Rehabilitation for youth in detention

Part of the Sentences for youth offenders topic

Understand how rehabilitation in youth detention helps youth change behaviour and make better choices.

In short

In youth detention centres rune programs and support to help rehabilitate your child, change their behaviour and make better choices.

This is for all youth in detention, sentenced or on remand.

When your child arrives at the centre

Your child will be assessed when they arrive at a youth detention centre. This helps identify which programs may help your child. It also helps us tailor support for your child.

We consider your child’s:

age
gender
cognitive development
social and emotional development
educational background
cultural needs.

We also consider what may have caused their offending behaviour. We run our programs and services in line with trauma-informed practice principles.

Aggression replacement training

Aggression replacement training helps your child to develop skills to manage strong emotions, respond safely to conflict and consider other people’s perspectives. The program supports them to practice safer ways to respond to challenging situations. This includes strategies to pause, calm down and make considered decisions. It also helps them build empathy by considering how their actions may impact on others.

See the Aggression replacement training program on the Department of Youth Justice and Victims website.

Black chicks talking

Black chicks talking is a cultural program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women. It supports your child’s connections to culture, community and identity. The program also explores cultural histories through storytelling and yarning circles.

See the Black chicks talking program on the Department of Youth Justice and Victims website.

Changing habits and reaching targets

Changing habits and reaching targets helps your child make changes to offending thinking and behaviour. It supports them to build skills that may reduce further contact with the youth justice system. It includes units on:

problem-solving
lifestyle balance
healthy relationships
motivation to change.

See the Changing habits and reaching targets program on the Department of Youth Justice and Victims website.

Emotional regulation and impulse control

Emotional regulation and impulse helps your child understand emotion, urges and decision-making, and practice strategies to manage them safely.

See the Emotional regulation and impulse program on the Department of Youth Justice and Victims website.

Men’s project

Men’s project is an evidence-informed program. It is for young men who have shown domestic and family violence behaviours or are at significant risk of this. They must be 16 years and over. It talks through violence-based beliefs to allow your child the opportunity for growth.

Re-thinking our attitude towards driving

Re-thinking our attitude towards driving is for youth who have committed motor vehicle offences, or who may be at risk of unsafe driving behaviour. It explores the reasons behind unsafe motor vehicle behaviours and supports your child to recognise and change risky patterns. It also supports them to understand the impact unsafe driving can have on:

victims
families
the wider community.

See the Re-thinking our attitude towards driving program on the Department of Youth Justice and Victims website.

Staying on track

Staying on track takes a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation. It addresses not just a youth’s criminal behaviour, but their broader social, emotional, practical and cultural needs. Your child will work with a mentor while they are at the youth detention centre. The mentor will provide wraparound support to your child and your family while your child is in detention. They will help with their transition back to the community.

See the Staying on track program on the Department of Youth Justice and Victims website.

Behaviour support

Youth detention staff will help your child to take responsibility for their actions and develop positive behaviours. Staff use a relational approach to foster respect, role modelling and accountability for your child.

We develop tailored behaviour support plans to encourage meaningful and lasting change.

When your child demonstrates positive behaviour, they can earn access to rewards and incentives like special activities.

If your child has bad behaviour in the detention centre, they will lose points and privileges. They may also have to do restorative activities, such as cleaning up graffiti they have done.

Last updated:: 14 July 2026