New youth detention centre at Woodford

About the centre

The new youth detention centre at Woodford will include therapeutic design elements which aim to support rehabilitation for young people and improve community safety.

The features of the centre will include:

• 80 beds – comprised of two 40-bed campuses with some shared facilities in between
• smaller, more home-like accommodation units (8 or fewer beds per unit) purpose-built to encourage young people, staff, and stakeholders to work together
• consultation and treatment rooms
• multipurpose spaces for education, skills development and training
• areas for physical activity, green spaces
• spaces for cultural connection, faith and spiritual support.

Centre statistics

Smaller, home-like accomodation units

80-bed capacity

Contemporary therapeutic design to support rehabilitation

Proposed design

We have engaged architects to lead the design of the centre. The centre will emulate best-practice principles, including trauma-informed design, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and carceral geography. Biophilia (incorporating elements of nature) and First Nations knowledge and culture will be reflected in the built environment.

The centre's method of design will support rehabilitation outcomes and improve community safety.

Therapeutic design

Youth detention centres play a crucial role in the management, rehabilitation and reintegration of young offenders into our communities.

Research shows a shift towards more therapeutic approaches to detention will support improved results for young people and improved community safety. A holistic approach focused on rehabilitation that takes into account the unique circumstances and challenges faced by young offenders will contribute to reduced recidivism.

One of the key features of a therapeutic model is the emphasis on mental health support. Many young offenders have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect, which can contribute to their involvement in criminal activities.

Although therapeutic, this is a place to consider the consequences of an offence.

Programs and services at the centre will aim to help young people take responsibility and be held accountable for their actions. They will promote the restoration of relationships and encourage positive choices.

The centre will promote prosocial values and behaviours, which evidence shows can lead to improved outcomes such as reduced rates of arrests and detention and lower rates of recidivism.

Young people will be helped to be aware of their behaviour and encouraged to make good decisions by promoting and reinforcing good behaviour. By setting clear boundaries and consequences for inappropriate behaviour, youth detention centres aim to teach accountability and responsibility. Young people will be treated with respect and dignity at all times and encouraged to treat others with respect and dignity.

Finding the right balance of welfare, justice and security is essential in creating an environment that promotes growth and accountability among young people in detention.

Location

The youth detention centre will be built at the Woodford Correctional Precinct, adjacent to the existing adult correctional centre. The site was announced as the preferred site in May 2023.

The site meets important criteria for the effective operation of the centre and will have minimal negative effects on nearby residents and businesses.

Centres should ensure easy access for families, educational services, healthcare facilities, employees and contractors, while ensuring safety for young people and staff.

One of the key goals for our youth detention centres is to minimise disruption to the community.

The centre will be designed to provide a safe and secure environment for young offenders while also addressing their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Often people are concerned about security in surrounding areas of youth detention centres. The young people attending the centre will only access it by using dedicated transport.

Facility renderings

Initial architect supplied renderings that provide an impression of what the facility will look like. These renderings help to illustrate how the building and spaces will look before it is built and represent the design intent.

Timeline

To boost capacity and lead to better outcomes for young people in detention, a new youth remand facility will be fast-tracked and rapidly built at Wacol. This facility will accommodate approximately 50 young people until the first stage of the new youth detention centre at Woodford is operational.

The construction of the new youth detention centre in Woodford is scheduled to commence in 2024, with completion of Stage 1 of the centre targeted for 2026. The timeline for the project is indicative and subject to change depending on consultation, contractor availability and external variables such as the weather. Changes to the timeline will be reflected below.

Working at the new youth detention centre

Becoming a Detention Youth Worker offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity to directly contribute to community safety, while supporting young people in custody to make better choices.

Positions will become available before the centre is operational in 2026 and will be advertised on SmartJobs.

Learn more about detention youth worker careers.