There are no plans to establish a TasTAFE campus at Ashley Youth Detention Centre despite a proposal for Risdon being approved by the state government. During budget estimates, it was revealed the state government had approved a TasTAFE facility to be established and operate from Risdon Prison in the south. However, that proposal will not be duplicated for Ashley Youth Detention Centre, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said. Conditions at Ashley Youth Detention Centre have been in the spotlight following the release of an RTI request that detailed the minutes of the Ashley+ working group from a meeting held in February. RELATED STORY: Ashley working group probe issues at youth detention centre The documents released included minutes that stated detainees seem to face "no consequences" for assaulting staff, don't have access to nicotine patches and only have milk to drink. In a meeting on May 23, concerns about staffing consistency in the youth detention centre's school were discussed, with training, leave and external study commitments across the teaching team believed to be the major causes. An Education Department spokesman said Ashley's school was provided at 48 weeks per year and the school employs six full-time equivalent staff. "All students have an individualised education program aligned to the Australian curriculum, which is based on their individual skills," the spokesman said. RELATED STORY: TasTAFE campus to be set up at Risdon Prison "A range of strategies are being considered to further support the education provision at Ashley, including the department's recent allocation of an additional teacher to resource the school." While a TasTAFE campus will not be built to resource Ashley detainees, the spokesman said pre-apprenticeship courses such as automotive, barista, metalwork and plastics, cooking and the school cafe program are in place and are popular with students. The school also offers online learning programs and assists detainees to obtain their driver's licences and also other workplace certificates such as OHS and slips and trips modules.
EDUCATION: School is offered to Ashley Youth Detention Centre detainees for 48 weeks per year, aligned with individual skills and the curriculum. Picture: file
There are no plans to establish a TasTAFE campus at Ashley Youth Detention Centre despite a proposal for Risdon being approved by the state government.
During budget estimates, it was revealed the state government had approved a TasTAFE facility to be established and operate from Risdon Prison in the south.
However, that proposal will not be duplicated for Ashley Youth Detention Centre, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said.
Conditions at Ashley Youth Detention Centre have been in the spotlight following the release of an RTI request that detailed the minutes of the Ashley+ working group from a meeting held in February.
The documents released included minutes that stated detainees seem to face "no consequences" for assaulting staff, don't have access to nicotine patches and only have milk to drink.
In a meeting on May 23, concerns about staffing consistency in the youth detention centre's school were discussed, with training, leave and external study commitments across the teaching team believed to be the major causes.
An Education Department spokesman said Ashley's school was provided at 48 weeks per year and the school employs six full-time equivalent staff.
"All students have an individualised education program aligned to the Australian curriculum, which is based on their individual skills," the spokesman said.
"A range of strategies are being considered to further support the education provision at Ashley, including the department's recent allocation of an additional teacher to resource the school."
While a TasTAFE campus will not be built to resource Ashley detainees, the spokesman said pre-apprenticeship courses such as automotive, barista, metalwork and plastics, cooking and the school cafe program are in place and are popular with students.
The school also offers online learning programs and assists detainees to obtain their driver's licences and also other workplace certificates such as OHS and slips and trips modules.
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