Victoria has established a new framework to improve the experience of young people in residential care and reduce their exposure to the criminal justice system.
New framework for young Victorians in residential care
03 February 2020
Victoria has a new framework to improve the experience of young people in residential care and reduce their exposure to the criminal justice system. The framework establishes a state-wide commitment across government departments, Victoria Police and residential care service providers.
The document ensures a consistent and collaborative response to young people in residential care by outlining agreed roles and responsibilities for agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice and Community Safety, Victoria Police and residential care service providers.
Minister for Child Protection Luke Donnellan launched the Framework to reduce criminalisation of young people in residential care in February 2020.
The framework is a response to growing recognition of the experience of children in the child protection system, including research by the Sentencing Advisory Council (SAC) about “crossover kids” or children and young people who have been placed in state care for their own safety and protection.
SAC research found crossover kids were at higher risk of ending up in the criminal justice system, with 38 per cent of those children who have been sentenced or diverted children in Victoria being the subject of at least one report to child protection. The findings also show that children who experienced residential care were about twice as likely as children who were not known to child protection to be sentenced for particular offence types, such as:
- property damage (66% compared to 29%)
- bail-related offences (50% compared to 22%)
- drug offences (23% compared to 11%)
- weapons offences (23% compared to 10%)
The framework comprises guiding principles, which reinforce trauma-informed responses by relevant agencies, connection to culture and a positive behaviour approach to inform residential care workers’ practices and procedures to support young people. It also provides a decision-making guide for residential care workers to determine whether police involvement is required and an agreed approach for police when responding to non-crisis events in residential care.