Justice-involved Young People (JYP) Network
Connecting people working for better outcomes for justice-involved young people in Victoria.
Overview
Since 2017, the Justice-involved Young People (JYP) Network has been working to bring academics, practitioners, policymakers and young people together to address issues facing children and young adults involved with the justice system in Victoria. Led by Dr Diana Johns (Criminology, School of Social and Political Sciences) and Dr Sophie Rudolph (Education, Melbourne Graduate School of Education) and supported by Director of Advocacy, Michelle McDonnell, the JYP Network is built on a strong foundational awareness of the links between education-system exclusion and justice-system involvement, particularly for children and young people who – through experiences of poverty, violence and complex, multiple disadvantage – have an increased susceptibility to criminalisation and punitive treatment by the State and State-funded agencies.
Outcomes / activities
Since our launch in 2018 by Commissioner for Children and Young People, Liana Buchanan, the Network has hosted a range of activities and events, including:
- “Building Culturally Safer and Relationally Stronger Schools” webinar (September 2020)
- Expert roundtable on “The Future of Youth Justice in Victoria” (March 2020)
- Launch of “Local Time: Design Guide for Therapeutic Youth Justice Facilities in Victoria” report by Sanne Oostermeijer and Matt Dwyer, with panel discussion, co-hosted with RMIT Architecture (February 2020)
- “Roundtable on Child Protection and Youth Justice” – with high-level representatives from community-based and statutory organisations (June 2019)
- “Emerging Practitioner Forum” – a student-focused, workforce-oriented event co-hosted with Jesuit Social Services and RMIT University (November 2018)
- “Voices for Justice, Stories for Change” – with Koorie Youth Council, African community members, and Brunswick Free Theatre performing ‘South Sudan Voice’ (October 2018)
Media
This media interview on MAD Village 98.9FM 29 October 2018 features Diana Johns and Michelle McDonnell talking about the JYP Network, its inception, aims and aspirations.