Community Service
Information Sheet
April 2014
What is Community Service?
Community service is ordered by the court and requires you to do a set amount of hours of work. The court will
set the hours of community service you must do and how long you have to complete those hours.
If you have not been able to pay a fine and the Youth Court has given you community service you will need to
work the amount of hours calculated by the court instead of having to pay the fine. For every 7½ hours you
work, $100 will come off your fine.
By giving up your time to complete these work activities, you are doing something to repay the community for
the crime you have committed.
There are all different types of work activities you could be asked to do to help in your community. The work
may be gardening, food delivery, cleaning, painting, collecting rubbish, lawn mowing, clothes sorting, building
or cleaning off graffiti. Whatever the work is, all the jobs will help you to get some new skills and give back to
the community.
You are doing something to repay the community for the crime you
have committed.
Getting your community service started
You must contact the Community Service Order Program in your area within (two) 2 days of getting your order
in court. When you phone, the community service staff will make a time to meet with you.
If you are 16 years or younger, it is important that a parent, caregiver or guardian is with you at your first
meeting. At this meeting, the Community Service staff will talk to you about the work you will be doing, where it
will be and the rules you need to follow.
You will need to sign an agreement that you will follow these rules. If you are 16 years or younger, your parent,
caregiver or guardian will also need to sign this agreement.
Location
Use the numbers below if you need to contact the Community Service Order Program:
Elizabeth - phone 8256 2766
Port Augusta – phone 8648 5060 or 1800 100 118
Lonsdale – phone 8382 7197
Port Pirie – phone 1800 804 550
Ceduna/Coober Pedy – phone 1800 621 425
Port Lincoln – phone 8688 3344
Limestone Coast – phone 8735 1749
Riverland – phone 8595 2400
Murray Bridge – phone 8535 6200
Whyalla – phone 8648 8880
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Doing community service
The hours of work are normally from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm, but you will be advised if there are any changes to
this. You are expected to arrive on time. Getting to and from your community service workplace is your
responsibility but, if transport is an issue, please talk to Community Service staff who will try to help you if
possible.
Clothes
You will need to wear long shorts/pants, tops with short or long sleeves, enclosed shoes. Older clothing is
best. Make sure you wear sunscreen and bring a hat (one with a wide brim is best).
At some places you will have to wear safety gear. This could be gloves or safety glasses. If you are given any
gear, you must wear it when Community Service workers ask you to.
You get a lunch break each day so you can buy or bring your own lunch.
Following the rules
You have been given community service by the court. The court expects you to take it seriously and to follow
the rules you are given. Some rules are about your safety, some rules are about the safety of other people. To
make sure everyone is safe you must listen to and follow the direction of all Community Service staff. Some of
the other important rules are:

You must stay at the worksite during the lunch break

You may only use your mobile phone at lunch time

No smoking is allowed on the program

Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not allowed

You will need to do the work directed and follow safety rules

You must be respectful to other youth and staff.
The agreement you sign at your first meeting will include all the rules you need to follow and these will be
explained to you by the Community Service staff.
You have been given community service by the court, the court
expects you to take it seriously.
Going back to court
If you do not attend your community service at all, or don’t complete your sentenced hours in the time set by
the court, your matters will be returned to court for consideration. The court will then decide if you will receive
another sentence which could include some time in the Adelaide Youth Training Centre.
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Your Rights
Your safety
It is important that you feel safe, are not bullied, or feel like you are being asked to do something that is
unsafe.
If you are not happy with something, you can speak with the Community Service Supervisor, or if you would
prefer not to or it has not helped, you and/or a parent/guardian can fill in a feedback form and mail it to the
Community Service Supervisor.
Telling us stuff
Any personal information you talk to us about is kept private. However, if you talk about a crime you have
committed (or by someone you know) we must report it.
There is other stuff that we must report if we hear you talking about it. This may include any harm that may
have happened to you (or someone you know), or if staff have concerns about your safety and well being.
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