Young women the focus of seminar
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Associate Professor Christine Alder of the University of Melbourne’s Department of Criminology and Minister Campbell with keynote speakers Associate Professor Sibylle Artz from the University of Victoria in British Columbia and Dr Anne Worral from the University of Keele in the UK. |
Delegates to a Juvenile Justice seminar were told of overseas and Victorian initiatives to stop young women progressing through the criminal system.
The Still Standing Strong: Exploring Issues for Young Women in Juvenile Justice seminar attracted Victoria and interstate participants from juvenile justice, community and government agencies, universities, police and the legal system.
A partnership initiative between the Juvenile Justice Section of the Department of Human Services and the University of Melbourne, the seminar focused on the critical role gender plays in life experience, offending behaviour and the developmental needs of young women.
It provided a valuable forum for international and local speakers to consider broad issues and focus on Victorian initiatives and program planning.
The seminar recognised that although young women are a minority in the juvenile justice system, the number of young women in custody has risen sharply in the last 18 months—particularly 17 to 21-year-olds sentenced by adult courts on a juvenile justice order as a direct alternative to imprisonment.
The risk of young women re-offending and progressing through the criminal justice system has been addressed by gender specific initiatives as part of a juvenile justice reform strategy launched by Minister for Community Services Christine Campbell last year.
Improving the self-esteem and life skills of young women in the juvenile justice system, minimising the likelihood of sexual exploitation by others and reducing the risk of re-offending are priorities of the strategy.
A successful young women’s community intensive placement program and pre-release and rehabilitation initiatives have already been implemented at Parkville Youth Residential Centre–Victoria’s only custodial facility for girls and young women aged 10–21.
Improved community accommodation, community transition supports and links to drug treatment and mental health services are also part of the strategy.
A working group is overseeing the design and monitoring of strategy initiatives.
The working group has been chaired by Eastern Metropolitan Regional Director Pam White, who has been appointed Community Care Director.
Minister Campbell’s opening address to the seminar focused on the particular disadvantage faced by young women in the juvenile justice system.
She said young women in the system were keen to offer their opinions and encouraged delegates to listen to their views.
Two videos—A Look Inside Parkville Youth Residential Centre and Victoria’s Juvenile Justice System—were launched after the seminar.