Caring for young people in Bimberi

Bimberi is a youth detention centre for young people aged 12 to 21. It is part of Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) in the ACT Government.

Young people are in Bimberi because they have been either:

• refused bail, so they’re staying in custody (called ‘on remand’)
• sentenced to a period of detention by the ACT’s Childrens Court or Supreme Court.

Arriving at Bimberi

When your child arrives at Bimberi, our staff will phone you to let you know:

• how your child is
• when and how you can contact them
• when their court appearance is (usually the next day).

Attending court

You must attend court with your child. This is a legal requirement.

If there is a Court order that prevents or limits contact between you and your child, you can talk to:

• the Court security team about ways to keep everybody safe while in the Court building
• the Childrens Court Registry for advice on how to appear in Court from another location.

A duty lawyer can represent your child at court, or you can arrange your own lawyer to appear for your child.

If the court decides your child must return to Bimberi (on remand), we’ll help them apply for legal aid.

Legal advice

Your child needs a lawyer for legal advice if they are either:

• on remand
• appealing their sentence.

They have a right to have a lawyer to help defend them against police charges.

If they don’t have a lawyer, you may be able to apply for one from Legal Aid ACT.

If they are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, they can apply to the Aboriginal Legal Service.

Both these services are free.

A youth worker or the Bimberi family engagement officer can help them apply or they can apply themselves.

Their lawyer can:

• explain the charges
• speak to the police or the court for them.

How long will they stay in Bimberi

This depends on:

• what they’ve been charged with
• what the ACT’s Childrens Court or Supreme Court decides.

Police interviews

The police may contact Bimberi to talk with your child:

• about any criminal activity they believe your child has committed or was involved in
• if they believe your child witnessed criminal activity
• if your child is a victim of a crime.

Your child has the right to refuse to do police interviews or stop them at any time.

If they choose to have a police interview, the law says they must be with an adult they trust.

The adult must be an approved support person or interview friend. Their job is to make sure:

• the interview is carried out properly
• your child’s rights and welfare are protected.

You can be your child’s support person at the interview. Other people who can be a support person are:

• guardians or kin who have parental responsibility
• a relative or family friend
• an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person from your community, if the young person identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
• a lawyer
• an interview friend arranged by the police from the Interview Friends Register. This is a list of people approved to support people in police interviews to make sure rights and welfare are protected.
• a Bimberi staff member, as a last resort.

Life at Bimberi

Whatever the reason your child came to Bimberi, a range of programs and services are there to help them:

• get back on track
• learn and build skills
• avoid future criminal behaviour
• return confidently to the community.

Your child will get:

• support from youth workers, therapists and caseworkers
• education and training at the Murrumbidgee School in Bimberi
• care and treatment for health issues including mental health.

Young people and their family will develop a plan with a caseworker to:

• address any needs
• build community connections
• build their skills for the future.

To talk with a young person’s case manager, contact Child and Youth Protection Services.

If they already have a case manager, this will continue while they are in Bimberi.

Rights of young people in Bimberi

Young people in Bimberi have rights.

The Charter of Rights for Young People in Bimberi explains these rights and your child's responsibilities while in Bimberi.

They have basic human rights, like the right to food, shelter, education, healthcare and freedom from persecution and discrimination.

They also have rights to protection, rehabilitation and support.

Read more in the Charter of Rights for Young People in Bimberi.

Health and wellbeing

Tell Bimberi staff if your child:

• takes prescribed medicine
• has any medical or mental health issues.

Staff will let the doctor and nurse know and they will arrange for your child to get their medication and other medical care.

Your child will get health care from Canberra Health Services and community organisations.

Staff will tell you about any health issues that happen.

If they have a counsellor or get help from another community service, this can continue while they’re at Bimberi.

Keeping in touch

Visits, phone calls and mail from approved family members, friends and significant others are an important part of supporting young people while they are at Bimberi.

You must be approved to:

• visit Bimberi
• receive phone calls from a young person in Bimberi
• send and receive mail from a young person in Bimberi.

To get approved, contact Bimberi’s Family Engagement Officer or support and services team.

Visiting Bimberi

Your child has the right to at least one visit each week, but they will usually get more.

You must get approval to book a visit. Once approved, you can visit in person or arrange a video call.

Find out how to get approval, book a visit and check the visiting rules.

Phone calls

Your child gets a minimum of 20 phone calls a week to approved family and friends.

Mail

Your child can get and send mail to and from approved people. We record, scan and may search mail coming in and out of Bimberi.

Mail that has any banned item or inappropriate content is not allowed in Bimberi. It will either be returned, stored with the young person’s property or sent to the police.

Get Bimberi’s postal address.

Sending gifts

Your child can have some personal property while they are in Bimberi. This includes photos, books or other small items.

If you would like to give them something, talk to a Bimberi unit manager or family engagement officer.

Money

You cannot give your child money. Bimberi has an incentive system where young people can earn points to spend on extra things like drinks or snacks.

Clothing

You cannot give your child clothes. Bimberi supplies all clothing.

Banned items

You cannot bring banned items into Bimberi or give a young person in Bimberi a banned item.

Check the list of banned items.

Continuing their education

School will be part of the day in Bimberi.

The teachers will:

• put together a learning plan for your child
• help them study for their year 10 or year 12 certificate
• help them develop life skills like cooking and getting their learner’s licence.

At school, your child can also do courses that will give them a qualification that could help them get a job when they leave. If they complete a course in Bimberi, their certificate will not say where they completed it.

Bimberi Handbook

Find out how your child will be cared for in Bimberi, from arriving, daily activities, support and leaving Bimberi.

Read Bimberi Handbook: a guide for young people in Bimberi Youth Justice Centre [PDF 6.2 MB].

Concerns and complaints

You or your child can complain if they are unhappy about their treatment or the services they get at Bimberi.

Talk to the Bimberi unit manager or family engagement officer about your concern. If your concerns are not resolved, they can help you start the formal complaints process.

All complaints are private and staff will keep you informed throughout the process.

You can also contact the ACT Children and Young People Commissioner. The Commission also visits Bimberi regularly and your child can ask to speak with them.

Contact us