Routine in detention

Youths are busy most of the day in the detention centre. They follow a routine that includes going to school at the centre, as well as taking part in programs and activities.

The detention centre supplies the youth with clothes, shoes, and everything else they need. When they arrive at the centre, we take all their personal belongings and store them until they are released (except for dangerous items).

The youth is allowed to keep family photographs in their room. Family members and friends can also send some to them.

Read our youth detention centre - daily routine to learn more about what daily routines a youth may undertake during their time in detention.

Sleeping

The centre has several accommodation units. Each has:

a kitchen
a lounge and dining room
a quiet area
an outdoor area
multiple youths' bedrooms.

Each youth's room has a bed, toilet, shower, desk and shelf. We supply sheets, blankets, a pillow and toiletries.

Each youth is safe in their secure room. There are times during the day and night when they will be locked in their room. When a youth is locked in their room (including overnight), we check on them every 15 minutes.

Food

In detention, a youth gets breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as morning and afternoon tea each day.

Dieticians review menus with a focus on the needs of youths to make sure they offer appropriate nutrition and variety.

Kitchen staff at the detention centre cook most of the meals on site. Kitchen staff can cater for health, cultural, or religious dietary needs. A youth should tell staff about these when they enter the centre.

School

Each youth attends school at the detention centre from Monday to Friday during school terms.

The school can also offer vocational courses through TAFE.

Other programs and activities

On weekends and outside of school hours, the youth detention centre holds other programs and activities, such as art, music, Indigenous dance and sport.

During NAIDOC Week, the centre celebrates the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.