QADREC SEMINAR: Monday March 11th 1pm-2pm – What impact do mental health, substance use, health status, and forensic history have on patterns of detention for Indigenous Youth?

QADREC is pleased to invite you to a seminar on Monday March 11th. There is no cost and all are welcome.

Title

What impact do mental health, substance use, health status, and forensic history have on patterns of detention for Indigenous Youth?

Seminar Overview

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth in Australia are detained at higher rates compared to their non-Indigenous counter-parts. Studies also show that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are at a much higher risk of progressing to adult corrections. A number of explanations have been presented to explain the cause of this over-representation, ranging from the over-policing of Indigenous communities, cultural practices relating to the rearing of Indigenous youth, criminal justice labelling of Indigenous youth as deviant and the public nature of Indigenous offending.

There is now considerable evidence to suggest that certain risk factors, such as low social economic status, a history of child abuse and neglect, undiagnosed mental illness, substance use and loss of culture are some of the predictors of increased contact with the Youth Justice system.

Three papers will be presented each examining the role of these risk factors in the over-representation of Indigenous youth in the youth justice system and youth detention.

Presenter: Ivan Doolan

Ivan is a Social Worker with over 16 years’ experience working with young people with severe and complex mental health issues. For the past 10 years, he has worked with young people detained in the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre who present with co-morbid mental health and substance use issues.

Ivan has a number of research interest areas, one of which is the over-representation of Indigenous youth in youth detention and the outcome of their detainment. The current focus of his research is on the factors that have been posited in the literature as leading to this over-representation.

Venue: Room 113, School of Population Health, Level 1 Public Health Building,

Herston Road, Herston

Time: 1pm to 2pm

Date: Monday 11th March

This session is not recorded.