Resources
Putting Children First – A Rights Respecting Approach to Youth Justice in Australia
Championing a fairer youth justice system—putting children’s rights at the heart of policies, practice, and community safety.
This report explores how a rights-respecting approach can transform youth justice, improving outcomes for children, families, and communities.
Putting Children First – A Rights Respecting Approach to Youth Justice in Australia highlights the urgent need for reform. The report’s key insights and recommendations include:
- Listen to children’s voices: Ensure children are heard in all decisions that affect them.
- Raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility: Advocate for a higher age to prevent unnecessary criminalisation of young children.
- Use detention only as a last resort: Prioritise community-based and early intervention programs over incarceration.
- Address root causes: Focus on trauma-informed, culturally safe support, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
- Establish national youth justice standards: Create consistent, rights-respecting practices across Australia.
- Invest in prevention and support: Fund programs that keep children connected to family, culture, and education.
- Respect children’s rights at every stage: Ensure dignity, safety, and wellbeing are central to youth justice policies.
By adopting these recommendations, Australia can build a youth justice system that protects children’s rights, helps them thrive, and educates everyone about the importance of child rights. This resource is essential for anyone working to make rights real for children in the justice system.
