YOORROOK Report into Victoria’s Child Protection and Criminal Justice Systems for Justice

By The Yoorrook Justice Commission (Vic)

This is Yoorrook’s second interim report. It considers systemic injustices in the child protection and criminal justice systems. It fulfils the requirement in the amended Letters Patent dated 4 April 2023 to deliver a second interim report by 31 August 2023. This report is divided into seven parts: Part A (this section) includes the Letter of Transmission, Chairperson’s foreword, and this brief introduction to the report’s methodology and terminology. Part B includes an Executive Summary, list of recommendations and key facts. Part C examines the historical foundations of the child protection and criminal justice systems. It explains how current injustices, including systemic racism and human and cultural rights violations created by these systems, are not just historical, but continue to persist today with critical impacts on First Peoples families and communities. It then goes on to discuss matters for Treaty in relation to child protection and criminal justice. In particular, Yoorrook finds that the transformation necessary to end the harms that the child protection and criminal justice systems continue to inflict on First Peoples can only be addressed through self-determination involving the transfer of power, authority and resources to First Peoples via the treaty process. Part C concludes by examining consistent themes in evidence to Yoorrook that span both the child protection and criminal justice systems including accountability and transparency, cultural competence and responsivity, and compliance with cultural and human rights obligations. Whole of government recommendations to address these issues are made. Part D examines critical issues in the child protection system. It begins with a short overview of some of the key policies, laws and human and cultural rights that are engaged by this system. It then examines the pathway into, through and beyond child protection with chapters on early help, child removal, out of home care, permanency and reunification. Findings on critical issues and recommendations for urgent action are made in each chapter

Yoorrook Justice Commission, 2023 445p.