Dr WOODRUFF - Premier, recommendation 12.20, paragraph (c) says that:
Children and young people in detention should have daily access to an onsite child and adolescent psychologist and fortnightly access to an onsite child and adolescent psychiatrist.
What's the time frame to provide children with that specific amount? You surely can't mean that you're intending to withhold care on that particular matter - that particular deliverable - until 2029 for children in Ashley?
Mr ROCKLIFF - The Department of Health through the Correctional Primary Health Service provides primary health services to children and young people in detention. This includes Ashley. I am advised that children and young people have access to 24/7 medical care through a nurse available 10 hours per day and on call the remaining 14 hours. General practice clinics are held weekly at Ashley Youth Detention Centre, approximately 2.5 hours a week.
Children and young people in detention have access to a psychiatrist one day per month, I am advised. Under the new proposed youth justice model, as has been alluded to, Correctional Primary Health Services seeks to expand its existing model to provide in-reach services to a southern detention centre, two assisted bail facilities, one in the north and one in the south, and two supportive facilities in the north and the north west. This will see expansion of the current work force to include 1.5 FTE career medical officers, 3 FTE registered nurses for the south and 3 FTE registered nurses for the north and north west. An expanded service will also be supported by four administrative staff.
The commission's suggested a reform time frame in terms of the short-term delivery by next year, 1 July, but we will work through those matters. Perhaps Professor McDermott can put -
Prof McDERMOTT - Under the CAMHS reform we hope to have the psychiatrist in place by February next year.
Dr WOODRUFF - As a fortnightly psychiatrist available for children in Ashley?
Prof McDERMOTT - As a full-time employee in Tasmania who's committed to travel. I would have thought that travel would be at least fortnightly at Ashley.
Dr WOODRUFF - That is what the recommendation is for. So, you're saying a commitment to fortnightly visits at Ashley.
Prof McDERMOTT - Yes, by February if that person accepts the job. We will advertise next week. I have seen the statement of duties this morning, a 0.5 dedicated psychologists for Ashley.
Dr WOODRUFF - So, 0.5 daily? Will that person be there every day?
Prof MCDERMOTT - They'll be there 20 hours a week.
Dr WOODRUFF - I think it was the daily nature of the fact, not skipping days, the fact that if there is an incident then young people would need to be followed up on a very regular basis.
Prof McDERMOTT - That person will work very closely with other existing nursing staff and medical staff and the other resources that the Premier has mentioned.
Dr WOODRUFF - Thank you, that is encouraging. In relation to what the Premier read out about the access to mental and physical health assessment, recommendation 12.21, and access to 24/7 medical care, Premier, what you've just read out is what the commission of inquiry knows already exists. That is the current situation. What you've said you're doing is not fulfilling their recommendation. Their recommendation is for something different to what's happening now. They know that's the situation. In their view, it's not good enough. In their view, implementing the recommendations properly according to the commission's report would mean 24/7 medical care and mental and physical health assessment on admission and when needed while in detention.
Mr WEBSTER - On admission is achievable with the resources that are there at the moment. As the Premier outlined, there is the plan to increase the resources to match the recommendation of the commission. Obviously, the 2029 timeline is because that's the timeline for the whole network of the youth justice system to be rolled out-
Dr WOODRUFF - So 2026 is the timeline for the deadline for that particular part of it?
Mr WEBSTER - Sorry, 2029, because we can't provide the resources to buildings that aren't currently there, but 2026 is our outer limit of providing all of these services and having them in place. As Professor McDermott said and I've said, we've started the recruitment process to fill jobs, to build our workforce to do this. Recruiting to Deloraine isn't easy -
Dr WOODRUFF - Get them out of there, it might be easier.
CHAIR - The time for scrutiny has expired. The next portfolio for scrutiny is Health. That will commence at 1.30 p.m. this afternoon.
