New South Wales Government
Department of Juvenile Justice

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1. Home
2. About us
3. Information for families
4. My child has been sent to a juvenile justice centre

About us

Information for families

My child has been sent to a juvenile justice centre

When the court places your child on a control order or the child is remanded in custody they will be sent to a juvenile justice centre. Centres are in metropolitan Sydney (Campbelltown, Lidcombe, St Marys), the Central Coast, Wollongong (Unanderra) and in Broken Hill, Dubbo, Grafton and Wagga Wagga.

Family visits to your child in detention are encouraged. After going into a centre your child will be classified to help decide which centre is most suitable to hold them. Where applicable the child is placed in a centre close to their family home or family members.

What centre will my child be placed at...

• Young women are placed on a program at Juniperina Juvenile Justice Centre at Lidcombe. Other centres may hold young women for short periods while they await transfer to Juniperina.

• Most young males under 16 on custodial orders are placed at Reiby Juvenile Justice Centre (at Airds near Campbelltown) where programs suit younger offenders.

• Most males 16 years or over will go to Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre, near Gosford, or a regional centre located at Dubbo, Wagga Wagga or Grafton.

• Juveniles facing very serious charges are placed at Kariong Juvenile Correctional Centre. This centre is run by the Department of Corrective Services.

• Cobham Juvenile Justice Centre (at St Marys) is where most Sydney based young men on remand go.

• small short-term detention facility at Broken Hill is generally used only for juvenile offenders on remand.

On arrival at a juvenile justice centre your child will have...

• Their rights and the rules at the centre explained.

• Personal property recorded and stored - to be returned on leaving the centre.

• The right to telephone you, other relatives or other caregivers.

Some of the programs your child will be involved with include...

• Education
  All juveniles under 16 are required by law to attend school classes and those 16 years and over can apply to attend. All standards of education are catered for - from basic literacy and remedial learning, to school certificate, higher school certificate and tertiary studies. These schools are run by the Department of Education.

• Vocational Training
  A wide range of training is available to provide detainees with work skills and increase job options. All centres have vocational instructors.

• NSW Justice Health Services
  The NSW Justice Health Service provides medical services for young people in detention through clinics in each juvenile justice centre.
  For further information on NSW Justice Health services in juvenile justice centres contact the nurse at the centre your child is at.