Youth Justice

A case conferencing program for young people who have been found guilty or have pleaded guilty to an offence in the Children’s Court.

Group conferencing is a problem-solving approach to youth offending, encouraging dialogue between young people and their victims. This provides an opportunity for the young offender to realise the impact of the offence on the victim, their family and the community.

The group conference process involves people including:

• the convenor
• the young offender
• the young offender’s legal representative
• a police officer
• the victim and their chosen supports
• supports for the young offender and professionals from the community such as a school welfare officer, a sports coach or employer

While group conferencing may be a confronting experience for some involved, we provide a safe and structured environment for all people affected by the offence to come together and make amends.

Victim participation in a group conference is voluntary. Victims are encouraged to be supported by a family member, friend or a Victims Support Agency.

An outcome plan is written summarising the agreement and what actions will be taken to remedy the offence. The convenor will then provide the Magistrate with a court report on the conference for consideration prior to sentencing.

The young person, their legal representative and the Convenor then return to Court. If the Court accepts the outcome plan, a key support person monitors the plan and supports the young person to achieve the goals.

This service is offered within the Grampians and Loddon Mallee regions. Referrals are made via the Children’s Court of Victoria.

If a Magistrate is considering Group Conferencing as a sentencing option for a young person, they will stand the matter down for the Convenor and Department of Health and Human Services Youth Justice to conduct a thorough assessment.

Please call our Ballarat Family Relationship Centre on (03) 5327 7900 or our Bendigo office on (03) 5438 1300 for more information.

Youth Justice Chaplaincy provides pastoral support to young people within Victoria’s two youth justice precincts at Parkville and Malmsbury.

Chaplains work as part of an interfaith network, working alongside chaplains from many other faith groups. Our Youth Justice Chaplains can support young people in custody regardless of their spiritual or religious belief or background.

Our Chaplains can help young people in custodial centres to feel less alone; show them support and care; give them hope for a better, brighter future; and empower them to lead a positive and fulfilling life.

Chaplains offer a range of supports including:

• Listening and/or sitting silently with young people
• Praying with or providing young people with religious reading material
• Providing a church service on weekends
• Helping young people to adjust to new surroundings
• Coping with grief or other emotions
• Preparing for parole

Youth Justice Chaplains also play a role in advocating for the dignity of young people, within the youth justice system and across the broader community.

Young people at Parkville and Malmsbury justice precincts can access our Youth Justice Chaplaincy. For more information please contact our Pastoral Services team on (03) 9287 5555.

This service provides intensive support for young people exiting custody or who are on community-based orders that require post-release support.

We recognise that these young people present with a range of complex and varied needs requiring individual service responses.

The program involves an integrated approach for providing support to young people, that complements the statutory case management undertaken by Youth Justice Units.

The intensive support model aims to assist young people by:

• reducing the severity and frequency of re-offending; and minimising progression into the criminal justice system
• helping young people in their local community and facilitating their transition from the justice system to their local community 
• preparing young people for adulthood by developing their independence, resilience and social connectedness 
• providing referrals to support services and programs to assist young people to build their capacity to live independently and re-engage with the community
• develop young people’s capacity for education

This service is offered within the Grampians region. Referrals are initiated by the regional Youth Justice worker during the case planning process and upon exiting a custodial facility, as part of the parole planning process.

Please call Ballarat Family Relationship Centre on (03) 5327 7900 for more information.