Key Points about Diagrama (and Contrasts to the Australian System):

1. Therapeutic Environment and Perceived Safety:
   • Kate's immediate impression upon entering a Diagrama facility was a feeling of safety, despite seeing what would be considered "risky" activities in an Australian context (young people using power tools, access to gym equipment).
   • She emphasises the feeling of difference, that the young people are being "cared for as children."
2. Focus on Earning Trust and Gradual Reintegration:
   • Young people in Diagrama work towards something valuable to them, earning increased responsibility and privileges through demonstrating positive behaviour.
   • This includes a gradual loosening of rules and increasing opportunities to engage with the community.  This is a core principle of the Diagrama model.
   • She observed young men leaving the facility for work placements, demonstrating the trust placed in them.
3. Preparation for Life Outside:
   • The anecdote about the young man who had a family weekend highlights Diagrama's focus on real-world experiences and addressing challenges while still in the program.
   • The young man's reflection on his fight with his father and his proactive steps (booking counselling sessions) demonstrate the therapeutic, problem-solving approach.
   • This contrasts sharply with a short-term risk-aversion approach, emphasising the long-term gain of allowing controlled "risks" to prepare for life outside.
4. Connection to Community and Family:
   • Diagrama actively maintains and builds community connections, including family involvement.  This is presented as crucial for successful reintegration.
   • The family weekend example demonstrates the importance of family relationships in the rehabilitation process.
5. Low Reoffending Rates:
   • Kate explicitly states that Diagrama has "unbelievable" reoffending rates, the "best in the world."  This is attributed to the preparation for life outside and community connections.
6. Adaptability to the Australian Context:
   • Kate acknowledges that direct replication of models from other countries isn't always feasible.
   • She suggests identifying the common elements of successful models (gradual reintegration, community involvement, family involvement) and adapting them.
   • She advocates for piloting the Diagrama approach in Australia, starting small and evaluating its effectiveness.
   • She stresses the importance of involving young people with lived experience, Aboriginal elders, community members, and youth justice workers in the adaptation process.

Broader Points about Youth Justice Reform (Informed by her Diagrama Experience):

7. Prevention and Early Intervention:
   • Kate strongly emphasises the importance of prevention and early intervention, contrasting Australia's focus on tertiary systems (mental health, youth justice, child protection) with countries that prioritise early support for families.
   • She connects this to the story of the young man in a Queensland detention center, illustrating how early childhood trauma and lack of support led to his involvement in the justice system.  This is a powerful personal anecdote supporting the need for early intervention.
   • She links voice of the young person with research.
8. Importance of Belonging, Connection, and Identity:
   • Kate highlights the role of belonging and connection in preventing youth crime, drawing on her research on gangs.
   • She emphasizes the importance of a solid sense of identity, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other marginalised groups.
9. Focus on Healing and Support:
   • Kate argues that the goal of youth justice should be to heal and support young people to live their best lives, leading to fewer victims and contributing members of society.
   • She contrasts this with a purely punitive approach.
10. Shared Goal of Reducing Victimisation:
    • Kate makes the crucial point that everyone, regardless of their perspective on youth justice, shares the goal of reducing the number of victims. This reframes the debate and finds common ground.

In summary, Kate Bjur's testimony provides a powerful, firsthand account of the Diagrama model's key principles and its potential for transforming youth justice in Australia. She emphasises the therapeutic environment, gradual reintegration, community connection, and the importance of addressing the root causes of youth crime through prevention and early intervention. Her personal experiences and the anecdote of the young man in detention provide compelling emotional weight to her arguments.

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