AYJA Face-to-Face Meetings
AYJA holds two face-to-face meetings each year, one in May and one in November. Generally, meetings will be held over two days with the option of a third day for members to visit a youth justice detention facility and/or a community-based service.
The purpose of a visit to a youth detention facility is to provide members with an opportunity to look at the physical structure, infrastructure, security aspects and accommodation of detention facilities in other states and territories. It also enables members to engage with youth justice staff and operational management to discuss operational matters.
The hosting of face-to-face meetings rotates between jurisdictions.
2023
Meeting 2 – Adelaide, South Australia
The second face-to-face meeting for 2023 will be held in Adelaide in November. The hosting agency will be the Department of Human Services SA and our host will be Alex Reid Executive Director Community and Family Services and AYJA member for SA.
Meeting 1 – Perth, Western Australia
The first face-to-face meeting for 2023 will be held in Perth in May. The hosting agency will be the Department of Justice WA and our host will be Christine Ginbey Deputy Commissioner Women and Young People and AYJA member for WA.
2022
Meeting 2 – Sydney, New South Wales
The second face-to-face meeting was held in Parramatta from 22-24 November. The hosting agency was the Department of Justice and Communities NSW and our host was Paul O’Reilly Executive Director, Youth Justice and AYJA member for NSW. Day one was a joint collaboration with the University of Sydney on campus. A fundamental focus of these sessions was about establishing genuine partnerships, and creating pipelines between universities and youth justice services that would support/encourage university graduates to work in youth justice. Members were also treated to an audience with academic staff undertaking relevant research in the youth justice space.
Speakers:
- Dr Garner Clancey – Associate Professor Criminology University of Sydney
- Professor Maree Teesson – Director, Matilda Centre (Mental Health and Substance Abuse)
- Associate Professor Andrew Campbell – Chair Cyberpsychology Research Group (Mental Health Services)
- Dr Judy Cashmore – Professor of Socio-Legal Research and Policy and Professorial Fellow
- Dr Michael Anderson – Co-Director CREATE Centre (Creativity in Research, Engaging the Arts and Transforming Education, Health and Wellbeing)
Day two was a facility visit to the Cobham Youth Centre located in St Marys and participated in a range of activities with the staff and young people. Highlights were a smoking ceremony performed by the kids and sharing a traditionally cooked Pacific Island lunch (umu) with the Pacific Program kids and staff. It was an amazing experience, particularly spending time with the young people. Day three was meeting proper at the Training Centre finishing the agenda on Teams with AIHW and the Productivity Commission discussing data, research projects and performance indicators.
Thank you, NSW, for hosting a collaborative and productive meeting.
Meeting 1 – Hobart, Tasmania
The first face-to-face meeting for 2022 was held in Hobart from 31 May to 2 June. The hosting agency was the Department of Communities TAS and our host was Pam Honan Director, Youth Custodial Services and AYJA member for TAS. Day one and three were meeting proper with several presentations focused on overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in the youth justice system. This was the first meeting that was attended by the IAG Chair as a new member of AYJA and voice for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Maori Advisory Group. On Day two members did a facility visit to Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Deloraine and met with detention staff.
Thank you Tassie for your warm hospitality. It definitely made up for the cold weather 
2021
Meeting 2 – Auckland, New Zealand
CANCELLED – Due to Covid-19 the meeting will now be undertaken via videoconference on 19 November 2021.
The final face-to-face meeting for 2021 was scheduled to be held in Auckland on 19 November for one day only following AYJC 2021 with Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children hosting. Unfortunately, both AYJC 2021 and the AYJA meeting were held virtually. A large part of the meeting was a post-conference debrief to discuss how members thought the past three days went – highlights, what worked, what could be improved, and also initial decisions for AYJC 2023.
Meeting 1 – Darwin, Northern Territory
After 18-months of virtual meetings AYJA finally met face-to-face in Darwin from 21-23 June. The hosting agency was the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities NT and our host was Chris Simcock Executive Director Youth Justice Operations and AYJA member for the NT.
Due to state travel moratoriums in place at the time WA and VIC were not able to attend in person.
AYJA members did a facility visit of the Don Dale Youth Justice Centre and also visited the new youth justice detention centre building site in Holtze. The following two days were meeting proper with a demanding agenda.
Thank you NT for hosting AYJA in the safest state in the country right now!!
2020
Meeting 2 – Brisbane, Queensland
CANCELLED – Due to Covid-19 the meeting will now be undertaken via videoconference on 18 November 2020.
If feasible, a face-to-face meeting will be held in Brisbane in November/December. The hosting agency will be the Department of Youth Justice QLD and our host will be Bob Gee Director-General, Youth Justice and AYJA member for QLD.
Meeting 1 – Adelaide, South Australia
CANCELLED – Due to Covid-19 the meeting will now be undertaken via videoconference on 6 May 2020.
The first face-to-face meeting was scheduled to be held in Adelaide. The hosting agency would have been the Department of Human Services SA and hosted by Michael Homden Executive Director, Youth Justice and AYJA member for SA. Due to ongoing travel and gathering restrictions in 2020, AYJA now meets virtually, with a substantial amount of out-of-session tasks circulated between meetings to address surplus agenda items. While the virtual platform has become a part of everyday business in the new normal, AYJA looks forward to resuming face-to-face meetings once feasible.
2019
Meeting 2 – Canberra, ACT
The second face-to-face meeting for 2019 was held in Canberra from 20-22 November. The hosting agency was the Community Services Directorate ACT and our host was Jodie Robinson Executive Senior Branch Manager, Child, Youth and Family and AYJA member for the ACT. AYJA’s Detention Centre Management Community of Practice (DCM CoP) joined AYJA at this meeting for their very first face-to-face meeting.
AYJA members and the DCM did a facility visit of the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre and the Melaleuca Trauma Recovery Centre. The following two days were meeting proper with a number of local guest speakers presenting on a range of topical matters. The Minister of Child, Youth and Families Rachel Stephen-Smith also attended the meeting to address AYJA emphasising the importance of approaching youth justice using a strong rehabilitative and cultural lens with a focus on prevention, intervention, diversion and connection to country.
Thank you ACT for hosting both AYJA and the DCM!!
Meeting 1 – Sydney, New South Wales
The first face-to-face meeting for 2019 was held in Sydney on 3 May for one day only following the AYJC 2019. The hosting agency was the Department of Justice NSW and our host was Mel Hawyes Executive Director, Juvenile Justice and AYJA member for NSW. A large part of the meeting was a post-conference debrief to discuss how members thought the past three days went – highlights, what worked, what could be improved for the next conference and also initial decisions for the next Australasian Youth Justice Conference. Watch this space!!
Thank you NSW for hosting and representing AYJA at AYJC 2019!!
2018
Meeting 2 – Darwin, Northern Territory
The second face-to-face meeting for 2018 was held in Darwin from 14-16 November. The hosting agency was Territory Families and our host was Chris Simcock A/Executive Director, Youth Justice and AYJA member for the Northern Territory. AYJA members did a facility visit of Don Dale Youth Detention Centre and Yirra House a bail accommodation facility run by Salt Bush. The following two days were meeting proper. On Day One of the meeting AYJA had a number of local, interstate and international guests present and engage in discussion with members on a range of youth justice matters. David McGuire CEO Diagrama Foundation UK was in the Territory during AYJA’s meeting and agreed to speak with members about the Diagrama model as an alternative to youth detention. Members were also lucky enough to have local Aboriginal NDIS Engagement Officers Danny Curtis and Pauline Green join the meeting to discuss the issues of working in and promoting NDIS in remote communities.
Thank you NT for your warm hospitality!!
Meeting 1 – Christchurch, New Zealand
The first face-to-face meeting for 2018 was held in Christchurch New Zealand. The hosting agency was the newly formed Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children and our host was Allan Boreham Deputy Chief Executive, Youth Justice Services and AYJA member for New Zealand. AYJA members did a facility visit to Te Puna Wai ō Tuhinapo youth justice residence and the Youth Cultural Development Centre that Oranga Tamariki partners with to provide services to young people at risk. The following two days were meeting proper where AYJA members worked through a full agenda.
Thank you NZ … ngā mihi, ngā mihi, ngā mihi nunui kia tātou katoa!!
