22 August 2024
Life Without Barriers welcomes the recommendations in the Help Way Earlier Report handed down by the National Children's Commissioner on child justice and wellbeing.
The report highlights the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in how our Federal, State, and Territory Governments address the wellbeing of children who are or at risk of being drawn into the youth justice system.
Claire Robbs, Chief Executive of Life Without Barriers, responded to the report stating, “These findings expose the heartbreaking truth, that the Australian justice system is failing our children.”
“Instead of incarcerating young children we need to have services that are compassionate, adequately resourced and trauma-informed. We can and must do better than prison for children.”
"We firmly believe that the minimum age of criminal responsibility should be 14 across all Australian jurisdictions, and that detention for anyone under 18 should truly be a last resort.”
Life Without Barriers is committed to creating safer communities and reducing youth offending by tackling the root cause, such as trauma and intergenerational disadvantage, that lead children and young people toward the youth justice system.
We strongly support the establishment of a national taskforce to reform child justice systems, along with development of a federal Human Rights Act and a National Children’s Act.
Our focus must be on keeping families together, supporting vulnerable children and young people rather than criminalising them, and ensuring access to education, work, leisure, and vocational training. The overrepresentation of First Nations young people, young people with disabilities, and those living in regional, rural, and remote communities in the youth justice system is unacceptable and must be addressed.
Life Without Barriers is committed to providing trauma-informed, person-centered support to children, young people, and their families and we recognise our responsibility to work actively against youth involvement in the justice system.
“The report makes it clear: there is much work to be done to improve outcomes for children in the youth justice system. Punishing and incarcerating children with complex needs will not make our communities safer. We must continue to advocate for and implement meaningful change,” said Claire.
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