Adelaide Youth Training Centre - Kurlana Tapa

This 'Charter of Rights for Children and Young People Detained in Training Centres' tells you what you can expect during your time in the Adelaide Youth Training Centre. The rights apply to everyone so you have to respect other people’s rights.

You have the right:

• to be treated equally, and not treated unfairly because of your sex, sexuality, race, religion, disability or other status
• to be treated with respect and dignity by staff and to be kept safe while you are in the youth justice centre
• to be given a copy of and have explained to you the rules of the centre, and rights and responsibilities, in a language that you can understand
• to see a doctor or nurse whenever you need to, have your health assessed soon after you arrive, and receive proper healthcare
• to receive help for your mental health if you need it, and be transferred to a mental health facility for treatment if required
• to get help if you have problems with drugs or alcohol
• to have special care and protection if you are vulnerable or have special needs
• to have regular contact with your family and friends through visits and phone calls
• to get help to see a lawyer and talk to them privately
• to have an interpreter for formal meetings or medical examinations if you are not fluent in English
• to get information and news about what is happening in the world
• to have a say in decisions about your rehabilitation and other issues that affect you
• to participate in activities and programs that help your rehabilitation
• to continue your education, or do training to learn useful skills for work
• to get exercise every day, and to go outside every day except in bad weather
• to have enough good food (including food that is suitable for your culture or religion, or dietary requirements), and have drinking water available whenever you need it
• to have clean clothes, and to wear your own clothes if you go out of the centre
• not be punished unfairly, and only in accordance with the rules of the centre or the law
• not have force used against you or restraints used on you unless absolutely necessary, and never as a punishment
• not be isolated from other young people unless necessary to keep you or others safe, and never as a punishment
• to practice your religion or express your culture and, whenever possible, to participate in cultural celebrations and see religious or spiritual advisers
• if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, whenever possible, participate in cultural activities and celebrations with other Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people
• to make a complaint about your treatment to an independent person (like an official visitor) and to be told what happens with your complaint
• before you leave the centre, get help with somewhere safe to live and ongoing support.

Pre- and post-release programs for young people at the AYTC focus on providing a range of education, training and vocational opportunities with links to the community. Education programs, both in AYTC and in the community, emphasise literacy and numeracy but also include art, life skills, health, physical education, woodwork and metalwork. Vocational courses accredited by the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) are also offered and include hospitality, dry wall construction, and music.

If a young person is going to turn 18 years while serving a sentence of imprisonment or detention at the AYTC, the Training Centre Review Board or the sentencing court (for young people sentenced as adults) will review the young person’s circumstances close to their 18th birthday to decide if they should complete the period of detention or imprisonment at the AYTC or be transferred to a prison.

Adelaide Youth Training Centre (AYTC) residents are entitled to at least two personal visits each week from family and friends. Immediate family members will always have first priority. Immediate family can visit AYTC residents during the week, and other family and friends can visit on the weekend.

In addition to personal visits, AYTC residents can have professional and support visits from people such as solicitors or lawyers, counsellors, religious advisors, Aboriginal Elders, case managers and independent advocates.

The visitor meeting place at the AYTC is the Community Centre. There is also a playground area for family visits and a separate family room can be arranged.

AYTC residents need to let staff know who they want to visit them and their contact details, as approvals need to take place before visitors can come to the AYTC.

If you have any queries regarding contacting or visiting a young person in the AYTC phone 8169 1455 or 8169 1444.

Personal visitors need to make a booking to see an AYTC resident - phone 8169 1444 between 9.00 am and 12.00 noon and between 1.00 pm and 2.30 pm Monday to Friday. Bookings need to be made a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the time you want to visit. Bookings cannot be made on weekends.

Remember, all visitors must be approved before they can visit the AYTC.

The earlier a booking is made, the higher the possibility of getting the preferred meeting time. The visitor must contact the AYTC to book a visit by phone themselves. No bookings can be made on behalf of another person.

If you have any queries regarding contacting or visiting a young person in AYTC please phone 8169 1455 or 8169 1444.

Visiting an AYTC resident

• All visitors much provide photo identification.
• If a personal visitor is under the age of 18 years, they need to be accompanied by an adult. All children visiting must be listed at the time of making the booking, including their age.
• Personal visitors need to arrive 15 minutes before the visit time for a security check.
• Visitors are not able to bring items into the visit area. There are lockers available for storing personal items.
• All visitors must be appropriately dressed.
• Any visitor who, in the opinion of the staff, appears under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be refused access to AYTC.

If you have any queries regarding contacting or visiting a young person in AYTC phone 8169 1455 or 8169 1444.

Phone calls

AYTC residents are encouraged to make phone calls to family and friends while they are at the AYTC.

Phone calls to professional and support people such as legal practitioners and case managers are also encouraged. All phone contacts must be approved and phone calls are generally made between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm. Phone calls cannot be received by a resident except under special circumstances.

Personal phone calls are monitored by an authorised officer for safety and security reasons. Phone calls to professional and support people such as legal practitioners, the Guardian for Children and Young People and the SA Ombudsman are not monitored.

Mail

Residents can send and receive mail while they are at the AYTC. Letters and parcels sent to or by a resident are opened and examined or screened by an authorised officer except items from legal practitioners, and people who handle complaints such as the Guardian for Children and Young People and the SA Ombudsman.

If you have any queries regarding contacting a young person in AYTC please phone 8169 1444.