A focus on security over education in Victoria's youth detention centres is hurting detainees' chances of rehabilitation.
That's the finding from an auditor-general's report into the cases of 40 young people in youth detention between January and June last year.
The audit found inadequate facilities and case management, and a focus on security which impaired access to education and health services.
"Young people in detention have not been receiving the rehabilitation services they are entitled to and that are necessary to meet their needs," the report released on Wednesday said.
"As a result, youth detention has not been effectively promoting reduced reoffending."
At any time in Victoria, there are about 200 children and young people aged between 10 and 24 across the Parkville and Malmsbury youth detention centres. Aboriginal youth are over-represented.
Of the cases examined, 19 young people who needed a management plan did not have one, something the justice department partly blamed on an "unstable custodial environment" at the time.
The auditor-general's report also found there was a lack of justice department staff available to escort youths to or supervise them during counselling sessions.
Health assessments of new detainees were not always completed or accurately recorded, while Parkville College also suffered from inadequate record keeping.
Between 2013 and 2016, the college's budget was insufficient, something acknowledged by the education department.
Funding improved over the following two years, with Parkville College receiving $16.47 million in 2018.
But the school has a 66 per cent student absence rate, and women and girls do not have equal access to education, according to the report.
Justice department requirements that young women do not pass the boys' unit - as it causes distractions and security issues, which means they cannot access hospitality, engineering and woodworking facilities.
Students are also not allowed to access the internet for schooling purposes, meaning they "miss out on important educational resources and life skills".
However, the report stressed the Department of Justice and Regulation had implemented significant changes since the audit to help improve young people's access to services and boost rehabilitation.
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