At Reiby, boys are losing some of their freedoms as life on the outside dictates; they’re locked up, no longer permitted to visit movie theatres or cafes with hand-painted tables and do-it-yourself toast options.
Caseworkers of young people must approve visitors prior to them visiting family members that have been supportive of their behavior. This ensures that young people can visit with those they trust who may offer a sense of support during difficult periods in their lives.
About the centre
Reiby Youth Justice Centre in Airds, south western Sydney houses up to 55 girls and boys who attend school, join homework clubs, take vocational courses such as learning sign writing or barista skills, swim in summer in an on-site pool and play football in the yard – but all within its confines of grey walls, locked doors, solid brickwork walls and barren rooms.
Reiby Center for Youth Services can often become the place where young offenders end up after they have been arrested, becoming caught up in a cycle of punishment and destruction that keeps them trapped within the criminal justice system. But those working there can help break this cycle; providing young offenders with support services which allow them to make a change and steer away from crime altogether.
Education
Teachers at Girrakool collaborate with young offenders to develop individual learning plans tailored specifically for each of them, with seven 10-minute phone calls per week and two visiting days allowed each month. Education is one of the greatest assets a child in detention has and it plays a critical role in their long-term success once released from detention.
Joel Hohn has found his calling in education through Teach For Australia’s Leadership Development Program at Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre’s Owen Springs School at Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre in the Northern Territory. Joel says making an impactful difference to young lives at his school keeps him coming back each day.
In 2022, an 18-year-old female victim of Sydney’s Reiby Youth Justice Centre was assaulted by a male officer and the incident was captured on CCTV cameras; for three years the NSW government tried to keep this abuse hidden away, prompting this woman to call for an independent public inquiry into what occurred.
Healthcare
Reiby offers all young people at Reiby an individual throughcare case manager who works with them to identify needs and establish lasting connections, as well as pre-release support and community reintegration plans upon release from Reiby.
On admission, all youth receive a comprehensive health assessment and physical. Following admission, regular follow up visits are also conducted as well as accessing onsite medical and dental services including screening for and treating sexually transmitted infections (STI), contact tracing, scrotal ultrasound scanning services, prescriptions, laboratory services, immunizations and discharge planning to ensure continuity of care after discharge planning is in place.
Ethan lived with his mother and stepfather until age 14, when he was kicked out by their respective spouses. Since then he has resided at a medium term youth refuge in western Sydney with his younger siblings who reside with their mother. Ethan currently suffers from three health concerns – sexually transmitted infection, scrotal lump and chronic knee pain – for which youth health nurses assess them and arrange visits to local general practitioners who treat him accordingly as well as bulkbilling for screening STI screening and ultrasound procedures.
Visits
Young people in detention may visit family and friends during their detention period, whether this means face-to-face contact, phone calls or video chatting.
Visitors must provide photo identification when visiting youth, and must go through a pat down search and scan using a metal detector. Furthermore, any handbags, purses or valuables brought into the center must not be brought with.
If you can’t visit in person, regular video visits with a Youth and Family Specialist or Mental Health Professional can still keep the communication channels open – these visits can be scheduled at the same time but won’t interfere with school or group activities. A visit from a solicitor may also be an option – SCAG is investigating a national visiting solicitors scheme to service juvenile detention centres where legal advice would be offered regularly on bail applications, appeals, reviews and discipline matters.
