13 NOVEMBER 2025
The announcement of Victoria’s proposed legislation to try children as adults for violent crimes does nothing to address the causes of youth crime and condemns children to a life in the justice system.
The changes, which will disproportionately affect Aboriginal children who are overrepresented in Victoria’s youth justice system, are a continuation of government policies which have consistently failed Aboriginal families and communities.
VACCA CEO Muriel Bamblett said, “Early intervention programs are the best way to divert children from the youth justice system. What we need are trauma-informed, culturally safe services for our children and communities.”
“The proposed reforms to try children as adults will do nothing to divert children from crime, but instead ensure they are trapped in the justice system for life,” Ms Bamblett continued.
Under the proposed changes, children as young as 14 will appear in an adult court and could be sentenced to life in prison.
Ms Bamblett said, “This is a short-sighted attempt to fix a broader systemic issue for political gain. I am horrified by the idea of a 14-year-old being sentenced to life in prison. What do we lose as a society when a 14-year-old could spend their life behind bars?”
This proposed move disregards significant research linking poorer outcomes across every measure for children who become involved in the justice system and breaches the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child, as well as Victoria’s own Charter of Human Rights.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, like VACCA, develop early intervention and youth justice programs for children and young people that ensure they have access to the services and support they need and are diverted from the youth justice system.
“We have the knowledge and experience to work with Aboriginal children and young people, however too often our calls for appropriate funding are ignored,” Ms Bamblett said. “Why does the government want to focus more on cruel and punitive models, rather than early intervention and prevention?”
“Sentencing children as adults doesn’t solve the problem; it simply satisfies a need to be seen as ‘tough on crime’. Our children deserve better.”
We strongly urge the Allan Government to reconsider the legislation and instead invest in early intervention, prevention and education programs that support our children to make better choices.
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ABOUT VACCA - www.vacca.org
The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is Victoria’s Peak Voice for Aboriginal children. We are the leading provider of Aboriginal child and family services, and the largest provider of services for Aboriginal family violence and homelessness. We have been supporting children, young people, and families in the community for over 47 years as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).
Through our vision of self-determination – Live, Experience, and Be – we exist to support culturally strong, safe, and thriving Aboriginal communities. We deliver over 80 programs across Victoria including child and family services, family violence, support for stolen generations, child protection, cultural strengthening programs, mental health, financial services, justice and redress support, early years, and homelessness services.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we work. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present, and to their children and young people who are the future elders and caretakers of this great land.