The Cleveland Youth Detention Centre was established in 1980 at Old Common Road, Belgian Gardens, Townsville. It is a government-run facility, housing males aged 10 to 17 years who have been refused bail and remanded in custody, or who have been sentenced by the courts to a period of detention.
In August 1998 in Queensland, the Minister for Families, Youth and Community Care established a Commission of Inquiry to examine whether there had been any abuse, mistreatment or neglect of children in Queensland institutions.
This Inquiry is widely known as the Forde Inquiry, in reference to the Chairperson, Leneen Forde. The Committee reported on incidents of unsafe, improper and illegal treatment of children in Queensland institutions, including cases of sexual, physical, emotional and systems abuse. It is known as The Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions.
The Commission inquired into the current and past administration of the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre and submissions from former residents were taken. The full report is a public document, available free of charge to anyone who requests it from the Queensland Government. Its findings are detailed and explicit.
From
1980
To
Current
June 1980 -
The Cleveland Youth Detention Centre is situated at Old Common Road, Belgian Gardens, Townsville, Queensland (Building Still standing)