Planning your future

If you have a juvenile justice record, it should not stop you from seeking employment. It is important to have a chat to a free legal service who can advise you on your best options around employment as it can differ depending on your juvenile justice record. In some cases, if you are under 16 years of age your juvenile justice record will not be recorded on your criminal record.  In some employment there are Working with Children Checks and Police Checks that need to be cleared before you can start employment.

Questions to ask a legal representative could include:

• Will I be cleared for a Working with Children’s Check if I have been charged as a juvenile?
• Will I be cleared for a National Police Check if I have been charged as a juvenile?
• Will my charges be spent, and how long is this process?
• I would like to dispute my criminal record that has affected my National Police check, can I?
• Am I required to disclose information about my juvenile justice record?

Your Juvenile Justice officer should also be able to support you with the next steps to getting a job.

Paying off a Fine: The NSW Government created a Work Development Order so eligible young people could pay off a fine by either doing unpaid work, attending a course or – where it’s needed – receiving medical treatment or counselling.

Your case worker will talk to you about whether you are eligible to pay off a fine this way and the types of unpaid work, study or treatments you could access. Talk to your caseworker if you do have fines and you’re worried you can’t pay them.