Raise The Age
For many years now, Aboriginal communities have campaigned for raising the age of criminal responsibility – always being strong and clear in our voice.
Evidence shows that the earlier a child is locked up in prison, the more the child is at risk of being entrenched in the criminal legal systems and re-criminalised later in life.
Our children deserve a system which isn’t broken and racist, politicians that care, early intervention and culturally safe, trauma informed prevention.
Until September 2025, kids that are just 10 years old could be arrested, charged and held in youth detention in Victoria.
In April 2023, under Labor’s former leadership, the state government committed to raising the age to 12 years old by the end of 2024 and then 14 years old by 2027. In April 2024, the Allan Labor government abandoned their commitment to raise the age to 14 years old by 2027. Instead, making insufficient reforms for young people who need support.
In September 2025, Victoria has raised the age of criminal responsibility from 10 years old, to 12 years old.
Aboriginal children should be supported to go to school, have a safe home to live in and be given the opportunity to thrive and reach their goals like any other child. Data from September 2025 shows that 19.23% of Victoria’s youth justice populations are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Prison is devastating for children and can have lifelong impacts on their physical health, social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, development and connection to culture.
Raising the age to at least 14 years old would bring Victoria into line with international standards and obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. There are over 30 countries where this is in place, yet Australia is one of the last to do this. Every child deserves to have their rights respected, protected, upheld and fulfilled regardless of their circumstances.
