Parkville Youth Residential Centre Indigenous Garden Project/Program

• NCJ Number: 194161
• Author(s): Veronica Hunt
• Date Published: October 2001
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: This paper was presented at the Best Practice Interventions in Corrections for Indigenous People Conference held in October 2001; see NCJ-194157-160 and 194162 for supporting papers. Downloaded 02/05/2002

Annotation

This paper describes the Indigenous Garden project established at the Parkville Youth Residential Center (YRC) in Parkville, Victoria for Indigenous children and young people in custody creating a culturally distinct environment for the community while reducing youth offending.

Abstract

To build effective links with Indigenous communities and create a more culturally sensitive custodial environment for this overrepresented group, the Indigenous Garden project was established in 1998 at Parkville Youth Residential Center (YRC) in Parkville, Victoria. The Parkville YRC provides custodial care to boys and girls, aged 10 to 14 and young women, aged 15 to 21 under Victoria’s juvenile justice system. This paper provides an overview of the Indigenous Garden project, as well as other associated programs. The project was established on land owned by the Wurrundjeri people, who have supported and encouraged the project. The project’s mission is to provide an educational and personal development resource for the whole community focusing on reducing youth offending. This mission would be achieved through the creation of an Indigenous environment. The project consists of seven goals emphasizing the rehabilitation of Indigenous children and young people in custody. All Indigenous specific programs attempt to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth in custody closer to their communities, culture, and traditions. The Whitelion program focusing on mentoring and role modeling became an auspice to the Indigenous Garden project in 2000. Whitelion contributed to the project by offering youth the benefit of an already existing mentoring, role modeling and employment program. Cost-related information is presented on existing funds available and funds needed for maintaining the Indigenous Garden project.