Youth After-hours Diversion Service (YADS) expands
March 3, 2026
YADS supports young people who come to the attention of police in and around Hobart outside business hours.
It’s a pilot program where police officers contact Anglicare (and CatholicCare) to request a youth worker who can act as the young person’s ‘responsible adult’ when they don’t have one of their own.
Over the past six months Anglicare has supported close to 30 young people.
Examples of the types of support provided so far include:
- securing safe accommodation for a young person, so that they didn’t have to stay overnight at the police station or watch-house
- providing immediate material basics, such as food
- helping a young person experiencing anxiety because they had been refused bail
- collaborating with a specialist youth service
- supporting a young person in their journey through the justice system; and
- providing holistic support to young people and their families afterwards.
Police describe Anglicare staff as ‘easy to access, prompt and supportive’.
The program will now be expanded to include an outreach element focused on preventative support.
“This expansion will give us an opportunity to meet young people where they’re at and connect them to supports that show them a different path than coming into contact with the justice system,” Senior Program Manager Brittany Monks says.
Anglicare is also providing individually tailored, trauma-informed care to children and young people so that they can live safely in the community while on bail.
