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.

09/09/2026

Right now, in Victoria, asking a stranger for help can result in a criminal record and imprisonment.

Begging carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison under the Summary Offences Act. In practice, it's used against people who have run out of options, including young people sleeping rough – with no money for their public transport fare, let alone rent.

A criminal record doesn’t fix homelessness, it compounds it. It blocks housing and jobs long after the immediate crisis point.

Every other state and territory has already moved away from making begging a criminal offence. An amendment before Parliament would finally repeal it in Victoria too.

Ben Carroll MP, it’s time to support it. Young people are doing it tough enough.

08/09/2026

Ahead of the 2026 Victorian Election, the Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria is calling for secure five-year funding and a $120 million investment to help 120,000 more Victorians get the support they need.

It takes 30 seconds to send a message to your local MP.

👉 fclc.org.au/wgyb_education

06/09/2026

Huge congratulations to Youthlaw board member Connor Pall, named a finalist in the 2026 Protecting Children Awards for the Robin Clark Leadership Award.

This award recognises leaders whose vision and advocacy have shaped better outcomes for children, young people and families across Victoria. Connor's advocacy speaks to exactly the kind of system-wide impact this award celebrates: using lived experience to influence practice, policy and the people around him.

We're incredibly proud to have Connor on our board, and even prouder to see his leadership recognised at this level. So well deserved! 🎉

📸: from Conor

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

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.

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

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

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/

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

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

Address

106-108 Victoria Street
Melbourne, VIC
3053

Website

http://www.youthlaw.asn.au/

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