← New South Wales Youth Justice
Accountability TrackerNSW
New South Wales Youth Justice Tracker
What did the NSW government promise, who got the money, who runs those organisations, what’s their track record, and what’s the political context?
200
Avg daily detention
22x
Indigenous overrepresentation
$3,200
Cost per day (detention)
72%
Unsentenced (remand)
The Story in Three Numbers
$1,168,000
per child per year in detention
72%
unsentenced (on remand)
3.6/10K
youth detention rate
New South Wales detains 200 children on an average day at $3,200/day. First Nations young people are 22x overrepresented in detention. 72% of those detained haven't been sentenced — they're on remand. Detention numbers have increased 86% over 5 years.
The Numbers That Matter
Source: outcomes_metrics database — AIHW, ROGS, state reports.
200
Avg daily detention
22x
Indigenous detention rate ratio
72%
Unsentenced (remand)
Detention
$3,200/day
$1,168,000 per child per year
Community Supervision
$156.6/day
10.5x cheaper
ROGS 2026 — System Snapshot
227
Daily detention
1,091
Daily community
344
Detention beds
66.1%
Utilisation
117
Indigenous in detention
397
Indigenous in community
170
Males
14
Females
Sentenced vs Remand
AIHW quarterly avg nightly detention, ages 10-17. 80% are unsentenced — on remand, not convicted.
144
Unsentenced (remand)
↑ 38% since 2021-22
35
Sentenced
2023-24Q1148
2023-24Q2164
2023-24Q3167
2023-24Q4195
2024-25Q1180
2024-25Q2164
2024-25Q3184
2024-25Q4179
SentencedUnsentenced (remand)
Safety in Custody — 10-Year Trend
ROGS 2026 rates per 10,000 custody nights.
All Assaults9per 10K nights
↑ 400% since 2015-16
2015
2
2016
8
2017
6
2018
10
2019
12
2020
10
2021
14
2022
9
2023
11
2024
9
Self-harm & Attempted Suicide1per 10K nights
↓ 45% since 2015-16
2015
1
2016
1
2017
2
2018
4
2019
2
2020
2
2021
2
2022
0
2023
0
2024
1
Cost per day (detention)$2,573(was $1,649 in 2015-16)
Closing the Gap — Target 11
Off TrackIndigenous youth detention rate per 10K — reduce overrepresentation by 2030-31.
Current (2023-24)
18.6
Projected 2030-31
15.4
How NSW Compares
New South Wales vs other states — AIHW Youth Justice 2023-24 & ROGS 2026.
| Metric | QLD | NSW | VIC | WA | NT | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detention rate (per 10K) | 5.1 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 4.2 | 17 | 3.4 |
| Avg daily detention count | 317 | 200 | 120 | 145 | 62 | 950 |
| Indigenous overrepresentation | 26x | 22x | 14x | 24x | 5x | 17x |
| First Nations detention rate (per 10K) | 42 | 32 | 18 | 38 | 25 | 26.1 |
| Avg days in detention | 104 | 55 | 37 | 68 | 45 | 62 |
| Cost per day (detention) | $2,162 | $3,200 | $7,123 | $2,573 | $4,800 | $3,635 |
| % unsentenced (remand) | 86% | 72% | 65% | 78% | 80% | 75% |
| 5-year trend (detention) | +53% | +86% | +37% | -10% | 0% | +19% |
Data from outcomes_metrics database. Sources: AIHW Youth Justice in Australia 2023-24, ROGS 2026 Table 17A.
Closing the Gap: Target 11
Reduce rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (10-17) in detention by 30% by 2031.
NSW Status
WORSENING
32 per 10K (was 22 in 2019)
National Status
NO CHANGE
26.1 per 10K
Target (2031)
-30%
Need 22.3 per 10K nationally
NSW First Nations Detention Rate Trend
2019-20
22Baseline
2020-21
18COVID dip
2021-22
26
2022-23
30
2023-24
32First Nations detention rate per 10K 10-17yo
Oversight & Accountability
What oversight bodies have found — and whether anyone listened.
NSW Inspector Of Custodial Services
- •That Youth Justice NSW develop and implement a strategy to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people at Reiby, including culturally appropriate programs and stronger connections to community
- •That Youth Justice NSW ensure all young people in detention have access to a minimum of 10 hours per week of structured educational programs, and that access is not restricted as a behavioural management tool
- •That Youth Justice NSW reduce the use of isolation and separation of young people, ensure all instances are properly documented, and implement alternatives to isolation for managing challenging behaviour
- •That Youth Justice NSW improve transition planning for young people leaving detention, including housing, education, employment, and health supports, commencing at least 3 months before release
1. Who Runs It
Board and leadership for top funded NSW youth justice organisations.
Rodney Jones (chair)Alexandra Walter (director)Isobel Conroy-Ryan (director)Rushda Halith (director)Isobel Conroy-Ryan (secretary)
Winston Burrows (chair)Ronald Mason (officeholder)Wendy Jensen (secretary)
PUBLIC TRUSTEE (trustee)Tony Brumfield (trustee)
2. Evidence & Accountability
Australian Living Map of Alternatives (ALMA) evidence for NSW youth justice programs.
61 of 63 interventions have formal evidence97%
Youth on Track (YoT)
Early InterventionPromising (community-endorsed, emerging evidence)
Mission Australia Youth Services NSW
Wraparound SupportPromising (community-endorsed, emerging evidence)
Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT Youth Justice Program
DiversionPromising (community-endorsed, emerging evidence)
Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women's Legal Centre Youth Program
DiversionPromising (community-endorsed, emerging evidence)
Maranguka Justice Reinvestment Project (Bourke)
Justice ReinvestmentEffective (strong evaluation, positive outcomes)
NSW Youth Drug and Alcohol Court (YDAC)
TherapeuticPromising (community-endorsed, emerging evidence)
Moree Justice Reinvestment
Justice ReinvestmentEffective (strong evaluation, positive outcomes)
Cowra Justice Reinvestment
Justice ReinvestmentEffective (strong evaluation, positive outcomes)
Nowra Justice Reinvestment
Justice ReinvestmentEffective (strong evaluation, positive outcomes)
Mount Druitt Justice Reinvestment
Justice ReinvestmentEffective (strong evaluation, positive outcomes)
Balund-a Aboriginal Corporation Youth Services
Cultural ConnectionIndigenous-led (culturally grounded, community authority)
Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation Youth Services
Cultural ConnectionUntested (theory/pilot stage)
Redfern Youth Connect (Aboriginal Corporation)
Community-LedUntested (theory/pilot stage)
Justice Reinvestment Mechanism
Justice ReinvestmentEffective (strong evaluation, positive outcomes)
Designing a Justice Reinvestment Mechanism for New South Wales
Justice ReinvestmentEffective (strong evaluation, positive outcomes)
3. Political Context
NSW Hansard Mentions
2026-03-18
Indigenous and Youth Incarceration
2299
The Hon. CAMERON MURPHY
2026-03-18T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Council
true
Adjournment Debate
Indigenous and Youth Incarceration
...
2026-02-05
Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre
2228
Ms LIESL TESCH
Gosford
2026-02-05T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Assembly
true
Community Recognition Statements
Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre
...
2026-02-04
Bail Legislation
2255
The Hon. ROD ROBERTS
2026-02-04T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Council
true
Private Members' Statements
Bail Legislation
...
2025-12-22
Select Committee on Youth Justice
Membership
Condolences
<top
2025-12-22T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Council
true
Committees
Select Committee on Youth Justice
...
2025-11-27
Schools and Child Protection
2256
The Hon. MARK BANASIAK
2025-11-27T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Council
true
Questions Without Notice
Schools and Child Protection
...
2025-11-27
Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
In Committee
2025-11-27T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Council
true
Bills
Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill ...
2025-11-26
Select Committee on Youth Justice
Membership
Business of the House
2025-11-26T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Council
true
Committees
Select Committee on Youth Justice
...
2025-11-25
Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
Second Reading Speech
2025-11-25T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Council
true
Bills
Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill ...
2025-11-25
Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
Second Reading Debate
2025-11-25T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Council
true
Bills
Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill ...
2025-11-21
Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
Second Reading Debate
2025-11-21T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Assembly
true
Bills
Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill...
2025-11-20
Select Committee on Youth Justice
Membership
Business of the House
2025-11-20T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Council
true
Committees
Select Committee on Youth Justice
...
2025-11-20
Indigenous Elder Uncle John
110
Mr JIHAD DIB
Bankstown
Minister for Customer Ser
2025-11-20T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Assembly
true
Written Community Recognition Statements
Indigenous Elder Uncle John
...
2025-11-18
Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
First Reading
Second Reading Spe
2025-11-18T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Assembly
true
Bills
Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill...
2025-11-12
Select Committee on Youth Justice
Establishment, Membership, Chair and Deputy Chair
22
2025-11-12T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Council
true
Committees
Select Committee on Youth Justice
...
2025-11-11
Youth Justice
2287
Dr DAVID SALIBA
Fairfield
2025-11-11T00:00:00+11:00
58
1
Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)
Legislative Assembly
true
Question Time
Youth Justice
...
Network Graph
Follow the Dollar: NSW Youth Justice
Trace funding flows from budget to recipients, contracts, and lobbying connections
Data sources: AIHW Youth Justice 2023-24, ROGS 2026, Closing the Gap Dashboard, state reports, ACNC, AusTender, ALMA, Hansard, Federal Lobbying Register, AEC Donations. All metrics for 2023-24 unless noted.