The 52nd Aboriginal Justice Forum (AJF) was held in Thornbury (Northern Metropolitan region) on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 October 2018 at the Aborigines Advancement League.
A youth focused forum
This AJF was a youth focused forum and provided opportunity for Aboriginal young people to raise justice related issues and concerns impacting them. Discussions at the forum included:
- A Welcome to Country from Aunty Di Kerr was followed by an amazing performance by the Wayapa dance group.
- The CEO of the Aborigines Advancement League (AAL), Dr Esme Bamblett shared some history and personal reflections about the AAL and gave a warm welcomed to the AJF.
- Executive Officer of the Koorie Youth Council presented on the Ngaga-dji report, recommendations and government responses.
- Youth Justice provided an overview of reforms, new initiatives and discussed the data on Aboriginal young people’s involvement in the youth justice system since
- 2015, when the last youth focused forum was held.
- Wayapa Wuurrk Foundation provided an insight into the Foundation, specifically the Traditional Mentoring Programs for Aboriginal Men, Women and Children. The Programs includes teaching participants Cultural Respect, Accountability and Responsibility with a strong No to Violence message.
- The Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People provided an overview of the work to be undertaken in Taskforce 250 to examine the cases of 250 Aboriginal young people in the Youth Justice System over 18 months and investigate the current care provided to them and identify issues that impact on their development and cultural connectedness.
- The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission provided an overview of the work undertaken, findings and recommendations of the Aboriginal Cultural Rights in Youth Justice Centres Report.
Yarning Justice session
Young Aboriginal people participated in a Yarning Justice session facilitated by the Koorie Youth Council. In the afternoon they presented to the forum on the following four key Ngaga-dji topics from their Yarning session:
- Supporting Aboriginal organisations to provide girls, LGBTQIA and people with disabilities to programs and services that meet their needs
- Keeping children safe and strong in their families and communities
- Community controlled services that prevent and intervention unjust policing
- Getting young people out of the Youth Justice System and into culturally safe diversion programs
Youth Justice issues
In the late afternoon of Day one, members of the Aboriginal community joined AJF members to raise youth justice related issues concerning them and have these responded to by the responsible AJF member. Discussion at the Community Forum included:
- A story of a young women’s experience in foster care and poor treatment from police
- The importance of culture
- Additional housing needs from a careers perspective
- A community members lack of support from the Department of Health and Human Services
Koorie Youth Council facilitated workshop
On Day Two of the forum the Koorie Youth Council facilitated a workshop with AJF members asking to reflect on what they have heard from Day one of the forum and propose practical actions in response. Some of the feedback from the workshop:
- Education system to support young people by providing more KESOs and developing a culturally safe space with in schools for young people
- Culturally safe spaces and more gathering places
- Young people and Elders to be involved in the development of diversion programs
- A state-wide mapping program to identify existing project and youth workers/workers that support young people
- Holistic wrap around support services
- Culturally based inclusive services
- Develop more programs for girls
Who to contact for more information
Troy Austin
Northern Metropolitan Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (RAJAC) Executive Officer
Phone: 03 8256 9276 (External link)
Email: troy.austin@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)