Cultural Support for Aboriginal Youth in Detention.

July 2025

Cultural supports for Aboriginal Youth are vitally important for those held in detention.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service (TALS) provides legal assistance and justice supports that are culturally safe as part of its core services and works closely with and alongside the many local Aboriginal community groups, services and individuals across the state to collaboratively and holistically support youth.

This NAIDOC Week, with the support of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC), Aboriginal Youth and all youth held in detention were able to celebrate and engage in culturally safe activities as part of NAIDOC Week.

For Aboriginal Youth, the opportunity to engage in activities whilst in detention, means that connection to culture is maintained.

"It also provides the opportunity for reflection on experiences with families, community and others at a time of great importance to the Aboriginal community,” Mr Smith said.

For non-aboriginal youth in detention, it provides a shared experience, education and understanding.

This year’s NAIDOC was a particularly important year, recognising 50 years and the theme was: “The next generation - strength, vision and legacy.”

This theme sparked conversation, creativity, and deep reflection among the youth at AYDC.
Art and music have long been part of Aboriginal culture - ways of storytelling, sharing knowledge, and healing.

TALS engaged renowned pakana artist DENNI who co-delivered the NAIDOC activities using art and music as tools for connection and healing.

Reflecting on the experience, DENNI commented: “Being able to share these practices with the young people at AYDC was an honour and a responsibility I carry with pride.”

One of the activities, working alongside the youth and DENNI was to collaboratively write and record a song, which was sparked by a simple but powerful idea: "I’m here to make an impact, but it's been heavy."

This line reflected the weight many of these young people carry and the importance of providing space, support, and strong pathways for them to step into their full potential, along with the courage it takes to share one’s truth and story.

The song was recorded in AYDC and is currently in production. Recording of the song will be provided to the youth and with their consent shared more broadly.

Regular visits to AYDC to support Aboriginal youth in detention is more broad than simply providing legal assistance and justice supports, these interactions also aid in reducing the disconnection from culture.

We want youth, in contact with the justice system, to not return to it, to have every opportunity to live healthy and meaningful lives with their families, friends and in community.

Doing what we can to ensure Aboriginal youth are not disconnected from culture is one part of that.

The success of this event is yet another example of how local Tasmanian Aboriginal organisations, working with Tasmanian Aboriginal people and communities, supported by the Tasmanian Government can provide meaningful experiences to support Aboriginal youth in contact with the justice system.

Jake Smith, Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service CEO