In May 2011, Banksia Hill was the subject of a major infrastructure redevelopment program to enable it to accommodate all young detainees upon the conversion of Rangeview Remand Centre into a Young Adult Facility. Associated with the redevelopment was a program to reform youth custodial services, its operating philosophy and its service model. The redevelopment project engaged staff, young people, their families and various other stakeholders in developing these reforms.
The Inspector recognised that youth custodial management and staff were therefore fully committed throughout 2011 to the twin tasks of caring for the young people accommodated at Banksia Hill and progressing the redevelopment of the Centre and its associated reforms. It was noted that findings or recommendations of a report from this inspection would not coincide with the decision-making relating to the reform process. It was recognised that the Inspectorate had other mechanisms to contribute to these reforms and had already been engaging with Youth Justice Services to that end.
While the Inspector was legally obliged to inspect Banksia Hill in 2011, it was decided to minimise the impact of this inspection by reducing its scope. Its main focus was the care and well-being of detainees at a time when the building program has impacted on their amenities, and the attention of managers was having to be shared with the reform program. It was intended that a full inspection be conducted some time after it commenced operation as the single detention facility for all youth in WA, likely between July 2012 and June 2013.
It was determined that meetings and interviews with staff and management would be minimised, with surveys and interviews with youth, observation and desktop analysis the key methodologies. Additionally, a parallel audit was conducted on regression and behaviour management, an issue identified beforehand as an area of concern.