Understanding separation in youth detention
Any time your child is placed in a locked room by themselves is called separation under the Youth Justice Regulation.
The reasons for separation in a youth detention centre include:
- routine security purposes (e.g. a child’s bathroom or hygiene break)
- if the child feels unwell
- at the child’s request (e.g. needing some alone time)
- to protect people
- to protect property
- if there is a disruption in the centre (e.g. an emergency)
- to allow the child to sleep at night.
We will keep your child in separation for the shortest amount of time that is necessary.
Your child will always have access to water, meals and snacks while they are in separation. They will always have access to a toilet.
We will not use separation as a punishment for your child.
Approvals and records of separations
Staff must follow set approval processes depending on why the separation happens and how long it is for. This is part of the law.
Approval levels increase the longer the separation goes for. Separations that are longer than one day must be continually reviewed. They must get new approvals on a regular basis.
Information about separations is recorded. It is available for internal and external oversight review.
The centre will give you regular updates about your child while they are in detention. This includes information about separation.
If you have concerns
You can contact your child’s caseworker if you are concerned about the separation of your child. They can talk to you about your concerns.
You can also make a complaint to the centre your child is at, or talk to the public guardian or another oversight agency about your concerns.
Separation during the day
Where separation happens
The first choice is for your child to stay in their own room if they need to be separated.
Sometimes they may need to go to a different room. This might be because something in their room has been damaged, or because your child is likely to use items in their room to harm themself or cause damage.
Your child may leave their room while the separation is still active, if staff think it is safe for them to do so. This means they can spend time with other young people in their unit and engage in programs, activities and recreational time.
Observations
The times when staff check on your child are called observations. If your child is in separation, staff will make regular observations of them. They record information to say the check has happened.
Support in separation
When your child is in separation they can continue to see and be supported by:
- their caseworker
- a psychologist
- a speech-language pathologist
- cultural staff
- nurses and doctors
- other staff in the centre.
If your child is in separation after an incident, staff will help them to calm down.
Activities in separation
When your child is in separation they can continue to:
- do schoolwork
- talk to staff
- listen to music
- read
- draw and write
- make phone calls
- have visits/appointments (if safe to do so).
Separation at night
Your child is safe in their room while they sleep at night.
To keep them safe and secure, the centre goes into overnight separation. This means that your child’s room will be locked.
Your child can still talk to staff if they need to, and staff check on your child at least every 15 minutes. If a risk assessment says the checks should happen more frequently, they will.
More information
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