First Nations children and young people belong to the longest surviving continuous culture on this planet. First Nations young people ‘desire to connect with culture, to be heard, to feel safe and protected, and to move forward’. Connection to culture is also a strong preventative factor for contact with the criminal justice system.

Multicultural children and young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds are important and valued members of the Victorian community, recognised for the ‘knowledge, skills and culture’ they individually and collectively possess and disperse across all of its facets.

18-25 year olds. Discussion regarding this cohort is integrated into the other categories in this guide. This is due in large part to a lack of data about the experiences of this specific age group.

Children and young people living in residential home care are members of our Victorian community with enormous strengths, in spite of the harm and structural barriers they face, that if enabled, and supported to heal, can realise their goals and aspirations.

Girls and young women with complex needs are also over-represented in the criminal justice system. This is particularly the case for girls and young women who are survivors of sexual and family violence, have histories of untreated mental health and alcohol and other drug (‘AOD’) use, and have out-of-home residential care experience.

Empower communities through community services that bring and share power with impacted and affected communities. 

Build public support Victorians understand the root causes of youth offending and evidence-based approaches that reduce offending and reoffending behaviours

Shift funder practices Redirect funding to place-based justice reinvestment initiatives that address overrepresentation and its root causes.

Decentre police from community crime prevention and safety and center community Victorians understand that police aren’t the solution to community safety and crime prevention and that a whole- of- community approach is required.