Youth Treatment Orders provide for Court-ordered assessment and treatment for young people experiencing drug dependency. These orders can only be made for young people who are subject to detention at the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre and who have refused to engage in voluntary treatment.

Drug dependency can be devastating for a young person’s health, wellbeing and future.

Youth Treatment Orders provide a mechanism for treating young people who are drug dependent and who have refused to engage in voluntary treatment. They are an option of last resort where all other means have been exhausted and when a young person needs urgent treatment to prevent harm to themselves or others.

Assessment and treatment are delivered at the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre by a non-government service provider. The program sits alongside health services already available to young people at the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre, including mental health support, medical treatment, and voluntary drug programs.

A range of people can apply to the Youth Court for a Youth Treatment Order for a young person, including certain family members. For more information, including how to apply, visit the Courts Administration Authority website.

Detention Order data

Data last updated: April 2022

If a young person does not comply with an Assessment or Treatment Order voluntarily, application can be made to the Youth Court to make a Detention Order. If the Youth Court makes the Detention Order this authorises the detention of the young person to make sure they attend their assessment or treatment appointments (in line with the Court order).

Detention Orders are not ‘active’ all the time. They only apply at the day and time of the young person’s scheduled appointment for assessment or treatment.

As at 29 April 2022, 0 young people were subject to a Detention Order under the Youth Treatment Orders program.