THE GOVERNMENT INSTRUCTED THE COMMUNITY WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THREE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT CENTERS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND SUGGEST IMPROVEMENTS. BEGINNING IN JULY 1976, THE COMMITTEE RECEIVED WRITTEN AND ORAL TESTIMONY AND MADE 14 VISITS TO THE CENTERS. THE COMMITTEE WAS AWARE OF ADVERSE PUBLICITY REGARDING SOUTH AUSTRALIAN YOUTH FACILITIES, AND ALTHOUGH IT CONCLUDED THAT THE SYSTEM GENERALLY REFLECTED INTERNATIONAL TRENDS IN JUVENILE TREATMENT, SOME ALTERNATIONS WERE URGENTLY NEEDED, SUCH AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROFESSIONAL STANDING COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP AND MONITOR A MASTER PLAN FOR YOUTH ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT. ALSO, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO ACCEPT GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN REHABILITATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS. AFTERCARE MUST BE LINKED WITH ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT AS A TOTAL PACKAGE PROGRAM. THE COMMITTEE CONCLUDED THAT ASSESSMENT WAS THE KEY ELEMENT IN THE PROCESSING OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND THAT THESE SERVICES SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM TREATMENT CENTERS AND BE ORIENTED TOWARD INTERVENTION APPROACHES. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HARDCORE CASES WHO NEED MAXIMUM SECURITY, THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT TREATMENT FACILITIES BE DEINSTITUTIONALIZED IN FAVOR OF ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS FAMILY-STYLE COTTAGE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH FOCUS ON SMALL GROUPS. ABORIGINAL YOUTHS SHOULD RECEIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION BASED ON INPUT FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES. BECAUSE SCHOOLING IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF TREATMENT, SUITABLE PROGRAMS FOR DEINSTITUTIONALIZED SETTINGS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED. THE COMMITTEE FOUND HIGH TURNOVER RATES AND INADEQUATE PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS IN THE CENTER'S STAFFS. A STRONG SUPPORT BASE AND MORE EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING ARE NEEDED ALONG WITH A STRONG ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. THE POSITION OF A RESIDENTIAL CARE WORKER SHOULD HAVE THE SAME STATUS AS A COMMUNITY WELFARE WORKER. NO REFERENCES ARE GIVEN. (MJM)