provide feedback, visit www.decyp.tas.gov.au/yjr