Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC)

"The more we detain children – and the longer we detain children - the more harm we will do. And ultimately, the community will be less safe," QCOSS CEO Aimee McVeigh has told the 7:30 Report.   We do not support the Making Queensland Safer Bill. We know that more early intervention initiatives, such as YFS Ltd's Resolve program, are what’s really needed to make the community safer. Watch this report, featuring Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak Ltd, YFS Ltd and the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

Today, 10th December, is the United Nations Human Rights Day. A day to discuss defending, protecting, and advancing human rights. Meanwhile, in Queensland, the new Government is about to pass youth justice legislation that overrides the Human Rights Act (Qld) – the third time a Queensland Government has done so, and each time in relation to punishing and incarcerating children. As noted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights this week, these fundamental rights are at risk. “…there are those who are trying to discredit and disregard human rights, throwing glitter in our eyes as they redefine and undermine our fundamental freedoms.” We are distressed about the potential human rights abuses that may occur this summer as more children are funnelled into understaffed detention centres and appalling police watch house cells. We must respect the rights of victims of crime, as well as children (who are often victims themselves), in using an evidence-based approach to youth justice issues. 

Last week, YAC Chair, Damien Atkinson OAM KC, joined numerous other concerned stakeholders to speak about the Queensland Government's new youth justice legislation. "The drivers are things like domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health, and they're not fixed by jailing people" Thank you to QCOSS for their support and advocacy.

#Australia The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child #UNCRC is dismayed by the proposed changes to the law for child offenders "𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥". The Chair of the #UNCRC, Ann Skelton, views the bill as a flagrant disregard for #childrensrights and violations of several provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Yesterday, YAC CEO Katherine Hayes joined numerous other concerned stakeholders to speak about the Queensland Government's new youth justice legislation. "The Queensland Government is continuing to spend over $1 billion on a failed strategy" Thank you to QCOSS for their support and advocacy. #youthjustice #australia #youth

“The amendments will lead to sentences for children that are more punitive than necessary to achieve community safety”. Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity in the Statement of Compatibility for the Making Queensland Safer Bill.

You’re invited to our AGM on Thursday 7th November, 2023.   RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gwSxDwce   The meeting will commence at 4PM at Level 2 / 16 Peel Street, South Brisbane.   Join us for an insightful panel discussion where young people and frontline workers will come together to discuss the pressing issues facing young people in Queensland post-election 2024. Don’t miss this chance to hear firsthand from those directly affected and to engage in a dialogue that matters.

YAC appeared in this story by the NIT today: "Two 13-year-old Indigenous children were kept in adult Queensland watch houses for 26 and 25 days respectively, submissions from the youth justice inquiry have revealed." https://lnkd.in/gnvDK8Y8

YAC is pleased to invite you to “A Layman's Guide to Youth Justice Laws in Queensland”. This webinar is designed provide a digestible overview of the Youth Justice Act and other relevant laws and will answer your questions about how things pan out in practice. As a start, we will address: - What are “Serious Repeat Offenders”? - What are the sentencing options for serious crimes such as car theft, assault and break and entering? Is parole available? What is a ‘heinous’ crime? - What is the difference between adult and youth sentencing? - When is bail granted, and what conditions can be imposed? What happens when bail is breached? What diversions are available to the courts or police? (such as restorative justice and cautions) - When are convictions recorded? When do adult courts have access to a Children’s Court record? Presented by: Katherine Hayes, CEO, and Damian Bartholomew, Principal Solicitor. Mon 14 October, 4PM - 5PM Click here for more details and to register: https://lnkd.in/guufGb5i