Community-led solutions and early intervention are the answer. We aim to do our part with the Aspire to Inspire youth justice program.
Wrestling with a disempowering youth justice system
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Category:
Youth justice
Yousef’s* story: “I couldn’t tell them what was going on”
Yousef’s story illustrates why young people from diverse cultural backgrounds are overrepresented in the youth justice system.
Yousef’s* story: “Not everyone who does something wrong needs to go to jail”
Yousef* was only 14 when he was forced into youth detention. Now, he is struggling to rebuild his life on the outside.
Kinahoi’s story: “You can overcome anything”
Having spent years in and out of detention, it took the sudden loss of a family member, the support of a youth worker and his own inner strength for Kinahoi to turn his life around.
Early intervention not youth detention
Evidence shows that putting children and young people behind bars does far more harm than good. We need to address the root causes of youth offending rather than rely on punitive responses.
Jack’s* story: A sense of connectedness
After years of involvement in the youth justice system, Jack* received cultural-specific support to connect with his community and Country to build a positive future.
Joshua’s* story: “Being locked up is another wave we have to overcome”
After becoming involved with the juvenile justice system as a young teen, Joshua* is now on track to achieve his goals of finding a job and one day becoming a youth mentor.
Omar’s* story: A sense of belonging
Omar* found it difficult to adjust to his new life as a refugee in Australia. Youth Off The Streets supported him on his path forward.