South Sudanese Australian young people are over-represented in the Victorian youth justice system. In 2022, an Expert Working Group is being established to address this. It will work to provide young people with pathways to living better lives as part of the Victorian community.
The Expert Working Group is part of the Youth Justice Strategic Plan
Victoria has a vision to develop a leading youth justice system that:
- reduces offending by children and young people and improves community safety
- works with others to provide genuine opportunities for children and young people to turn their lives around.
The Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2020-30 is the roadmap to achieve this vision. The plan has a focus on supporting young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups.
This Expert Working Group will work in close partnership with the South Sudanese Australian community to find ways to:
- prevent young people in their community from entering the youth justice system
- divert young people from progressing further into the youth justice system
- address underlying causes for offending among young people.
How the Expert Working Group will work
An independent person will be appointed to lead the Expert Working Group. They will be known as the Chair and lead in building trust and strong relationships with the South Sudanese Australian Community.
Partnering with the community
The Expert Working Group will engage with:
- community organisations
- religious and local networks
- parents and carers
- young people with lived experience.
Investing in effective services
The Expert Working Group will provide targeted investment to the service sector. This will build the sector’s capacity to provide programs and support to young people.
Working directly with young people and their families
The Expert Working Group will hear from young people and their families about what works for them.
The Expert Working Group will put in place action plans to meet young people’s needs. They will monitor progress, as well as overall improvements in how the youth justice system works.
Get involved with the Expert Working Group
The Expert Working Group will start in 2022 and will operate until 30 June 2025.
Community engagement activities will start later this year.
If you would like to register to be involved with the Expert Working Group, please send your details in an email to SSAyouthjusticeEWG@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)
Contact details
The Secretariat of the Expert Working Group can be contacted by email at: SSAyouthjusticeEWG@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)
Factsheet coming soon
A factsheet about the Expert Working Group will be provided in the following languages:
- English
- Dinka
- Nuer
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