Including the Voices of First Nation Peoples in a ‘Framework and Practice Standards for Young People With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Youth Justice’: A Successful Start and a Future Challenge
Tracks
Ora - In-Person & Online
| Monday, October 21, 2024 |
| 11:15 AM - 11:35 AM |
Overview
Kerry Russell, Tim Spall & Paul Harnett, Beyond the Pale Indigenous Corporation
Speaker
Kerry Russell
Director
Beyond the Pale Indigenous Corporation
Including the voices of First Nation peoples in a ‘Framework and Practice Standards for young people with neurodevelopmental disabilities in youth justice’: A successful start and a future challenge.
Abstract
The stories of First Nations Youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities in Australia and international youth justice systems is acknowledged as complex and frustrating leaving families and young people without a voice. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorder (FASD) is a particular concern with one Australian study finding 36% of incarcerated youth meeting this diagnosis. Whilst ongoing concerns regarding misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of FASD and other NDD’s the Queensland Department of Youth Justice engaged a consortium of Researchers, clinicians, and First Nations people to develop a Framework and Practice Standards for their workforce. Stakeholder engagement across the development of the project included First Nations Elders and respected persons, family members and young people within the youth justice system, First Nations Peak Bodies, Legal services from across rural, remote, and urban Queensland communities.
The themes which emerged from this stakeholder engagement combined with the code switching from cultural protocols to academic / plain language shaped the document. The integration of the First Nations Framework of Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) developed by First Nations leaders, embeds both social (disadvantage, racism and health inequities) and historical (colonisation, genocide, removal of children) determinants of health on wellbeing into the Framework. The stakeholder engagement process highlighted several important themes: 1. A focus on relationship building that was culturally informed and respectful 2. An understanding that First Nations world view on disability as “difference” rather than deficit 3. The right for equitable access to assessment, diagnosis, and support 4. An acknowledgement of the impact of intergenerational trauma 5 ensuring the young person and family provides informed consent around information sharing 6. involvement of community and families in supporting young people. These themes were delivered amongst tears, angry outbursts and distress of ongoing incarceration of young people, with a recurring theme of “Stop locking up our young people”.
The framework was a starting point with ongoing challenges questioning how to shift this Framework into practice with a greater understanding of the impact NDD’s have on young people by being locked up. But the upskilling of workforce and whether this, in turn may change sentencing, probation and parole conditions and or diversionary pathways.
The themes which emerged from this stakeholder engagement combined with the code switching from cultural protocols to academic / plain language shaped the document. The integration of the First Nations Framework of Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) developed by First Nations leaders, embeds both social (disadvantage, racism and health inequities) and historical (colonisation, genocide, removal of children) determinants of health on wellbeing into the Framework. The stakeholder engagement process highlighted several important themes: 1. A focus on relationship building that was culturally informed and respectful 2. An understanding that First Nations world view on disability as “difference” rather than deficit 3. The right for equitable access to assessment, diagnosis, and support 4. An acknowledgement of the impact of intergenerational trauma 5 ensuring the young person and family provides informed consent around information sharing 6. involvement of community and families in supporting young people. These themes were delivered amongst tears, angry outbursts and distress of ongoing incarceration of young people, with a recurring theme of “Stop locking up our young people”.
The framework was a starting point with ongoing challenges questioning how to shift this Framework into practice with a greater understanding of the impact NDD’s have on young people by being locked up. But the upskilling of workforce and whether this, in turn may change sentencing, probation and parole conditions and or diversionary pathways.
Biography
TIM SPALL is a descendent of the Kija people from Northeast Kimberley region of WA and has been working for Child and Youth Mental Health Service for 25 years, making significant contributions to build transparent and accountable service delivery models of care. A long-standing member of Inala Elders Board, SE Queensland.
KERRY RUSSELL is a proud Yuwaalaraay woman from Northern NSW, Australia. She has worked for Queensland Mental Health for 18 years and is co-director of Beyond the Pale Indigenous Corporation that provides consultancy and support for First Nations young people.
