The NSW inquiry into youth justice is the latest in a long line of reviews, investigations and Royal Commissions into justice-related matters in Australia.
In 2025, the National Children’s Commissioner identified the treatment of children in the criminal justice system as “one of the most urgent human rights issues facing Australia today” and made a comprehensive case for reforming child justice systems. Despite urgent calls for action, governments – including in NSW – have failed to take meaningful steps to implement the recommendations from these many reviews and the number of children held in youth detention in NSW continues to rise.
The NSW Government must make a fundamental shift away from punitive, carceral youth justice approaches and towards therapeutic responses grounded in the needs of children and young people. The recommendations in our submission set out a path to not only address the underlying causes of harmful behaviour, but also support accountability, healing and longer-term community safety. This includes by urgently addressing the dearth of support services designed for child victim-survivors of violence and abuse, as well as culturally safe healing models and supported housing across Australia. This inquiry offers a critical opportunity for the NSW Government to establish a youth justice system that supports healing and recovery and addresses children’s core needs, enabling them to live to their full potential.
