Youth diversionary programs aim to divert young people away from the formal justice systems and courts.

Youth diversionary program, YWCA of Darwin

YWCA Darwin runs a youth diversion program where young people are referred to the program by police to divert them away from the courts.

The program is founded on restorative justice principles designed to require offenders to take responsibility for their actions and to meet the needs of affected victims and communities.

In the program, parties connected to an offence (the young person, the victim/s, police, parents, YWCA of Darwin and community service providers) come together to work out collectively how to deal with the offence.

The program has been very successful, with most clients successfully completing diversion. Some clients have gained apprenticeships and other work as a direct result of their involvement with the program.