Urgent Help
IS THIS AN EMERGENCY? Are you or others in danger? Do you need an ambulance or the police? 24 HOURS
Lifeline 24 hour phone line for crisis support and suicide prevention. 24 HOURS
13YARN 24 hour crisis phone line support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 24 HOURS

Youth Justice Bill important first step, but more reform is needed

YSAS welcomes the passing of the Youth Justice Bill in the Victorian parliament’s upper house, bringing the state one step closer to raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12.

YSAS Acting CEO Dom Ennis said it was an important reform that will make Victoria a better place for some young people.

“Children belong in communities and schools, not jails, and this piece of legislation is a first step towards enshrining that human rights principle in Victorian law,” Ennis said.

“We thank the government for listening to the evidence and moving Victoria in the right direction.”

YSAS is also supportive of other elements of the Bill including increased provisions for cautions and diversions and measures to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in prison.

However, we are disappointed the government has backtracked on its promise to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14, despite clear evidence that shows the earlier you jail young people, the more likely they are to re-offend as adults.

“This decision is deeply disappointing, and is not guided by expert evidence and advice from Aboriginal, health, legal and human rights organisations who work directly with young people,” Ennis said. 

“In particular we stand by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations who were blindsided by this decision that disproportionately impacts Aboriginal children.”

YSAS remains concerned about punitive measures in the legislation, including electronic monitoring of young people on bail, increased police power over 10 and 11-year-olds, and increased powers to transport young people into adult prisons.

We are also concerned about amendments to the Bail Act which give police greater powers to revoke bail and charge young people with a serious offence while on bail.

“At YSAS we’ve seen firsthand how punitive measures have a devastating impact on a young person’s development and further entrench them in the criminal justice system,” Ennis said. 

“We will continue to advocate for more funding for crime prevention programs that support young people to develop a new identity outside of crime by strengthening their connections with family, school, community and prosocial activities like sports.

“Investing in trauma-informed, holistic support is the only way we will achieve our collective goal of improving young people’s lives and community safety.”

Talent available for comment: Acting CEO Dom Ennis and CEO Andrew Bruun

Contact: Beth Gibson, YSAS Storytelling and Media Lead, 0417 053 032

The latest from YSAS

Story  
26.06.2025

Koorie Youth Council (KYC) Deputy CEO Leyla Quartermaine has known the power of the Aboriginal community since she was little. “I was raised by my grandmother, but also very much raised by the Victorian Aboriginal community,” says the proud Noongar woman. “I’m a pretty big example of it taking a…

Media Release  
12.06.2025

Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS), The Loop Australia and Harm Reduction Victoria, in partnership with the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Youth Projects and Metabolomics Australia (University of Melbourne) collectively welcome the announcement by the Victorian Government of the fixed site location for the Victorian Pill Testing Service at 95 Brunswick…

Story  
03.12.2024

We are so proud to announce the launch of our 2023 YSAS Annual Report!

Inside, you’ll find real stories about young people, families and workers that showcase our remarkable impact over the last 25+ years.

Here’s just a taste of what you’ll learn about:

The broad range of multidisciplinary…

Media Release  
26.11.2024

Youth Support + Advocacy Service (YSAS), Harm Reduction Victoria, The Loop Australia, Melbourne Health and Youth Projects are thrilled to work together, and alongside the Victorian Government, to deliver the state’s mobile and fixed-site pill testing trial.

The service will begin at Beyond the Valley Festival on 28 December 2024…

Media Release  
30.10.2024

Drug checking is now legal in Victoria, meaning people will able to get their drugs checked for harmful substances and doses from this summer.

On Tuesday night, new laws passed state parliament making drug checking (often called pill testing) legal in Victoria. 

The new laws will enable 10…

Story  
16.10.2024

We tend to think of carers as older people looking after children, elderly parents or a sick partner. But young people can become carers too.

Quinney Brownfield-Hanna began helping his single mum care for his six other siblings when he was 12. Quinney is the second eldest, and his older…

CEO Message  
14.08.2024

Youth Support Advocacy Service is disappointed that the Allan’s Government has renounced its decision to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14.

Last year, the Government committed to raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 by the end of this year, and to 14 by 2027.…

Media Release  
30.07.2024

A coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, human rights, social services, health, youth, religious and legal advocates are calling on the Victorian Parliament to back and strengthen the Youth Justice Bill, which is due to be debated today.

Five years in the making, the draft laws present a promising…