Recent media coverage about an internal secret report (March 2016 ) to Government about the youth detention system is a missed opportunity for public debate .
Sadly, it has largely generated hysteria about a ‘crisis’ in the youth detention system and fuelled the political football match between two old rivals: ‘Tough on Crime’ and that perennial underdog ‘Youth detention system is failing.’
We have all seen the alarming reports in the media about youth brawls, carjacking and aggravated burglaries that have grown over the past 18 months in parts of Melbourne. There is no doubt this offending is disturbing and threatening to the general public.
The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic0 has just released a fantastic report ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind? on school exclusion which calls on Gov’t to address the enormous number of young people who are being excluded from school through suspension, expulsion, reduced attendance, refusal of enrolment, and being ‘asked to leave’ a school.
Did you know
10,000 Victorian young people drop out of school completely each year 6,117 do not have a home on any given night. Over 7,000 were removed from their families last year due to abuse and neglect. Last year one youth homeless service in Melbourne CBD had 7,211 visits from young people seeking helpVote for candidates and parties that are for:
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