Raise the Age Campaign

Every child should be free to go to school, have a safe home to live in and be supported to learn from their mistakes.

Yet across Victoria and Australia, Governments are putting children between 10 and 13 years old in prison. Given the ongoing legacy of colonisation and its impact on the justice system, the current law disproportionately impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

View this recent webinar hosted by the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service to hear from an amazing panel about why we need to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 years to 14 years and invest in community-led solutions.

With the upcoming State Election, follow the link to write to your local MP, it takes less than a minute!

Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS)

VALS’ legal services include Family, Civil, and Criminal law. Our Wirraway Police and Prison Accountability practice advocates for the rights of people in prison or in custody. Wirraway also advocates for improved policing and corrections accountability. Balit Ngulu are our team specialising in work with young people.

A Plan for Aboriginal Justice in Victoria (published October 2022)

“VALS was formed almost 50 years ago to ensure Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people had access to high-quality legal services that are culturally safe and holistic. We promote self-determination and social justice for our communities through their rights to empowerment, identity and culture. We want our communities to be built on strong families.

We want our people to be connected to community, culture, and Country. We want our communities to have the opportunity to make the choices in life that they believe are best. We believe our communities deserve secure housing, excellent healthcare and education, and secure work that pays the bills.”

Become a friend of VALS by visiting the above link.