Children, youth and families

Our submission focuses on prevention and early intervention and diversionary approaches to youth justice in Tasmania. While we recognise that some young people may be involved in repeat offending, we believe that investment in the youth justice system should be weighted towards prevention, early intervention, diversion and targeted intervention.

Mission Australia is supportive of the ‘towards zero’ approach adopted by the Plan. However, to be successful it needs to more seriously tackle the issues of housing and economic security that are so closely inter-related to domestic and family violence and determine many of the risks and outcomes for women and children.

Our submission highlighted among other things the need to align and harmonise the compliance requirements with pre-existing frameworks at the national level in terms of content, timing and reporting requirements to prevent duplication.

This submission highlighted the survey findings based of young people in Victoria from Mission Australia’s 19th annual Youth Survey Report. It also highlighted the COVID-19 Recovery Plan for Young People in Victoria developed by the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria.

This submission highlighted the ongoing need for additional prevention and early intervention services, intersection between child protection and other social service systems and to extend the age of young people leaving out-of-home care to 21 years. We supported the recommendations made by FAMS, NSW peak advocacy body for children, young people, families and communities.