Consultation Paper Easy Read
Now Closed
This online engagement was hosted on YourSAy from 9 November 2020 to 31 January 2021. Below is a record of the consultation.
Youth Treatment Orders Draft Model of Care for Phase 1 of Youth Treatment Orders
We want to know what you think
Easy Read version
Download the Consultation Paper Easy Read version on a PDF printable version
How to use this page
SA Health wrote this Easy Read. When you see the word ‘we’, it means SA Health.
We have written this information in an easy to read way.
We have written some words in bold. We explain what these words mean. There is a list of these words at the bottom of this page.
This Easy Read page is a summary of another document.
You can find the other document on this website.
You can ask for help to read this page. A friend, family member or support person may be able to help you.
- What is this consultation about?
- What is a Model of Care?
- What are Youth Treatment Orders?
- How does the Youth Treatment Orders program work?
- The children’s rights
- How to tell us what you think
- Word list
- Contact us
What is this consultation about?
We want to reduce the impact of drug use on:
- children
- their families.
Children are aged between 10 and 18 years old.
This consultation is about some new laws in South Australia.
The new laws will change how some children who are dependent on drugs get help.
If you are dependent on drugs, you:
- keep using them even though you know they can hurt you
- can't control how you use them
The Government is planning a new program based on these laws.
We call it the Youth Treatment Orders program.
We want the Youth Treatment Orders program to help children who are dependent on drugs.
This document is about how the Youth Treatment Orders program will work at the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre.
The Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre is where the Youth Court can make children live for a period of time when they break the law.
The Youth Treatment Orders program only applies to children already living in the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre.
We want to know what children think about how the Youth Treatment Orders program will work.
We explain how the Youth Treatment Orders program will work below.
What is a Model of Care?
A Model of Care explains how the Youth Treatment Orders program will work.
This Model of Care:
- is based on the best ways to treat children who are dependent on drugs
- makes sure everyone does what is best for the child.
What are Youth Treatment Orders?
A Youth Treatment Order is a way to:
- find out if a child is dependent on drugs
- treat a child who is dependent on drugs.
When we treat someone, we give them help to stop being dependent on drugs.
They get the support they need to stop using drugs.
We call this treatment.
What is the Youth Treatment Orders program?
The Youth Treatment Orders program is:
- based on the new laws
- a way to help children who are dependent on drugs.
The new laws let a parent, guardian or another authorised person ask the Youth Court to make a child:
- have an assessment for drug dependence
- be treated for drug dependence.
An authorised person is someone who can ask the Youth Court for a Youth Treatment Order.
When a child has an assessment, they are checked by doctors to find out if they are dependent on drugs.
There are 2 types of Youth Treatment Orders:
- Assessment Orders
- Treatment Orders.
Assessment Orders
The Youth Court makes an Assessment Order when they need to know if a child is dependent on drugs.
A child must do what the Assessment Order says.
An Assessment Order tells us:
- if a child is dependent on drugs
- how we can help them.
Treatment Orders
The Youth Court makes a Treatment Order to help a child get treatment for their drug dependence.
A child must do what the Treatment Order says.
A Treatment Order tells us:
- what types of treatment will help them
- who will treat them
- how long they need to have treatment.
A Treatment Order means a child can be ordered to have up to 12 months of treatment for their drug dependence.
When can the Youth Court make them?
The Youth Court can only make Assessment Orders and Treatment Orders if:
- a child still uses drugs regularly
- a child is in danger because of their drug dependence
- someone else is in danger because of a child’s drug dependence
- the child doesn’t want help
- there are no better ways to get help for the child’s drug dependence
- there is a plan for the child’s treatment.
The Youth Court can only make Assessment and Treatment Orders if all these things are happening.
The best interest of children
The most important part of the Youth Treatment Orders program is to do what’s best for children.
We want to make sure the Youth Treatment Orders program:
- considers the different needs of each child
- works with the other people and services in the child’s life
- encourages children to continue treatment if they want it.
We want the Youth Treatment Orders program to support all children, including children:
- from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- from different cultures and backgrounds
- with disability
- with mental health issues
- moving from the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre into an adult prison
- in Child Protection – a program for children who can’t live with their family because they are not safe.
How does the Youth Treatment Orders program work?
There are 3 stages in the Youth Treatment Orders program.
1. Apply to Youth Court
A parent, guardian or other authorised person applies to Youth Court.
They ask if the child can be assessed for a drug problem.
The Legal Services Commission or the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement gives the child a lawyer.
A lawyer is someone who:
- understands what the law says
- will make sure everyone does what is best for the child.
There is no cost for using the lawyer.
2. Assessment Order
The Youth Court decides if the child should get an assessment to find out if they are dependent on drugs.
The child can ask the Youth Court if someone can come to the assessment with them.
Doctors will work out if the child is dependent on drugs.
They will find out about:
- the child’s drug use
- how it affects their life and family.
They will also find out about the child’s:
- health
- thoughts and feelings
- mental health
- behaviour
- family background.
They will use this information to decide if the child needs a Treatment Order.
3. Treatment Order
The child gets treatment for their drug dependence.
A Youth Treatment Order can only last for up to 12 months.
The child gets drug treatment at the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre.
This treatment could include:
- counselling – talking to someone about drug use and how to stop using drugs
- family counselling – helping families work together to help the child
- learning about how to be safe around drugs and not use drugs in the future
- using medication when it is needed
- support for up to 12 months.
Each child might use different types of treatment.
Doctors will decide what types of treatment are best for the child.
The Treatment Order ends when the:
- child reaches their goals
- Treatment Order runs out
- child is released from the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre.
Each child will have a plan for what support they need when they leave the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre.
Even if a child has a Treatment Order, they won’t have to stay longer at the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre.
The children’s rights
Rights are rules about how everybody should be treated fairly.
We have a Statement of Rights that explains the rights of children involved in the Youth Treatment Orders program.
The Statement of Rights makes sure that all children are treated fairly, including children:
- from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- from different countries
- who don’t speak English
- with mental health problems
- with disability.
We will make sure children are given any information they need in a way they can understand.
Every child will be able to choose someone who we will update about the child’s progress in the Youth Treatment Order program.
Any information about children who are involved in the Youth Treatment Orders program is private.
This is to protect children.
We only share their information with:
- their parent or guardian when it is safe
- people who work for the Youth Treatment Orders program.
How to tell us what you think
The Youth Treatment Orders program hasn’t started yet.
You can find answers to questions we get asked a lot in our Easy Read version.
We’re giving you a chance to have your say.
We want to know what you think about the draft Model of Care for the Phase 1 of the Youth Treatment Orders program.
You can answer some questions in our discussion.
You can ask for help to answer these questions. A friend, family member or support person may be able to help you.
You need to tell us what you think by 5pm on Friday 18 December 2020.
Word list
Assessment
When a child has an assessment, they are checked by doctors to find out if they are dependent on drugs.
Authorised person
An authorised person is someone who can ask the Youth Court for a Youth Treatment Order.
Child Protection
Child Protection is a program for children who can’t live with their family because they are not safe.
Counselling
Counselling is talking to someone about drug use and how to stop using drugs.
Dependent
If you are dependent on drugs, you:
- keep using them even though you know they can hurt you
- can’t control how you use them.
Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre
The Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre is where the Youth Court can make children live for a period of time when they break the law.
Lawyer
A lawyer is someone who:
- understands what the law says
- will make sure everyone does what is best for the child.
Rights
Rights are rules about how everybody should be treated fairly.
Treat
When we treat someone, we give them help to stop being dependent on drugs.
They get the support they need to stop using drugs.
We call this treatment.
Youth Treatment Orders
A Youth Treatment Order is a way to:
- find out if a child is dependent on drugs
- treat a child who is dependent on drugs.
Contact us
(08) 7425 5099
Consultation has concluded
