Bimberi and youth justice services remain open
Keeping young people safe and supported is an essential focus for the ACT while we all work through the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Bimberi Youth Justice Centre (Bimberi) and Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) are continuing to operate. Bimberi and CYPS will continue to respond to the changing COVID-19 situation and whenever needed make changes to the way their services are provided based on the current advice of health and government leaders to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Regardless of the situation, Bimberi and CYPS remain focused on protecting the health and safety of young people they work with as well as their dedicated staff, and will always operate in a COVID-safe way. Please be assured, Bimberi and CYPS staff are here to help you.
Information for young people involved with youth justice.
Family, carers and important people and support services in a young person’s life are encouraged to stay in contact with and continue to be a central part of a young person’s life while they are at Bimberi.
General information about Bimberi, what it is and how it works is available at Bimberi Youth Justice Centre.
Support for young people
When a young person is at Bimberi, they are supported by a range of professionals, including youth workers, educators, therapists, security guards and more. Each young person will have a key youth worker to help them manage their day-to-day living, and a Family Engagement Officer is also there to offer daily help. Case managers from Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) also provide young people with support through the formal processes like court. CYPS case managers work with a young person and their family to put together a plan about their care and support to address any problems and help build their skills for the future. This plan is also supported by Bimberi staff.
If a young person already has a case manager in the community, this arrangement will continue while they are in Bimberi. To talk with a young person’s case manager, contact Child and Youth Protection Services (North or South region).
Education and training
All young people at Bimberi attend education or training each day. The Murrumbidgee School provides a range of programs including recognised certificate courses, tutoring and transitional support back into the community. There are also opportunities for sport and recreation, art and cultural programs and school holiday activities.
Murrumbidgee School is operated within Bimberi by the Education Directorate.
Health and wellbeing
All young people at Bimberi have access to primary health care provided by Canberra Health Services (Justice Health Services and Forensic Mental Health Services) and through partnerships with community organisations.
If a young person has any medical or mental health issues, it is important staff at Bimberi know so they can provide ongoing support. Young people are able to connect with their existing community services and supports while at Bimberi.
Staff will notify a young person’s family or carer about any concerns or health issues that may occur while they are at Bimberi.
Keeping in touch
Visits, phone calls and mail from approved family members and significant others are an important part of supporting a young person while they are at Bimberi and in keeping them connected to their community.
It is also important if during your conversations with a young person you become concerned about them or of any circumstances that may be affecting them, that Bimberi staff know of your concerns so they can provide further support to the young person.
Visits
Visiting conditions apply at Bimberi and all visits require prior approval and booking. Visits are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and the time of the visit will work around the young person’s program commitments.
Conditions of entry:
- All adult visitors are required to produce photo identification on arrival.
- Prohibited items cannot be brought into Bimberi, be provided to a young person in Bimberi or be removed from Bimberi. This is a legal offence under the Children and Young People Act 2008and can result in legal action. See prohibited items.
- Visitors are required to sign a form acknowledging they understand the visiting conditions. A full copy of the conditions of entry is available on request.
- For the safety and security of everyone in Bimberi, all visitors will undergo a security check.
Visitor conduct during visits:
- All visitors must comply with any directions given by Bimberi staff. This includes lawful directions. Refusal to comply may see the visit cancelled or stopped. Refusal to comply with a lawful direction or a direction to not enter or to leave Bimberi are offences under the Children and Young People Act 2008 and can result in legal action.
- All visitors must comply with any conditions set for the visit, or the visit may be cancelled or stopped.
- All visitors must not engage in physical contact, behaviour or use language that may offend staff, other young people in Bimberi or other visitors.
- All visitors must be considerate of, and not cause disruption to, other visits.
- Adult visitors or primary carers are responsible for the care and behaviour of any children also attending the visit.
General considerations:
- All visitors must be approved before booking a visit. Check with the Family Engagement Officer or a Unit Manager for approval processes. See Contact Bimberi for phone numbers.
- Visits must be booked 24 hours in advance. Any visitor that arrives without a booking may be refused entry.
- All legal and welfare visits must be organised and booked through case management. See Contact Bimberi for phone numbers.
- There is a maximum number of visitors per visit. This can change depending on any existing community health and safety matters current at the time.
- All adult visitors must show photo identification.
- Any visitor who appears under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be refused entry.
- Visitors who have prohibited items will not be permitted into Bimberi.
- Personal items (such as bags) cannot be taken into Bimberi. Lockers are provided for storage of any items during visits. A visitor’s property may also be subject to a search.
- To ensure ongoing safety of everyone in Bimberi, a visitor may be subject to a search (scanning, frisk or ordinary search) prior to entry or while in Bimberi.
- Bimberi uses both CCTV and audio monitoring. A visitor’s actions and voice may therefore be recorded while at Bimberi.
- Bimberi is a smoke free facility. Smoking is not allowed inside the boundary gates.
Visiting times:
- Monday: No visits
- Tuesday:4pm, 5pm
- Wednesday: No visits
- Thursday:4pm, 5pm
- Friday: No visits
- Saturday:9am, 10am, 11am
- Sunday:3pm, 4pm, 5pm
- Weekday public holidays: 9am, 10am, 11am
Phone calls
Young people in Bimberi can contact approved family members and others once these phone numbers are verified. All phone contact must be approved before calls can be received. The Family Engagement Officer or a Unit Manager can help you arrange contact. See Contact Bimberi for phone numbers.
Young people receive a minimum of four phone calls to approved people each week.
Mail and property
Young people can receive and send mail to and from approved people. Mail coming in and out of Bimberi is recorded, scanned and may also be searched.
Mail that contains any prohibited item or inappropriate content is not permitted into Bimberi. In these cases, the mail may be returned, placed with the young person’s property or forwarded to the police.
See Contact Bimberi for mailing address.
Personal belongings
Young people are allowed to have some personal property while they are in Bimberi, such as photos, books or other small items. All personal property requires Bimberi approval.
If you would like to give something to a young person, talk to a Unit Manager or Family Engagement Officer who can let you know how this can be arranged. See Contact Bimberi for phone numbers.
Prohibited items
The items listed below are prohibited in Bimberi. Only if approved by the Bimberi Executive Branch Manager for a specific purpose or program will such items be allowed and given to a young person:
- cigarettes, cigarette papers, pipes and tobacco
- alcohol, drugs or associated paraphernalia
- lighters, matches and flints
- weapons or firearms
- non-issued keys
- money, credit cards or bankcards
- pornography or material containing adult, criminal or offensive content
- any part of a thing mentioned above
- prescription and non-prescription medication, other than those approved for the young person’s health and wellbeing
- tools and related equipment
- razor blades, knives or anything that can be used to cut
- food stuffs, other than at mealtimes and provided by Bimberi
- prams and bassinettes, other than those required for specific needs as approved
- toiletry and grooming products other than those issued in Bimberi
- needles, syringes or other sharps
- cameras
- handbags, backpacks or bags of any kind
- petrol, thinners or propellants of any kind
- glues or aerosols
- mirrors, glass or ceramics of any kind
- jewellery
- cosmetics of any kind
- wire, rope or cord of any kind
- mobile phones, smart electronic wearables include smart watches, or portable electronic equipment
- personal possessions, unless approved.
Resolving concerns and complaints
Bimberi has worked with the Children and Young People Commissioner to make sure young people have information and support and know how they can make a complaint if they are unhappy about any aspect of their treatment or services offered while at Bimberi.
Young people, families and visitors can raise any concerns or complaints with a Bimberi Unit Manager. If concerns cannot be resolved by doing this, the Unit Manager can help people to complete the formal complaints process. All complaints are treated confidentially and staff will keep you informed throughout the process.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to bring clothes for a young person?
No. Bimberi supplies all clothing to young people.
Can food, such as birthday cake be brought into Bimberi?
No. All food is provided (including birthday cakes).
If a young person is on medication, should this be brought to Bimberi?
No. Let staff know a young person is on medication and they will follow-up on any health or medical needs.
If a young person has been supported by a counsellor or other service in the community, can this continue?
Yes. Bimberi encourages existing services to remain involved while young people are in custody.
Can I give a young person money for buying extra items?
No. Bimberi has an incentive system and young people can ‘earn’ points that can be spent on extra items.
How often can I visit?
Approved people can visit four days a week within visiting times. There may be times when a visit will need to be changed or cancelled because of operational requirements. Visitors will be notified before the visit where possible. For more information see Keeping in touch.
How can family members or friends of a young person become an approved visitor?
Bimberi’s Family Engagement Officer at Bimberi or a Unit Manager can help with the process of becoming an approved visitor. See Contact Bimberi for phone numbers.
Getting to Bimberi
Bimberi is located on Morisset Road.
- Car: Access to Bimberi is from Morisset Road (off Flemington Road or Old Wells Station Road).
- Public transport: Bus and light rail services are available through Transport Canberra.
Page updated: 24 Nov 2022
