Victorian Current Acts

YOUTH JUSTICE ACT 2024 - SECT 441

In addition to the other guiding custodial principles, Aboriginal children and young persons held in custody must be treated in a manner that—

        (a)     recognises and values their unique cultural identities and beliefs; and

        (b)     promotes and protects their cultural rights and right to self-determination; and

        (c)     supports them to overcome barriers to their healing, rehabilitation and positive development, including structural racism, discrimination and bias; and

        (d)     supports their social and emotional wellbeing; and

        (e)     keeps them connected to family, kin, community, culture, Country and Elders and actively supports and maintains these connections and empowers their families to support them while they are in the care of or transitioning from the youth justice custodial system into the community; and

        (f)     fosters each child's or young person's sense of connection and support by placing their family, kin, community and Elders at the centre of the rehabilitation and positive development of the child or young person to help that child or young person realise their potential; and

        (g)     understands, acknowledges and responds to the ongoing impacts of colonisation, intergenerational trauma and associated complexity of need.