The Justice for Juveniles Group was formed with an aim to find financial support for a Youth Advocacy Centre in Brisbane.

The Queensland Legal Aid Commission agreed to fund the Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC) by providing a solicitor (on secondment until 31st December 1982), funding support staff, and providing rental money and some furniture.

The Youth Advocacy Centre was officially established and set up offices on the first floor of the Hibernian Building, 246 Queen St, Brisbane.

It had three staff members: Father Wally Dethfels, Office Administrator; David Hook, Legal Aid Solicitor on secondment; and Gwenn Murray, Office Manager.

Anne McMillan replaced David Hook, senior member of the Legal Aid staff, as the secondment solicitor.

Subsidy from the Department of Children allowed YAC to employ its first full-time social worker, Jenny Felton.
(Prior to this, social work had been done by Shayne O’Laughlin, a 4th year Social Work student, who had worked with YAC on a 20 week placement; or by Social Worker Sue Benson who volunteered twice a week.)

Children’s Court brochures and legal rights cards were designed and circulated.

YAC moved into an old bank building in George St.

In conjunction with the Legal Aid Office, Duty Lawyer Schemes were established to operate in all children’s courts in the Brisbane metropolitan area.

YAC developed legal rights cards and children’s court brochures.

YAC’s After Hours Legal Service was set up with forty-three volunteer lawyers on the first roster. It was officially launched by Sam Doumay, then Minister for Justice.

BABI, or Bayside Adolescent Boarding Incorporated, was set up as YAC’s first accommodation project thanks to the efforts of Father Wally Dethlefs.

‘Zig-Zag’, otherwise known as the ‘Young Women’s Information and Referral Centre’, was established by YAC.

YAC acted as a consultant for the independent film Open Tantrum about the lives of young women who have been incarcerated.

Funding was recieved from the Department of Family Services & Aboriginal and Islander Affairs for two part-time community development workers to develop accommodation for young people.

In conjunction with the Legal Aid Office, the Centre evaluated Children’s Court schemes throughout Queensland.

Inala Youth and Community Care (IYCC), a YAC accommodation project closely following the BABI model, was established.

The Queensland Law Society Grants Committee approved a grant allowing YAC workers to travel to Gladstone, Bundaberg, Maroochydore and Toowoomba to conduct seminars about the workings of the Children’s Court.

YAC was documented and evaluated through the Youth Services Documentation Program, which evaluated the services of 43 youth agencies in Australia.

YAC moved to 215 Lutwyche Rd, Windsor as the George St building was due for demolition.

Brian Burdekin led the National Inquiry into Homeless Children. YAC presented written and oral evidence at the hearing.

‘Take Control!’ a legal education board game was developed and marketed by YAC.
The game was then sold to schools.

1989

The Burdekin Report on homeless children was released and recommendations were made that Youth Advocacy Centres, based on the Brisbane model, should be established across the country.

YAC’s After Hours Legal Service, established in 1983, was forced to close due to a lack of funding.