This article originally appeared in the Law Institute Journal of Victoria’s Law Journal in October 2020. View the PDF of the article here.
Most of us take it for granted that our family will be there to help when we’re facing financial difficulties, problems with a job or relationship, or even just guide us through the basics of independent living such as signing a tenancy agreement or breaking a lease.
Youthlaw, Victoria’s youth legal centre and YACVic, the state’s youth peak body, have condemned a Bill to expand the reach of Protective Services Officers (PSOs), saying that there is no evidence that PSOs improvecommunity safety, and that young people and Aboriginal Victorians are among those who will bear the brunt of the increased policing of public space.
Children need love, care and protection to thrive, but the reality is that many Australian children suffer abuse and neglect, sometimes at the hand of people closest to them.
During National Child Protection Week (6-12 September) Youthlaw is urging police, lawmakers and other authorities to recognise the impact of childhood abuse and trauma on young people’s later behaviour.
MEDIA RELEASE
Victoria Police are being urged to help young people comply with the requirement to wear masks, educate them about the recently reinstated Stay at Home restrictions, and wipe fines issued to children to date.
Youthlaw, a specialist legal centre for young people, and other community legal centres have written to the Victorian Chief Police Commissioner, Shane Patton, urging him to instruct police to give children and young people a warning for the first COVID infringement and educate young people about the restrictions.
