Policy Platform
Youthlaw is an advocate for young people. We provide legal advice to individuals and we advocate for laws, practices, and policies to be changed to benefit young people.
The Youthlaw Policy Platform outlines the current policies we are advocating change for.
Smart Justice for Young People
In 2011, Youthlaw established Smart Justice for Young People (SJ4YP) – a partnership of over 40 social service, health, legal, and youth advocacy organisations.
Smart Justice for Young People stands united, calling for evidence-based and effective responses to justice involving children and young people.
Smart Justice for Young People provides a coordinated and expert voice on youth justice initiatives and reforms.
Smart Justice for Young People is committed to initiatives, systems change and reform that help children and young people have the best chance to succeed in life, supported by their families and in their communities, in particular:
Justice reinvestment: Commit to community-led, place based initiatives to tackle disadvantage and address other drivers of child and adolescent offending and to strengthen children and families
End to the overrepresentation in the criminal justice system of Aboriginal and Torres strait islander children and young people; children and youth from multicultural backgrounds; girls and young women with complex needs and children in residential care.
Raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14, and
Promote humane treatment of young people in youth detention, including:
- Improving access to health services and the health outcomes for children in detention and when released from detention and transitioning in the community
- End us of solitary confinement
- Support of the full OPCAT implementation: for oversight of youth detention and treatment of children detained.
See SJ4YP response to Inquiry into Victoria’s Criminal Justice system FINAL
And SJ4YP Key Priorities for the Victorian State Election 2022
See Letter to Attorney-General re Implementation of OPCAT 2023
Convenor: Anoushka Jeronimus (WEstJustice) anoushka@westjustice.org.au or policy@youthlaw.asn.au
Campaigns
Every year we review our key campaigns. Over the next few years, our key campaign will be Justice Reinvestment – persuading governments and decision-makers to put more funding into early intervention to prevent offending in the first place. Our other campaign areas are:
Our campaigns are run jointly with Smart Justice for Young People (SJ4YP).
Emerging and Topical Issues
See our blog for our commentary and responses to emerging and topical issues surrounding young persons issues.
Media Enquiries
Please contact Ariel Couchman, CEO of Youthlaw directly at ariel@youthlaw.asn.au or policy@youthlaw.asn.au about our advocacy priorities or in response to emerging issues around laws, policy, and practices affecting young people in Victoria.