A ‘radical reset’ and ‘re-imagining’ of Victoria’s youth justice system is required to address the state’s stark over-representation of Aboriginal children and young people, according to a new report.
The Victorian Commission for Children and Young People examined the cases of nearly 300 children in Victoria’s youth justice system and on Thursday handed down its report with 41 findings and 75 recommendations that it said can be implemented within five years.
Justin Mohamed is the state’s Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People and says the westernised model of youth justice has failed.
Commissioner Mohamed sat down with Aboriginal youth groups to hear their stories during the inquiry and says many of the issues he heard were being voiced when he first started his career 30 years ago.
