Key information
- Youth justice services include Community Youth Justice, Ashley Youth Detention Centre and the Youth Justice Reform Project.
- Community Youth Justice delivers community conferences, court support, supervision of court orders in the community and activities that count towards community service hours.
- Custodial services are provided at Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
- Youth justice services work with young people aged 10-17 years at the time of the offence.
- The Youth Justice Act 1997 provides the legislative framework for the administration of youth justice in Tasmania.
Youth Justice Services include Community Youth Justice, Ashley Youth Detention Centre, and the Youth Justice Reform Project.
Community Youth Justice
Community Youth Justice works alongside young people over the course of their court order to reduce their risk of re-offending. Emphasis is placed on encouraging young people who have offended to take responsibility for their actions.
Youth Justice Workers focus on the links between a young person’s beliefs, attitudes and behaviour. They use a skills-oriented, cognitive behavioural approach and active, participatory learning methods. Youth Justice Workers create opportunities for a young person to learn and practise skills such as problem-solving, consequential thinking and effective coping strategies; with the aim of making and sustaining behaviour change.
Youth Justice Workers engage young people in conversations and teach skills in a way that is responsive to the young person’s needs, motivation and learning style; this may be in the car on the way to Centrelink, while walking along the coast picking up rubbish or fishing off the wharf. This is all part of finding appropriate alternatives to offending.
Youth Justice Workers assist a young person’s connection and reconnection to family, community and culture to build a network of support that will endure beyond a young person’s engagement with youth justice.
Community based services such as community conferencing, community service orders and supervision support are provided by three Community Youth Justice Teams. These teams are located in the North West, North and South of the State.
Ashley Youth Detention Centre
The Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC) provides secure care and custody for young people aged 10-17 years who are detained or remanded by the courts.
When young people are in AYDC they are supported by trained Youth Workers, they attend Ashley School, and are supported by Professional Services staff as well as Health staff.
The Ashley Youth Detention Centre is located in the North, near Deloraine.
Youth Justice Reform
The Youth Justice Reform project will see a number of initiatives implemented across a 10 year timeframe through the draft Youth Justice Blueprint 2022 – 2032. Initiatives include the closure of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre and a move to new contemporary therapeutic facilities and model of care.
Detailed information on the project, can be found on the About the youth justice reform in Tasmania page.
Legislative framework
The Youth Justice Act 1997 (the Act) provides the legislative framework for the administration of youth justice in Tasmania. The Act promotes diversion and rehabilitation of a young person where possible.