Thursday, 12 September 2024

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:49): I rise to update the house on my recent visit to the Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precinct. Last week I had the pleasure of attending the quarterly rewards and recognition event, a ceremony to celebrate the dedication and outstanding contributions of our hardworking youth justice staff. The event, now in its second year, is an integral part of fostering a culture of recognition and appreciation within our youth justice system. I was honoured to meet many of the dedicated staff, who work tirelessly to support the young people in their care every day. The ceremony recognised outstanding achievements across three categories: the centre excellence award, the safety award and the directors award. These awards recognise individuals who have gone above and beyond in their roles to deliver positive outcomes for young people in custody as well as making their workplaces safer and more effective for all. I had the privilege of presenting certificates to the winners and hearing their stories. I was particularly impressed by the peer support initiatives that have been embedded into the workplace at Cherry Creek.

Youth justice work can be extremely fulfilling but it can also be challenging. It is fantastic to see our staff supporting one another in this important work alongside the structured health and wellbeing supports that are available. Our youth justice staff are not only providing daily care and guidance, they are making a difference by giving young people the best opportunity to turn their lives around and make a positive contribution to our society, because we know that working with these young people to change their behaviours is the key to keeping us all safe. I again want to congratulate the award recipients and extend my thanks to all the staff at Cherry Creek for their unwavering commitment to making Victorians safer now and into the future.