Program specifications

Programs and referral processes

Each program funded by Youth Justice has its own program or service specifications. The specifications are unique to each program and set out the requirements for service providers to meet in the delivery of the program and appropriate use of funding.

Program specifications set out the program outcomes to be achieved and information to assist with planning and reporting on performance. They help ensure consistency in the delivery of quality programs to young people being supported in the community at risk of offending or re-offending.  

Rural Residential Rehabilitation Adolescent Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Services

Rural Residential Adolescent AOD Rehabilitation Services at Junaa Buwa! - Centre for Youth Wellbeing in Coffs Harbour and Mac River Centre Residential Rehabilitation Program in Dubbo offer intensive residential programs for young people. These programs are aimed at assisting young people to address their alcohol and other drug use and offending behaviour.

Learn more about how the Rural Residential Rehabilitation Adolescent Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Services supports young people in the community.

Download the Service specifications for Rural Residential Adolescent Alcohol and Other Drug Rehabilitation Services.

Referral documents and instructions 

Referrals can only be received through Youth Justice. Documents such as the Community Referral Pack, Custody Referral Pack forms and Referral Pathways for Junaa Buwa! are available for download at the bottom of the Mission Australia Junaa Buwa! - Centre for Youth Wellbeing webpage.

Casework Support Program (CSP)

The Casework Support Program provides intensive support to young people being supervised in the community, using a pragmatic and client-driven approach. 

The program aims to achieve Youth Justice case plan goals by providing a broad range of activities to address needs such as financial support, engagement in education and training, stable accommodation, social and personal development and cultural support. The Program addresses some of these more practical needs while allowing Youth Justice caseworkers to focus on addressing the higher-level criminogenic risks and needs. 

The CSP is a 12-week program funded by Youth Justice and is delivered by service providers. It is available at all Youth Justice Community Offices throughout NSW.

Learn more about how the Casework Support Program supports young people in the community.

Download the Casework Support Program - Program Specifications 2021-24.

Referral documents and instructions

CSP Referral Form Instructions are available outlining the process from referral to exiting the program.

An e-copy of the CSP Referral Form is available for Youth Justice caseworkers to complete and send to CSP Referrals and the service provider.

For further details, send your enquiries to CSP Referrals at Youth Justice.

Aboriginal Reintegration and Transition Program 

The Ngudjoong Billa Aboriginal Reintegration and Transition Program is an intensive support program for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people after they leave custody or community supervision. The program encompasses a cultural support and education component and aims to help young people successfully reintegrate into the community and prevent re-offending.

Delivered in partnership with Youth Justice, the program has been developed to provide support for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people specifically in the Shoalhaven and Far South Coast areas who are currently in the Youth Justice system.

Learn more about how the Aboriginal Reintegration and Transition Program supports young people in the community.

Download the Aboriginal and Reintegration Transition Program Specifications.

Referral documents and instructions 

Referrals can only be received through Youth Justice and are sent to the South Coast Medical Service (SCMSAC) Aboriginal Corporation via email to justicesupport@southcoastams.org.au for review and allocation.

Youth on Track 

Youth on Track is a Youth Justice early intervention program that identifies and responds to the needs of young people aged 10 to 17 years who are at risk of long-term involvement in the criminal justice system.

The key objectives of Youth on Track are:  

1. to identify young people at high risk of continuing in the criminal justice system in a timely way  
2. to provide one-on-one case management and evidence-informed interventions targeted to address the individual criminogenic risk factors of the young person  
3. to provide an evidence-informed family intervention to support the family of young offenders to reduce the young person’s contact with police. 

Learn more about how the Youth on Track program supports young people in the community.

Service specifications

The Youth on Track service specifications detail the program’s implementation and operational framework as well as the model’s service provision and governance process. 

Download the Youth on Track service specification.

Referral documents and instructions 

A discretionary referral can be made to Youth on Track (YoT) when a young person has received at least one formal police contact (a caution, conference or charge) and the young person has a range of criminogenic risk factors. The following groups can make a discretionary referral: NSW Police, local schools, Youth Justice NSW, Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Services, solicitors, Department of Communities and Justice-Community Services, NSW Health-Community Health, Out of Home Care Providers, Family Referral Service, Headspace and other mental health services.

Download the Discretionary Referral Form for police, Youth Justice and solicitors.

Download the  Discretionary Referral Form for all other referrers.

An automatic referral is made to YoT when a young person receives their second formal police contact. An automatic referral means the young person is automatically screened to assess their eligibility for the scheme.

All screening is completed by the Youth Justice Youth on Track Screening Officer who is co-located with NSW Police.

Short Term Crisis Accommodation 

Short Term Crisis Accommodation offers accommodation and casework support for young people referred from Youth Justice who are experiencing homelessness. Service providers in five locations offer accommodation with 24-hour supervision for up to 28 days at a time. Most accommodation is provided through existing youth homelessness services operated as part of the Specialist Homelessness Services system. Services are located in Western and Northern Sydney, Wollongong, Central and Far West NSW, and the Riverina.

Learn more about how Short Term Crisis Accommodation supports young people in the community.

Download the Short Term Crisis Accommodation service specifications.

Bail and Accommodation Support Service (BASS) 

The Bail and Accommodation Support Service (formerly the Bail Assistance Line) provides an after-hours service assisting NSW Police to secure safe and suitable accommodation for young people granted police bail. Youth Justice partners with a number of providers across NSW to provide accommodation and immediate assistance to this group of young people which the BASS team coordinates from its base in Western Sydney.   

BASS supports NSW Police and Youth Justice to navigate the service system, promote interagency shared approaches, and secure safe and suitable bail options for young people who would otherwise be homeless or in custody.

In 2022, BASS has partnerships with service providers based in Metropolitan Sydney, Nepean- Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Central West, Central Coast and North Coast areas. 

Learn more about the Bail and Accommodation Support Service.

Mentoring Program

The Stand as One Mentoring Program is for young people, aged 10 to 21 years, preparing to exit custody. The Program matches young people with adult mentors who can help them learn life skills such as how to get a Medicare card, look for work or find a home.

The Stand as One program is open to young people at least 3 months before their release date then can continue for up to 12 months. 

Before the young person’s release, the mentor will meet with them regularly to develop a strong, trusting and stable relationship. The mentor then continues to support the young person in a range of areas as they reintegrate into education and training, work and the community.  
 
The program is available in communities across the greater Sydney metropolitan area, the Central Coast, the Hunter region (NSW), and the ACT.

Learn more about how the Stand as One Mentoring Program supports young people in the community.

Download the Mentoring Program service specifications.

Referral documents and instructions 

All Stand as One mentoring referrals are managed by Shine for Kids.

Download the Referral Form and instructions and send the completed forms to Mentoring Referrals at Shine for Kids.

A Place to Go  

A Place to Go in Penrith aims to improve support and deliver a better response for 10–17-year-olds coming into contact with the criminal justice system, to decrease the likelihood of re-offending.  

A Place to Go is a collaborative initiative delivered by government and non-government organisations. The initiative uses a young person’s contact with Police and the court or both as an opportunity to intervene early by linking them with appropriate community supports and services, court liaison staff, cross-agency panels and dedicated short-term transitional accommodation (A Place to Go House).

Learn more about how the A Place To Go program supports young people in the community.

Referral documents and instructions 

Referrals can be made to the A Place to Go Coordinator by the pilot service delivery partners at the court and within the community by emailing APlacetoGoNBM@facs.nsw.gov.au. 

Broadmeadow Children’s Court Pilot 

The Broadmeadow Children’s Court Pilot aims to enhance the well-being of young people aged between 10 and 17 who have been in contact with the justice system.  

Like the A Place to Go initiative, the Broadmeadow Children’s Court Pilot delivers wraparound supports to meet the health, education, safety, and welfare needs of young people appearing before the Broadmeadow Children’s Court, to reduce the likelihood of them re-offending.  

Referral documents and instructions 

Referrals to service providers in the pilot are made by the Magistrate, Legal Aid solicitor, Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor, Children’s Court Assistance Service, and young people and their families on the day in court. NSW Police Youth Officers can also refer young people who have completed Youth Justice Conferencing or received a caution.