Youth remand centre
If your child is refused bail, they may go to the Wacol Youth Remand Centre (WYRC).
Youth remand centres and youth detention centres are secure places for people aged 10 to 18. They exist to:
- protect the safety of the community
- provide consequences for offending
- prepare detained young people to live productively in the community.
While your child is at WYRC they will:
- do schoolwork and programs
- do physical activity
- have medical assessments
- get cultural support
- talk to our staff about the issues in their life.
Location
WYRC is located at 24 Orford Road, Wacol. It is near Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and West Moreton Youth Detention Centre.
Visiting a young person
The best times to visit a young person at WYRC are:
- afternoons
- evenings
- weekends.
Family visitors
If you would like to visit your child while they are at WYRC, you can call the visits team on (07) 3021 0819.
You must arrange your visit in advance.
Professional visitors
Professional visitors can contact a young person at WYRC by:
- emailing the client services team at wyrc_clientservices@youthjustice.qld.gov.au
- phoning the visits team on (07) 3021 0819 or emailing wyrc_visits@youthjustice.qld.gov.au
Please provide contact and visit requests as soon as possible. This gives the centre enough time to arrange contact.
Safety and security
Our highest priorities are making sure that:
- young people, staff and visitors are safe
- the centre is secure.
When entering a centre you must show proof of identification at each visit.
We may end your visit if you:
- are under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- use loud and abusive language.
We use body-worn cameras and CCTV at our centres. Audio and video footage is recorded. Our staff will warn you before they press record on a body-worn camera if it is safe to do so.
Only certain staff are allowed to watch the video. It will only be shared with other people or organisations if the law tells us to. Body-worn camera and CCTV recordings may be used as evidence.
What to wear
Our centres have rules about what you can wear when you visit. You cannot wear:
- clothing that has obscene or discriminatory words on it
- dresses or shirts without sleeves, including tank tops and singlets
- short skirts or short shorts
- very tight clothing
- clothing that you can see through or is revealing
- stiletto heels.
You must wear closed-in shoes at all times.
You may wear minimal jewellery.
Phone calls
You can speak to your child on the phone while they’re in the remand centre. However, your child must call you. You won’t be able to call them unless it’s an emergency.
If you have to tell your child something that may upset them, let the staff know so they can support your child.
Your child can also speak to their lawyer or caseworker, or the community visitor.
Your privacy
If you agree to being on a young person’s call list, your approval will apply to the young person’s:
- current stay in WYRC
- transfer to youth detention
- any future stays in youth remand or youth detention centres in Queensland.
If you wish to withdraw your approval, you should contact the centre they are in.
We will keep a record of:
- your name
- your telephone number
- the date and time of your phone call with the young person
- how long the phone call goes for.
This is in line with the Youth Justice Act 1992.
We will manage your personal information in line with the:
- Youth Justice Act 1992
- Information Privacy Act 2009.
Visit our privacy page for more information.
Letters
You can send as many letters to your child as you like. Staff at the centre check all letters before children receive them. Staff also check any letters that your child sends to you. Staff won’t check letters to or from your child’s lawyer.
Send your letters to:
Wacol Youth Remand Centre
PO Box 450
ARCHERFIELD BC QLD 4108
Staff
There are lots of people in the centre to help your child. They are trained to work with young people.
Staff are employed by the Queensland Government. They’re committed to providing a safe environment for your child and everyone else who enters the centre.
Queensland Health and Department of Education staff also work in the centre. They are there to help your child with their health and education needs.