Source: Australian Human Rights Commission
https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/childrens-rights/publications/help-way-earlier
Yesterday, Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner launched the report ‘Help way earlier!’: How Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing. The report is calling for significant changes to how federal, state and territory governments approach child justice and the wellbeing of children who are or at risk of being caught up in the criminal justice system.
The report sets out 24 recommendations to elevate child justice and wellbeing to being a national priority, coordinating action across Australia’s federation and ensuring reform of our justice systems based on evidence and human rights.
The report highlights the need to address the human rights of children early on, rather than taking a punitive approach where children as young as 10 years old are caught up in the criminal justice system.
The drivers of their contact with the justice system often stems from breaches of their most basic human rights. Poverty, intergenerational trauma, violence and abuse, racism, homelessness and inadequate health care.
The Commissioner spoke to 150 children and young people about what they need to stay out of trouble. Children said that they want to be safe and to have a place to live. They want to participate in positive activities. They want friends and supportive family relationships. Children want to be heard and have their views taken seriously. They want to be able to go to school and one day get a job. Children want to get extra help for themselves and their family members when it’s needed.
A home is fundamental to the safety and wellbeing of all, especially children. Homelessness and insecure housing is harmful and represents a serious breach of their human rights. It is incumbent upon all of us to urgently ensure that all children have a safe, permanent, affordable and appropriate home.
Recommendations for reform
This report recommends that national reform should be driven by:
- Australian Governments establishing a National Taskforce for reform of child justice systems
- the Australian Government appointing a Cabinet Minister for Children
- the Australian Government establishing a Ministerial Council for Child Wellbeing and
- the Australian Government legislating a National Children’s Act as well as a Human Rights Act, incorporating the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Reform also requires:
- positioning children at the centre of policymaking and service delivery
- empowering First Nations children, families and communities
- optimising community-based action
- building a capable and child-specialised workforce
- basing systems on data and evidence, and
- embedding accountability for the rights of children.
The report is the result of a project undertaken by the National Children’s Commissioner in 2023-24.
