Extended Bimberi lockdowns could lead to more disturbances, public advocate warns

Detainees at the centre continue to face extended lockdown periods after an incident in August.

Jodie Griffiths-Cook said she had raised her concerns with the ACT government about the delay in the detention centre returning to normal after the incident, which has been described as a "riot".

She said she was concerned for detainees' mental and emotional wellbeing under the conditions, which created a discord risk that could increase potential for further incidents.

While the centre met minimum standards for living conditions, detainees spent limited time outside or exercising, she said.

Ms Griffiths-Cook said it was the longest recovery time she had seen since starting her role.

"I have suggested that there is a need to develop a clear plan to avoid this happening again in the future, likening this to the business continuity plans that all government entities have in place to respond to incidents that disrupt standard business operations. I have indicated my willingness to support the development of such a plan," she told the Sunday Canberra Times.

Ms Griffiths-Cook said there were still access limitations for the Murrumbidgee Education and Training Centre program, which detainees attend, despite improvements after the school holidays.

"Only some young people are able to access classroom tuition while others are limited to accessing education via the provision of education packs that they complete independently," she said.

"This is not ideal even though I appreciate the resourcing constraints are contributing to the need for these arrangements."

An ACT government spokeswoman said staff at Bimberi and Murrumbidgee Education and Training Centre had worked to maximise engagement with the program.

"Where it is not possible to attend the classroom, face-to-face education has been provided to young people in their units," she said.

The Canberra Liberals in October said inmates had been spending up to 22 hours a day locked in their cells, unable to patricipate in education and physical activity programs.

An ACT Policing spokesman said the incident at the centre on August 26 was still being investigated and no charges had yet been laid.

A report tabled in the Legislative Assembly last month found staff were attacked with an office computer and an improvised knife during a mass escape attempt.

The incident began when five young people from one unit tried to overpower staff in an attempt to get their keys and escape.

Independent assessor Peter Muir's interim report found one staff member was injured during the incident with an office computer, which was used to attack him.

At least two other staff members were injured with a "sharp, improvised" weapon, while seven were taken to hospital.

Community and Public Sector Union regional secretary Maddy Northam said the union's members had raised work health and safety concerns before and after the August incident.

"The [union] has been seeking to work with the directorate on fixing the work health and safety issues at Bimberi, however management is refusing to provide the [union] with critical information, such as security risk assessments on each young person, which is disappointing," she said.

Ms Northam said the union, which was not interested in private information about detainees, may need to seize the documents from Bimberi using legislative powers available to it.

An ACT government spokeswoman said information about the centre's processes had been shared with the union.

"This has been balanced with the need to ensure young people's right to privacy," she said.

Ms Northam said the union understood the directorate was inducting nine additional staff while more were also being recruited.

A government spokeswoman on Thursday said two Bimberi staff members remained on leave, two were gradually returning to work and one had returned full-time.

"The Community Services Directorate has recently established a rolling recruitment strategy, putting in place processes to recruit new youth workers and staff members," she said.