Dr WOODRUFF - I want to clarify whether you're on the same page as the commission in relation to recommendation 16.17 on page 170: the recommendation after a conviction to ensure that preventive programs for adults who are at risk of abusing, or have abused children, are available beyond the custodial setting.
Your response says there's further scoping activities being done to determine the best approach to managing 'community-based sex offender treatment', but the commission's recommendation specifically calls for preventive programs for adults who are at risk of abusing, as well as those who have abused. It's not just about offenders. It's about people who are identified as being at risk of offending. Can you clarify what you specifically mean about scoping activities? You said further scoping activities are required to determine the best approach. To me that doesn't read as a commitment to providing what the commission has recommended.
Mr BARNETT - Thank you very much. We support the recommendation and we take it seriously. The actions to progress this have actually commenced, but I think it's best for the deputy to respond to your question, which is quite detailed.
Ms BOURNE - The recommendation implementation has commenced, so Community Corrections has received funding under the third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan to appoint a complex and high-risk offender specialist within the team, which is fantastic. That position was filled earlier this year and provides intervention between a number of high-risk sexual offenders who aren't otherwise able to access treatment in the community and that has traditionally been a gap in service delivery.
Dr WOODRUFF - Important.
Ms BOURNE - There's certainly more work to be undertaken by the agency with regard to further preventative programs. Certainly, the filling of that position has been a very important first step to try to address conduct that may otherwise draw individuals into the justice system.
Dr WOODRUFF - Thank you, that confirms my reading of your response that you're not focusing on the moment on the implementation of the full recommendation, which is about the people who aren't high-risk offenders because they haven't offended yet. Will you be engaging not with Community Corrections, who can only deal with people who have offended, but with the sexual violence sector and other many other organisations such as TasCOSS, to get their advice on how to develop and fund programs to prevent abuse, which is the recommendation?
Ms WEBSTER - I think the answer is yes; you're absolutely right, Community Corrections can only take on those offenders that have been sentenced, of course, but their knowledge around potential risk factors and the expertise in that area can be used to advance that second part of that project.
Dr WOODRUFF - Would you see yourself as providing in your schedule of activities, which I understand all agencies are going to be providing now that the Premier committed to that yesterday, quarterly updates and a plan over the next period of time about the actions for each agency? Could we expect to see something in there about formally engaging with the community services sector and other relevant sexual violence sectors about that particular part of this recommendation?
Ms WEBSTER - Yes.
Dr WOODRUFF - Great; thank you.
