Beyond YJS (Youth Justice Service): Holistic Service Provision and Innovative Practice – The Journey so far

Centrecare Incorporated (lead agency), Wungening Aboriginal Corporation and UnitingCare West have established a formal legal partnership for youth justice services in rehabilitation and emotional wellbeing in the metropolitan region including Banksia Hill Detention Centre (BHDC). This service reaches up to 120 young people and their families in community at any given time and the provision of counselling and groups to young people detained in BHDC. We provide: Uniform governance and systems development. Considerable experience as organisations in outcomes frameworks and their implementation. Significant experience in the design, delivery and management of services that address complex social issues. Best practice in youth service provision. Culturally secure service delivery. The same service practice and service delivery from all three agencies as a fully integrated approach including same assessments, support and access to all added value service options from the partnering agencies. Uniform client recording data base. The BeyondYJS provides a through care service model, which is a co-ordinated and integrated approach to case managing young people who intersect with the Department of Justice - from their first point of contact to the completion of their order and/or their transition back into the community. This provides continuity of support and more seamless service delivery for the young person and their family and is a recognised model in reducing recidivism. A key component of the through-care is receiving support from the same workers and/or team. There have been many learnings we would like to share about our journey with young people and each other.

Leanne Strommen

Centrecare Incorporated
Executive Manager

Leanne is a mother of three children and comes from Geraldton Western Australia. Leanne currently manages a wide range of Centrecare’s programs including Justice Services (ReSet), Youth Justice Services (BeyondYJS), housing and homelessness services such as Entrypoint Perth, Family Accommodation Services and housing support worker services along with two Child and Parent Centres,a Family Support Network, Intensive Family Support Services, settlement services and children’s outreach counselling services. Leanne holds the following qualifications:
• Bachelor of Social Work
• Advanced Certificate in Human Services (Disabilities)
• Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Housing Management and Policy
Leanne has diverse experience in the social services sector, including tenancy support services in social housing, Family Support Networks, intensive family support services, humanitarian settlement programs, adult justice programs, youth justice services, homelessness programs, domestic violence programs, out of home care for Aboriginal children, Aboriginal specific outreach services, victim support services, substance abuse services, general counselling, substance abuse services and general outreach services. All of these services have target groups with challenging behaviours. Leanne was also employed by the Disability Services Commission as a social trainer for five years prior to her commencement at Centrecare. She has worked for Centrecare for over 25 years in senior management positions and has developed a strong understanding of the local needs of the community and effective responses. She is responsible for staffing, service delivery including practice models and approaches, and staff professional development. Leanne reports directly to the General Manager and is based in Gosnells and Cannington.

Daniel Morrison

Wungening Aboriginal Corporation
Chief Executive Officer

Daniel Morrison (40) is a Noongar/Yamitji man from Perth Western Australia. He’s a family man with a partner and two children. Daniel is the Chief Executive Officer at Wungening Aboriginal Corporation based in Perth. During the past nine years Daniel has provided strong leadership as Wungening CEO to significantly improving governance, staff retention rates, compliance and reputation across the human services sector. The respect Wungening has gained within the Aboriginal community, the community services and government sectors, is evidenced through our increased service footprint and massive growth of annual revenue from $1.8 to $20.4 million (2010 – 2019). Daniel has grown significantly the workforce from 22 to 180 staff, including 70% Aboriginal staff. Wungening has received recognition through various sector awards namely; • June 2016 he won the NAIDOC Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition for his contribution to the development and empowerment of Perth’s Aboriginal communities over a five year period. The recipient has to have demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and cultural integrity. • More recently in 2018 he was a winner of 40 under 40 awarded by WA Business News. By growing the organisation, expanding its focus and access Wungening has increased choices for Aboriginal people. Originally an alcohol and drug counselling service, Wungening has built a solid foundation, getting stakeholders on board and securing diverse funding to deliver new service areas – youth/adult justice, child protection and a new service model for Wungening refuge for women and children escaping family violence; and early intervention for children and families.

Jennifer Snell

UnitingCare West
Practice Lead Justice Services

Jennifer has been leading UnitingCare Wests Justice Services for the past six years. She is a tertiary qualified counsellor and has extensive experience in designing, developing, implementing and managing services in both metropolitan and regional settings. With a family of brothers and sons, Jennifer has a particular interest in our society’s notions of masculinity and its effect on individuals and our community. The focus of her clinical work has been around this and she has worked in and managed both voluntary and mandated Family and Domestic Violence programs, facilitated men’s groups and developed and presented community education programmes on related topics. She is a strong advocate for the rights of victims of crime and understands that to effect real change, support for that change agent needs to be provided at the source of the issue, which is offender behaviour.

Jennifer is passionate about developing and providing programmes that promote accountability and responsibility as catalysts for change. She believes that engaged programme participants who are supported with respect, transparency and positive regard, whilst also being held accountable for their own actions, have the capacity to change and this in turn changes our community.