Casework Support Program
Youth Justice caseworkers can refer young people to the Casework Support Program to help them meet their Youth Justice case plan goals. The program helps young people meet practical needs and goals, such as finding work, enrolling in education, getting ID, applying for Centrelink payments, and other essential activities.
What is the Casework Support Program?
The Casework Support Program (CSP) is a 12-week program funded by Youth Justice and delivered by funded partners. It is available at all Youth Justice Community Offices throughout the State, providing intensive one-on-one support to young people being supervised in the community. This program is delivered by skilled caseworkers who work with young people using a pragmatic and client-driven approach, centred around achieving the young person’s goals.
The Program assists in achieving 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
- cultural support.
The program addresses some of the more practical needs while allowing Youth Justice caseworkers to focus on addressing the higher-level criminogenic risks and needs.
Examples of support that services provide to young people include, but are not limited to the following:
- engage in education – such as enrol in TAFE
- find work – including support to create a resume and cover letter
- submit a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) application
- connect a young person to Centrelink to receive payments
- get a learners licence
- get identification (ID) such as Tax File Number, birth certificate, bank card and other forms of ID
- connect Aboriginal young people to their culture
- get to appointments – such as medical and legal appointments
- setting up counselling sessions, getting a diagnosis for a suspected mental health issue or medical condition
- access housing including help submitting an application.
This program helps to achieve reintegration outcomes for young people returning to the community at the completion of an order. The program also assists young people who have received a Youth Justice Conference. The services are available to provide the support required for the young person to achieve their outcome plan goals.
Learn more about funded services
How can you access the program?
The community cannot make a referral directly to this service. If a young person requires extra support, the Youth Justice caseworker can complete a Casework Support Program referral and connect them to the local service provider.
If there are spots available at the service, while the young person’s order with Youth Justice is still current, the caseworker will support them throughout the whole process as this will also guide the Youth Justice caseworker's case plan as part of the young person’s supervision.
Young people referred to this service will go through an intake, review and exit process led by the Youth Justice caseworker. The Youth Justice caseworker will lead the referral throughout for the young person with the support of the Casework Support Program caseworker.
If you know a young person that would benefit from the extra support that the Casework Support Program provides, you can:
- choose one of the service providers located in Sydney and surrounds or Greater NSW.
- talk to the Youth Justice caseworker that is supervising the young person and they will facilitate the referral and support the young person to get connected.
Casework Support Programs: Sydney and surrounds
Service: Red Cross
Casework and mentoring for young people who are under a Youth Justice supervision order or after release from youth detention. Caseworkers and mentors help the young people set achievable goals to help them break the cycle of offending.
Service: Barnardos Australia - Casework Support Program (CSP)
Areas the Casework Support Program is offered include the regions of Sydney Metro, Northern Sydney, North Shore and Northern Beaches.
The Casework Support Program works with young people involved in the Youth Justice system. The program provides intensive casework support for a 12-week period (with an additional six weeks prior to release from detention).
The program's purpose is to reduce the risk of reoffending and aims to equip young people with the skills and support they need to assist them in making positive changes in their lives.
During the Casework Support Program support is provided in the following areas:
- employment and education
- accommodation options
- obtaining identification
- access to health services
- Youth Justice participation
- access and referrals to external agencies if required
- provide culturally appropriate support.
Service: Anglicare
Casework for young people who are under a Juvenile Justice supervision order or after release from youth detention. Caseworkers help the young person set achievable goals to help them break the cycle of offending.
Service: Salvation Army - Oasis Central Coast
The Youth Justice Joint Support Program (JJSP) works with young people in contact with the Youth Justice system who are assessed as having a medium to high level of offending related risk and need. The Joint Support Program primarily works with young people on mandated orders in either community or on exit from detention. The program helps young people integrate with their community and address the issues that are contributing to their offending. In doing so, young people can gain the knowledge and skills they need to address their offending behaviour through positive means.
Support is provided across the following areas:
- income support and accommodation
- returning to school or accessing education
- applying for work or training courses
- attending medical or counselling appointments.
Service: Ted Noffs
The Juvenile Case Work Support Program (CSP) works with young people in contact with the Youth Justice system who are assessed as having a medium to high level of offending related risk and need. The Casework Support Program primarily works with young people on mandated orders in either community or on exit from detention. The program helps young people integrate with their community and address the issues that are contributing to their offending. In doing so, young people can gain the knowledge and skills they need to address their offending behaviour through positive means.
Support is provided across the following areas:
- employment support
- Centrelink
- identification
- accommodation support
- living skills development
- social and personal development
- links with leisure and recreational activities.
Service: Red Cross
Casework and mentoring for young people who are under a Youth Justice supervision order or after release from youth detention. Caseworkers and mentors help young people set achievable goals to help them break the cycle of offending.
Service: Oasis Sydney, The Salvation Army
The Youth Justice Joint Support Program works with young people in contact with the Youth Justice system who are assessed as having a medium to high level of offending related risk and need. The Joint Support Program primarily works with young people on mandated orders in either community or on exit from detention. The program helps young people integrate with their community and address the issues that are contributing to their offending. In doing so, young people can gain the knowledge and skills they need to address their offending behaviour through positive means.
Support is provided across the following areas:
- income support and accommodation
- returning to school or accessing education
- applying for work or training courses
- attending medical or counselling appointments.
Service: Mission Australia – Illawarra/Shoalhaven
This program is offered in all suburbs within the Illawarra and Shoalhaven local government areas.
The Youth Justice Casework Support Program (CSP) works with young people in contact with the Youth Justice system, assessed as having a medium to high level of offending related risk and need. The Casework Support Program primarily works with young people on mandated orders in either community or on exit from youth detention settings.
The program aims to strengthen young people’s connection with their community and address issues contributing to their offending. Young people gain the knowledge and skills they need to address their offending behaviour through positive means.
Support domains include:
- education
- employment and training assistance
- access to specialist homelessness services
- getting personal identification (ID)
- cultural connection
- access to health services
- Youth Justice engagement and participation
- strengthening personal and community networks
- information and referral.
Casework Support Programs: Greater NSW
Service: Mission Australia
This program is offered in Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst, Broken Hill and Bourke areas.
The Youth Justice Casework Support Program (CSP) works with young people in contact with the Youth Justice system, assessed as having a medium to high level of offending related risk and need. The Casework Support Program primarily works with young people on mandated orders in either community or on exit from youth detention settings.
The program aims to strengthen young people’s connection with their community and address issues contributing to their offending. Young people gain the knowledge and skills they need to address their offending behaviour through positive means.
Support domains include:
- education
- employment and training assistance
- access to specialist homelessness services
- getting personal identification (ID)
- cultural connection
- access to health services
- Youth Justice engagement and participation
- strengthening personal and community networks
- information and referral.
Service: Mission Australia
This program is offered in Grafton, Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Tweed Heads local government areas.
The Youth Justice Joint Support Program (JJSP) works with young people in contact with the Youth Justice system who are assessed as having a medium to high level of offending related risk and need. The Joint Support Program primarily works with young people on mandated orders in either community or on exit from detention. The program helps young people integrate with their community and address the issues that are contributing to their offending. Young people gain the knowledge and skills they need to address their offending behaviour through positive means.
Support domains include, but are not limited to:
- education
- employment and training assistance
- access to specialist homelessness services
- getting personal identification (ID)
- cultural connection
- access to health services
- Youth Justice engagement and participation
- strengthening personal and community networks
- information and referral.
Service: Mission Australia
The Youth Justice Joint Support Program (JJSP) works with young people in contact with the Youth Justice system who are assessed as having a medium to high level of offending related risk and need. The Joint Support Program primarily works with young people on mandated orders in either community or on exit from detention. The program helps young people integrate with their community and address the issues that are contributing to their offending. Young people gain the knowledge and skills they need to address their offending behaviour through positive means.
Service: Uniting
This program is offered in Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Taree and surrounding areas.
Uniting’s Casework Support Program offers short-term assistance for young people who’ve been assessed by Youth Justice as being able to benefit from support to build independent living skills and community connections for a brighter future.
Each participant receives Direct Casework Support for 4-6 hours each week, to ensure behaviours can be appropriately addressed, and that Youth Justice Case Plan goals, or a Youth Justice outcome plan, can be identified and achieved.
Direct Casework Support includes in-person or online meetings, referrals and appointments, and addresses practical issues such as:
- income support and accommodation
- returning to school
- applying for training courses or employment
- attending medical or counselling appointments.
Service: BEST Employment
This service covers the New England region, with offices in Inverell, Moree, Tamworth and Armidale.
Youth Justice fund the service to deliver the Casework Support Program (CSP). BEST Employment receive referrals from Youth Justice to support young people to overcome barriers and address risk-taking behaviour.
Young offenders on the program are currently under the supervision of Youth Justice.
The Program provides support with:
- transport
- advocacy
- referral pathways
- anger management
- cultural support
- educational support
- alcohol and other drugs education and support
- case planning and goal setting
- general casework support
- Youth Justice Conferencing support
- Community Service Order completion.
Service: ITEC Group
This program is offered in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and Lower and Upper Hunter regions.
The Casework Support Program (CSP) delivers socio-cultural and welfare-focused services to complement the offence-focussed case management undertaken by Youth Justice NSW (YJNSW) to address offending behaviour.
ITEC provides outreach casework responses to young people being supervised by Youth Justice in the community, transitioning from custody into the community and young people with a Youth Justice Conference (YJC) referral.
Goals are developed to address the criminogenic risks and needs that are identified as a result of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory – Australian Adaptation (YLS/CMI-AA) assessment conducted by Youth Justice. These are negotiated and mutually agreed upon by the young person, the young person’s family or carers, the ITEC Youth Casework Support Program case manager and Youth Justice caseworker.
Service: Mission Australia
The Youth Justice Joint Support Program (JJSP) works with young people in contact with the Youth Justice system who are assessed as having a medium to high level of offending related risk and need. The Joint Support Program primarily works with young people on mandated orders in either community or on exit from detention. The program helps young people integrate with their community and address the issues that are contributing to their offending. Young people gain the knowledge and skills they need to address their offending behaviour through positive means.
Service: South Coast Medical Services
The Joint Support Program works in partnership between Juvenile Justice and South Coast Medical Services Aboriginal Corporation. The program supports young people between the ages of 12 to 18 to reduce reoffending by providing intensive support over a 12-week period for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal young people located in the Eurobodalla, Bega Valley and Southern tablelands.
Service: Anglicare
Casework for young people who are under a Juvenile Justice supervision order or after release from youth detention. Caseworkers help the young person set achievable goals to help them break the cycle of offending.
Referrals
Referrals can only be received through Youth Justice. Contact your local Youth Justice Community Office.