Gerry Georgatos says relocation of young inmates in WA ‘gears them up’ for life in jail

·

Young offenders at a detention centre in Perth’s south will be relocated to a new facility at an adult prison after damaging cells and behaving aggressively towards staff, ABC News has reported.

The group of 20 boys, the youngest 14 years of age, will be moved from Banksia Hill Detention Centre to a new youth detention facility at Casuarina Prison, south of Perth.

The relocation plan has received mixed reviews.

The West Australian government has released photos showing extensive damage to cells at Perth’s Banksia Hill juvenile detention centre. Photo: Department of Justice.

National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project coordinator, Gerry Georgatos, told ABC News the plan was a sign WA authorities were giving up on vulnerable youth. 

“It’s saying: ‘You don’t matter, the only thing that matters is the safety of the prison personnel’,” Mr Georgatos explained.

Gerry Georgatos is against the plan.

He added that the move was ‘gearing’ the young men for a life in the justice system, instead of supporting them out of criminal behaviour.

WA’s Corrective Services Commissioner, Mike Reynolds, said in a statement that “the short-term youth detention centre will provide a safe environment for the 20 young men while we restore Banksia Hill to a safe working environment for staff and detainees and complete the necessary infrastructure works.”

Source: ABC News.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Finding Faith and Friendship: The rise of Greek Orthodox Youth Groups in Australia

Are you looking to meet like-minded people who have the same values and beliefs as you and follow the same faith?

Reviewing Anthony Buirchell’s ‘Spirited Away’: Historic threads of Crete’s prisoners of war

From seasoned educator and author, Anthony Buirchell comes a historical fiction novel 5 years in the making, delivering nostalgic research.

The Andonaros family’s Big Fat Greek Easter gathering in Canberra

On Sunday, April 20, my family from ACT, QLD, NSW, and SA came together for our very own big, fat, Greek Easter reunion. 

Oakleigh Grammar’s Tim Hines named a ‘Rising Star’ in Australia

Tim Hines, an English teacher at Oakleigh Grammar, has been recognised as one of the best educators in Australia under 35.

Hundreds of community-language teachers to attend annual conference at Sydney University

Around 700 teachers, representing the 297 community language schools across the state that teach 61 community languages.

You May Also Like

FIFA recommends all international matches cancelled as Euro 2020 approaches

Uefa has called an emergency meeting for Tuesday to discuss the possibility of postponing Euro 2020, after Fifa recommended that all impending internationals should be called off.

Significant travel changes for Australians headed to Europe

Europe is implementing the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will be linked to the passenger's passport.

Gezel Bardossi named ‘One to Watch’ at NSW Women of the Year Awards   

The Greek Italian Australian teenager Gezel Bardossi has been named a recipient of the NSW Women of the Year Awards for 2024. Read more here.