News

We are deeply saddened to have learnt of the passing of barrister James Benjamin last week. James was an outstanding advocate for young people involved in the youth justice and children protection systems in Queensland. James worked at Legal Aid, including as a valued member of the youth team, before going to the private bar…

It was great to co-host a Youth Justice Roundtable discussion with QCOSS and Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak Ltd today with so many experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate community leaders, youth organisations, and reform advocates. We look forward to continued collaboration over the coming months as we push for youth justice reform in Queensland. See more…

Last week Youth Advocacy Centre CEO, Katherine Hayes, appeared before the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee in Queensland, alongside representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd The hearings have been an opportunity for sector experts to provide to the Committee their insights as to what youth justice reform should look like. There were positive…

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Our Sunshine Coast office had a boost to its outreach activities through the Sunshine Coast Council Community Grant. YAC was able to purchase a new marquee, banners, and balls and cards to engage with young people through NAIDOC and future events. The playing cards also feature a call to action for young people in need…

We are failing our children Queensland is winning the race that no one wants to – we are locking up more children than any other state*. The current youth justice system does not adequately support young people to get their lives back on track and prevent further offending, and in many cases exacerbates the issue…

All children have a right to education. But suspensions and exclusions are going disproportionately to students with a disability. Between 2016-2020, students with disability received 46% of all short-term suspensions, despite making up about 17% of the Queensland school population. The A Right to Learn Campaign is publicly calling on the Queensland Government to conduct…

To the Queensland Government – Do Better. A 13 year old boy has been in solitary confinement, in the “harshest of conditions”, for significant periods of the 32 days he was held in the Cleveland Detention Centre before being released on bail. Due to failings in the government’s records, there is some confusion as to…

Organised by Peak Care Queensland, individuals and organisations across Queensland compiled the below open letter to the Queensland Parliament that was published in the Courier Mail on the 28th January 2023. Our open letter to the Queensland Parliament STOP YOUTH CRIME – GET SMARTER NOT TOUGHER We are organisations and individuals concerned about preventing youth…

Collectively, QAI, ATSILS, PeakCare, YAC, and C4IE are calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the use of school disciplinary absences in Queensland state schools. We need to understand why vulnerable students are being disproportionately excluded from schools and realise the broader implications of this. Read the full media release from QAI here: https://us15.campaign-archive.com/?e=test_email&u=84cc09b1cd038086b88cb850b&id=dec85c739b