Unit 18 to be replaced as new youth detention centre set to be built next to Banksia Hill in Perth
Key points:
- The premier says the facility will house WA’s most “complex” juvenile detainees
- It follows persistent issues inside Unit 18 and the death of Cleveland Dodd
- There is no timeline yet for the new facility or for the closure of Unit 18
WARNING: This story discusses incidents of self-harm and contains the image of an Indigenous person who has died.
A new high-security, “therapeutic” youth detention facility is set to be built next to Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre in Perth’s south, in a move to allow the closure of the trouble-plagued Unit 18.
Unit 18 is a separated wing of the adult Casuarina Prison that has been used since mid-2022 to house youths who are described by the government as the state’s most “complex” and “difficult” juvenile detainees.
But the unit has had persistent issues with violent incidents, detainees being locked in cells for extended periods, and frequent self-harm incidents.
Last month, 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd died after self-harming in his cell at Unit 18.
At the time, WA Premier Roger Cook acknowledged the government wanted to close Unit 18, but said there were not yet any suitable alternative locations.
One of the reasons given for that was the extensive damage done to Banksia Hill in Canning Vale during a riot in May.
‘Turning around youth justice’: premier
Mr Cook said it remained the case that Banksia Hill could not safely and securely accommodate the “high-risk cohort” of detainees currently in Unit 18.
Instead, the government will build a new centre “adjacent” to Banksia Hill, following the recommendation of the Youth Justice Infrastructure Review.
“My government is turning around our youth justice system,” Mr Cook said.
“A new high-security custom-built detention centre will allow the state’s most complex juvenile detainees to receive the therapeutic care and intervention needed.
“It will also allow for the closure of Unit 18, in a sensible and safe manner.”
The new facility will have the goal of providing young people with the “monitoring, supervision, and support they need to stabilise their behaviours and return to Banksia Hill”.
It will also accommodate any “high-needs remand detainees before they are assessed for placement at Banksia Hill”.
“Young people entering the justice system often face struggles with substance abuse, behavioural problems and other issues,” Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia said.
“Because of this, the second facility will also operate as a transitional centre for high-needs juveniles on remand.
“This will allow for a higher level of supervision and support before the young person is considered for placement in Banksia Hill.”
No timeline for Unit 18 closure
Mr Papalia said the new facility would allow Banksia Hill to continue to focus on “giving stable, therapeutic interventions and education to more settled detainees”.
No timeline has yet been set for the new facility or for the closure of Unit 18, but $1 million has been set aside to undertake detailed planning and a business case.
Mr Papalia said the government wanted that business case finished in time to allocate funds in the next budget for building the facility.
He expected the project’s cost to reach “north of $100 million” and therefore would take years to reach completion.
In the meantime, a new “multi-wing” operating model has been implemented at Unit 18 to increase’ out-of-cell hours for detainees.
Mr Papalia expected this system would be mirrored in the new detention centre when complete.
“This tiered system means critical incidents, assaults and other disruptions do not result in site-wide lockdowns, which means that many are not punished for the actions of the few,” he said.
For November, detainees at Banksia Hill spent an average of nine hours out of their cells each day, compared to 4.5 hours at Unit 18.
The Department of Justice had struggled to improve out of cell hours at Unit 18
Mr Papalia said out-of-cell hours at Unit 18 had vastly improved, but there was “still a lot of work to do there”.
The National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is also set to provide additional education to Unit 18 staff from next week, in conjunction with a neuropsychologist.
The business case will also firm up the specific location and cost of the new facility.
It is understood the new centre’s location will be aimed at making transfers and the sharing of resources easier and safer while preventing spill-over between the facilities if a riot occurs.
The funding will form part of $77.1 million to be allocated in the mid-year budget review for improving staff, facilities and services in youth justice.
There will be $34 million to boost staffing and $8 million to upgrade programs and support offerings.
It will also include $20 million for the planned new Crisis Care Unit eight-bed project at Banksia Hill, to provide dedicated support for detainees experiencing mental health crises.
Across September and October, there was one attempted suicide at Banksia Hill, none at Unit 18 and no serious self-harm incidents at either facility.
MP fears more lives could be lost
Greens MP Brad Pettitt said the announcement was “disappointing” and called for an additional short-term solution to allow Unit 18 to close sooner.
“Almost 18 months after Unit 18 opened, finally the government is talking about a business case and a replacement facility at Banksia Hill,” he said.
“You’ve just got to ask the question, what have they been doing for 18 months?
“This is going to see Unit 18 remain open for years and years ahead, and frankly I am deeply concerned as a result of that, we are going to see more kids self-harm. And I hope this is not true, but there could be more lives lost.”
Nationals MP Mia Davies welcomed progress on a solution to Unit 18 but questioned the unclear timeline around its delivery and the timing of the announcement itself.
“Clearly, this government in six years has seen a complete demoralisation of their workforce,” she said.
“But I welcome the fact there’s steps being taken to make sure we’ve got a better way of dealing with this, because at the end of the day, this is about looking after young people who deserve rehabilitation and not further victimisation.”
The government announced in May 2022 it would build an on-country facility near Derby in the Kimberley but has continually blamed delays to the project on January’s floods.
Shadow Corrective Services Minister Peter Collier told parliament on Thursday the community was “pulling their hair out” over the project’s slow progress.
“This is bleedingly obvious if you really want to make a difference in these young Aboriginal men and women … But it has not even started.”
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