About youth detention

Detention centres are for young people aged 10–17 who have been refused bail and remanded into custody, or sentenced to spend time in detention for an offence.

There are 2 detention centres in Queensland:

Brisbane Youth Detention Centre

The Brisbane Youth Detention Centre accommodates females from across the state, and males from south of Rockhampton.

Address:

Corner Aveyron and Wolston Park Roads
Wacol

Cleveland Youth Detention Centre

The Cleveland Youth Detention Centre, located in Townsville, accommodates young males from north of Rockhampton.

Address:

Old Common Road
Belgian Gardens
Townsville

Caseworkers

A caseworker is someone who will look after things to do with your sentence or charges while you are in detention—just like a caseworker from a youth justice service centre.

Your caseworker will visit you regularly and keep in contact with your family and solicitor.

If you’re worried about anything or need someone to talk to, your caseworker can help.

Solicitors

You can see or talk to your solicitor who will also be listed on your phone list. If you do not know who your solicitor is, your caseworker (who will look after all your court matters and help you while you are here) can find out for you. Your caseworker will also speak with your solicitor to see if you are able to apply for bail.

Visitors

Your family and friends can visit you in the Visits Centre but they need approval first. To get approval to visit you, your family and friends need to call the Visits Centre at the centre where you are staying and make arrangements to visit.

It is an offence for a visitor to bring prohibited items, like drugs and cigarettes, into the centre. If someone tries to do this, they may not be able to visit you again.

Brisbane Youth Detention Centre

Brisbane Youth Detention Visits Centre—phone (07) 3271 0720.

Special event visits such as birthdays and barbeques are held from 1 to 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. A special visit can also be requested if your visitor is unable to visit during normal visiting hours. These visits must be approved and arranged in advance with our Visits Centre staff.

Visitors unable to visit during normal visiting hours can arrange a special visit, if arranged in advance through the Visits Centre.

If your family live a long distance from the youth detention centre video conferencing equipment is available to assist you to maintain contact with them. Ask your caseworker or visits centre staff how this works.

Visiting times

Monday:

6.00pm–7.15pm

Tuesday:

6.00pm–7.15pm

Wednesday:

12.30pm–2.00pm

Thursday:

6.00pm–7.15pm

Friday:

6.00pm–7.15pm

Saturday:

11.30am–1.00pm

2.30pm–3.45pm

Sunday:

11.30am–1.00pm

2.00pm–3.45pm

Cleveland Youth Detention Centre

Cleveland Youth Detention Centre Visits Centre—phone (07) 4729 9075.

Special events such as birthdays and barbeques can also be arranged and special visits can be arranged if your visitor is unable to visit during normal visiting hours.

If your family live a long distance from the youth detention centre video conferencing equipment is available to assist you to maintain contact with them. Ask your caseworker or visits centre staff how this works.

Visiting times

Monday:

3.30pm–5.00pm

6.30pm–8.00pm

Tuesday:

10.00am–12.00pm

1.30pm–4.00pm

Wednesday:

10.00am–12.00pm

1.30pm–4.00pm

Thursday:

3.30pm–5.00pm

6.30pm–8.00pm

Friday:

3.30pm–5.00pm

6.30pm–8.00pm

Saturday:

2.00pm–5.00pm

Sunday:

2.00pm–5.00pm

Phone calls

You can make phone calls to your family and friends as long as they’ve been approved for you to speak with. You get 90 minutes of call time each week to talk with your family and friends. You’ll need to call them as they’re not allowed to call you.

You will be given a phone list and PIN number­—do not share your PIN number with anyone.

Letters

You can send and receive as many letters as you like. All letters are checked except for letters from your solicitor.

On the front of the envelope, make sure you write the full name and address of the person you’re sending the letter to. Also write your full name on the back of the envelope. Put your letter in the envelope but do not seal the envelope. Someone will need to check the letter before it is sent.

If friends and family want to write to you they can send your mail to the centre you are staying at:

Brisbane Youth Detention Centre

Postal address:

PO Box 517
Sumner Park Qld 4074

Cleveland Youth Detention Centre

Postal address:

Old Common Road
Belgian Gardens Qld 4810

Doctors

The detention centre has a health centre with nurses available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you’re sick they will look after you. Doctors also visit the centre every day.

If you’re sick tell your youth worker or the nurse. The nurse will visit your section every day—if you need to go to the health centre, a youth worker will take you.

If you use drugs (sniffing, yandi, alcohol) or need counselling, we will put your name down to see a drug and alcohol worker. The nurse will ask you if you need blood tests to make sure you stay healthy.

If you need to, you can also see a:

• dentist (toothache)
• optometrist (if you need glasses)
• dietician (for special diet needs)
• Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Service clinic (for counselling)
• sexual health clinics (for men’s and women’s business)
• immunisation clinic (for needles to prevent some illnesses)
• hearing clinic (if you are having trouble hearing)
• chaplain (if you are a member of a church, or want spiritual or religious guidance).

My stuff

Everything you had when you came to detention, like your clothes and belongings, are kept in a storage area. You’ll get all your belongings back when you leave the centre.

While you are at the centre you are given clothes, shoes and other items you need. It’s important you look after these.