Support programs

Programs and supports to help change behaviour

In youth detention centres, we have programs and supports to help young people change their behaviour and make better choices.

When a young person arrives at the youth detention centre, we will assess them. This helps us to identify which programs may help the young person, and we can tailor our support for that young person.

Programs are designed at a level that matches the young person’s:

• age
• experience
• cognitive development
• social and emotional development
• educational background

This happens for all young people whether they have been sentenced to a detention order or are on remand.

Who runs the programs

The staff who run these programs include:

• psychologists
• speech-language pathologists
• caseworkers
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program officers
• program officers

Types of programs

We run our programs and services in line with trauma-informed practice principles.

Aggression replacement training

Aggression replacement training (ART) helps young people to deal with their anger and aggression. ART includes learning appropriate ways to respond to situations, how to keep control and calm down, and how to think about what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes.

Black chicks talking

Black chicks talking (BCT) is a cultural program for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young women. It supports cultural connections to community and identity and explores cultural histories through storytelling and yarning circles.

Changing habits and reaching targets

Changing habits and reaching targets (CHART) aims to reduce the risk of reoffending. It includes units on problem-solving, lifestyle balance, healthy relationships, and motivation to change.

Emotional regulation and impulse control

Emotional regulation and impulse control (ERIC) looks at underlying issues that young people have with emotional regulation and impulse control instead of targeting each mental health, justice or substance use issue separately. It includes skills and processes to manage emotions, urges and decision-making.

Men’s project

Men’s project is an evidence-informed program for young men aged 16+ years old who have shown domestic and family violence behaviours or are at significant risk of this. The program explores violence-based beliefs through conversation to allow the opportunity for growth. Staff help young men to unpack the complexities that relationships bring and allow them to explore skills and experiences to make alternative choices through critical reflection.

Re-navigating anger and guilty emotions

Re-navigating anger and guilty emotions (RAGE) is an anger management program. It is a strengths-based programs that is hands on and practical. It helps young people learn about anger including triggers, the cycle of anger, healthy expressions of anger, and the importance of relaxation, exercise and diet on their state of mind and emotions.

Re-thinking our attitude towards driving

Re-thinking our attitude towards driving (ROAD) is a program targeted at young people with motor vehicle offences, or at risk of becoming involved with motor vehicle offences. It identifies and explores motivations behind unsafe motor vehicle behaviours and challenges thoughts and behaviours associated with them. It also helps increase young people’s empathy for victims.

Supports

A young person will work with their caseworker and our psychologists to identify goals.

We will help a young person with evidence-based psychological interventions to address underlying issues behind their behaviours and substance use. We will use a variety of types of therapy to do this.

More information

• Read more about mental health support in detention.
• Learn who else is here to help young people in detention.