Youthlaw

Youthlaw Working for justice for young people under 25 through legal services, advocacy, education and law reform.

Youthlaw is Victoria’s state-wide free community legal centre for young people under 25 years of age. We provide free and confidential legal advice, information and casework services to young people up to the age of 25 years. We provide education programs for young people about their legal rights and responsibilities. We provide advice and information to advocates for children and young people abo

ut how the law affects young people. And we advocate for law reform on a range of justice policy issues for young people, including young people and police, fines, diversion and raising the age of criminal responsibility.

Two more people are turned away for every one person a community legal service can help.That's the reality across Victor...
19/08/2026

Two more people are turned away for every one person a community legal service can help.

That's the reality across Victoria right now. Community legal services keep people safe from family violence, keep them in their homes, and support young people in crisis. But chronic underfunding means most people who need help simply can't get it.

Ahead of the 2026 Victorian Election, the Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria is calling on all parties to commit to five-year funding certainty and a $120 million investment to reach 120,000 more Victorians.

It takes 30 seconds to email your local MPs and back it.
🔗https://www.fclc.org.au/gotyourback

Almost 145,000 Australians with autism or developmental delays are expected to lose NDIS support under proposed reforms....
17/07/2026

Almost 145,000 Australians with autism or developmental delays are expected to lose NDIS support under proposed reforms. Internal government estimates show 241,000 people will be shifted off the scheme by 2031, and nearly two-thirds of these will be children and young people.

The government says the scheme needs to focus on "significant and permanent disability." Advocates say a one-size functional capacity test can't account for how differently autism presents from person to person and that children and young people may lose support before equivalent alternatives are in place.

We know from our work with young people that early support matters. Losing early intervention support doesn't just mean losing a service. It can mean losing the thing that helps a young person stay in school, stay connected to their community, and stay out of contact with police and courts.

We're not opposed to strengthening the NDIS. But reform should not come at the expense of children and young people. We're opposed to cutting support before a genuinely equivalent alternative is funded, staffed and proven to work.

If the goal is a sustainable NDIS, withdrawing support from children and young people during the years it can make the greatest difference is the wrong place to start.

Swipe through for the numbers → link in bio for the full Guardian article.

This NAIDOC Week 🖤💛❤, the theme is 50 Years of Deadly. Celebrating and commemorating 50 years of Aboriginal and Torres S...
06/07/2026

This NAIDOC Week 🖤💛❤, the theme is 50 Years of Deadly. Celebrating and commemorating 50 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people leading, organising and refusing to be silenced.

We see how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are overrepresented in Victoria's youth justice system. Real change means centring their voices and leadership.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and to the young people carrying this legacy forward.

First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and National NAIDOC websites for more.

🎨Poster by Zaachariaha Fielding

📢 We're hiring! Manager – Policy & Advocacy to lead our advocacy and campaigns work. This role is for someone who wants ...
29/06/2026

📢 We're hiring! Manager – Policy & Advocacy to lead our advocacy and campaigns work. This role is for someone who wants to challenge unjust laws, influence decision-makers, and build real pathways for young people to drive systemic change.

You'll lead Youthlaw's Advocacy & Comms program — covering housing, criminalisation, First Nations justice, poverty and access to justice.

Applications close Friday 24 July.

ethicaljobs.com.au/members/youthlaw/manager-policy-advocacy?keywords=youthlaw

Victoria's police chief is calling for mandatory minimum sentences, including for children and young people. We're calli...
26/06/2026

Victoria's police chief is calling for mandatory minimum sentences, including for children and young people. We're calling on the government to reject it.

Mandatory sentencing ties judges' hands before they've heard a word of evidence. And it will fall hardest on young people who've already been let down by systems that should have supported them.

The Victorian Government has already committed to an independent review of sentencing laws. Those findings should come first, not rushed reforms ahead of an election.

Full statement in the slides.
youthlaw.asn.au/youthlaw-rejects-calls-for-harsh-and-ineffective-mandatory-sentencing-laws/

At Youthlaw, we see what happens when young people can't get legal help in time. Small problems become serious ones fast...
18/06/2026

At Youthlaw, we see what happens when young people can't get legal help in time. Small problems become serious ones fast.

That's why we're backing the Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria's call for $120 million in new funding for free legal services across Victoria.



fclc.org.au/gotyourback

We asked for you to weigh in on what matters to young people right now, and what we should focus on. This is what you to...
10/06/2026

We asked for you to weigh in on what matters to young people right now, and what we should focus on. This is what you told us 🤝

Don't forget to donate to our EOFY campaign and help us continuing showing up for young people in Victoria https://www.givenow.com.au/be-there-when-it-counts-youthlaw

We're aiming to raise $5,000 to cover practical costs for clients on the days that matter most, things like a meal befor...
09/06/2026

We're aiming to raise $5,000 to cover practical costs for clients on the days that matter most, things like a meal before a hearing, or accommodation the night before for young people travelling from a rural or regional area.

Donations are tax-deductible before 30 June.

$25 covers a meal. $80 covers a night's accommodation.

Support the campaign: givenow.com.au/be-there-when-it-counts-youthlaw

You can find the update on the Inquiry into Public School Funding, as well as our original submissions here: YACVic tr.e...
04/06/2026

You can find the update on the Inquiry into Public School Funding, as well as our original submissions here:

YACVic tr.ee/2-qJieJzUe
Youthlaw tr.ee/P8pE7hdC4r

Last night's Four Corners exposed what happens when police oversight fails. This isn't just a NSW problem, young people ...
02/06/2026

Last night's Four Corners exposed what happens when police oversight fails. This isn't just a NSW problem, young people in Victoria are navigating the same broken system every day. We've put out a statement calling for urgent reform.

Read more: youthlaw.asn.au/this-is-not-just-a-nsw-problem-victorian-youth-legal-service-youthlaw-calls-for-independent-police-oversight-as-four-corners-exposes-systemic-misconduct-and-cover-ups/

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106-108 Victoria Street
Melbourne, VIC
3053

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