Thursday, 6 March 2025

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:11): Our dedicated youth justice staff play a vital role in keeping our community safe by working with young people in the justice system to address and prevent reoffending behaviour. That is why as a government we continue to invest in our youth justice system and in programs that have proven to work to reduce crime and improve public safety. Closing the Gap is a major priority shared across this chamber, I believe. Through years of targeted investment and community-led initiatives, we have made significant progress in reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in the youth justice system. Today Victoria is leading the nation – an achievement we can be proud of, though we do recognise that more needs to be done.

We are also applying this evidence-based approach to other over-represented communities, including South Sudanese and Pasifika Australians. Our government is delivering culturally responsive programs in partnership with local communities that address the unique challenges faced by these young people and tackle the root causes of their offending behaviour. A key initiative is the lived-experience mentoring program, which pairs young people with mentors that share the same cultural background but also life experiences, in particular in the justice system. These mentors provide guidance, build trust and help the young people make positive choices, backed by a $3 million investment by our government. This initiative complements existing programs such as the South Sudanese Australian youth justice expert working group, which provides targeted support to multicultural youth. We back these programs because the evidence shows that they work. By addressing and preventing harmful behaviour we are making our community safer and giving young people a real chance to build a better future for the long term.