Australian Indigenous youth justice reform advocacy

Indigenous medical and legal leaders in Australia are advocating for systemic reforms to the youth justice and incarceration system, specifically regarding First Nations children.

In July 2026, the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) testified before a Senate Committee, calling for a “health-first legislative framework” that prioritizes community-controlled services to address trauma, mental health, and housing instability. AIDA also urged the Commonwealth to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 years.

By August 2026, advocacy intensified as leaders criticized specific state-level legislative measures. In Queensland, National Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter called for the withdrawal of “circuit breaker” legislation, which allows children as young as 10 to be sent to bush camps. Critics raised concerns regarding a lack of independent oversight and potential failures to report harm at these sites. Concurrently, Nerita Waight, chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to convene an emergency youth justice summit to address punitive policies and rising recidivism.