Adolescent Health
The Adolescent Health Directorate of Justice Health provides healthcare to a daily average of 360 young people in juvenile justice centres and the Juvenile Correctional facility at Kariong. There are approximately 3,750 receptions a year (1,800 individuals) and over 90% of young people in custody are male and 41% identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Juvenile offenders are predominantly between the ages of 10 to 18. Depending on the security and risk level of detainee, they can be transferred into the adult correctional system when they turn 18 years old.
The Adolescent Health stream provides nursing, general practitioner, psychiatric, dental and optometry services to all Juvenile Justice Centres and the Juvenile Correctional Centre at Kariong. Adolescent Health nurses work autonomously in health centres and are members of a multi-disciplinary team which includes Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Department of Corrective Services (DCS) and Department of Education and Training (DET) staff.
Registered nurses provide an initial risk assessment for all young people in custody within twenty-four hours of reception. This focuses on mental health, drug and alcohol and sexual health issues. A further comprehensive health assessment is then conducted within five days of reception. Clinicians provide ongoing primary health care, including sexual health, immunisation, mental health and drug and alcohol services and health education on a variety of topics via individual counselling sessions, group work and structured health education modules. If a health care service is not available within a centre, care is sought from the local Area Health Service.
Adolescent Health also provides services to the Youth Drug & Alcohol Court (YDAC) program including physical, mental and drug and alcohol health assessments, working closely with DJJ, Department of Community Services (DoCS) and Department of Education and Training (DET).
The Justice Health Adolescent Health service has recently commenced the following programs:
- An Adolescent Court and Community Team providing community based assessments, court liaison and diversion, discharge planning for those in custody or occupying a mental health inpatient bed, and case management.
- The Community Integration Team in the Orana region. This project is aimed at improving continuity of care for drug and alcohol, mental health, and general health upon release from custody.