Goal 5.1

I will be treated fairly by a system that values diversity and inclusion.

Outcomes

  • 5.1.1 The youth justice workforce is culturally aware and responsive.
  • 5.1.2 The youth justice system is free from racism and discrimination, and values gender and sexual diversity.

What it means for the young person

  • My specific needs, such as being transgender, gender diverse, LGBTQI+, a young person with a disability or a young woman, are recognised and supported.
  • When accessing services and interacting with people, I am not subject to racism, discrimination, cultural ignorance or unconscious bias.

What we will do 2022-2032

  • Embed a dedicated course unit in the Certificate IV in Youth Justice to deliver a culturally safe and responsive Youth Justice Custodial Service. Strengthen induction and refresher training for community-based Youth Justice staff on how to deliver a culturally safe and responsive service.
  • Engage Aboriginal leaders, community organisations and young people to design fit for purpose training programs to ensure youth justice custodial and community staff develop skills that are culturally appropriate and culturally competent.
  • Improve gender responsive services through the Aboriginal Youth Justice Worker expansion.
  • Deliver more specialist support for Aboriginal girls and young women in custody and in the community that help to address trauma and family violence.
  • Ensure more specialist support for Aboriginal children and young people who have experienced family violence-related trauma, particularly young men and young women who go on to use violence in their relationships.
  • Provide cultural and unconscious bias awareness workforce training and programs and services that are inclusive.
  • Ensure that there are appropriate grievance processes to address discrimination and racism in employment and the provision of services.
  • Support Aboriginal children and young people with a disability by employing an Aboriginal specific disability advisor role.
  • Develop an operational protocol between Youth Justice and the Koori worker in the Disability Advice and Response Team (DART) at the Children’s Court of Victoria to enable a joint approach to responding to the disability related needs of Aboriginal children and young people.
  • Explore new models of custodial care for LGBTQI+ Aboriginal children and young people that are culturally responsive, inclusive, and effective.
  • Ensure the Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing strategy addresses the specific needs of young men, young women, young people with a disability, and LGBTQI+ children and young people.
  • Run a dedicated recruitment campaign to increase Aboriginal Youth Justice staff.

Goal 5.2

I feel safe and confident accessing services provided by Youth Justice.

Outcomes

  • 5.2.1 The system is accountable for protecting the health, wellbeing, and rights of Aboriginal children and young people.

What it means for the young person

  • I feel safe and confident when I need to access services provided by Youth Justice.
  • If a problem arises within my time involved within Youth Justice, there are mechanisms that will identify and address these issues.

What we will do 2022-2032

  • Develop a performance framework that promotes information sharing about Aboriginal children and young people and children’s experiences in the youth justice system and sets justice related targets and accountability measures to improve young people’s outcomes.
  • Improve compliance and assurance systems to guarantee quality and service delivery of youth justice responses for Aboriginal children and young people.
  • Deliver information material for Aboriginal children and young people about youth justice services; work with the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service to promote legal rights and an understanding of the role of the Commission for Children and Young People and the Victorian Ombudsman.
  • Explore options to strengthen safeguards for children in custody as part of the new Youth Justice Act.
  • Reduce the use of isolation in Youth Justice custodial precincts, as part of the Custodial Services operating philosophy, and continue to report to the Aboriginal Justice Forum on the extent of use and publish data on a quarterly basis.
  • Conduct the Youth Justice Survey to understand the needs of Aboriginal children and young people on an annual basis.
  • Improve contracts with Youth Justice funded mainstream services so they deliver culturally safe and welcoming services for Aboriginal children and young people. Monitor and promote referral pathways to these programs and services for increased take up by Aboriginal children and young people.