03 July 2026
Peak medical bodies today spoke to a Senate inquiry noting youth incarceration is causing lasting harm to vulnerable Australian children
With strong youth justice policies having been adopted by many states and territories in recent years, doctors are concerned children as young as 10 are being put in jail when they should be receiving support for health, development and wellbeing issues.
President of the Paediatrics and Child Health Division at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Dr Niroshini Kennedy, said youth incarceration should be a measure of last resort.
“As experts in child health, our message to governments is that they risk failing generations of children,” Dr Kennedy said.
“Too many children enter the justice system after years of unmet health, developmental and emotional needs and missed opportunities for early intervention.
“Childhood adversity, trauma, developmental disability, mental illness, substance use and social disadvantage are key drivers of the behaviours that see children become involved in the justice system.
“Rather than relying on criminal justice responses, governments should fully implement existing commitments that place health, equity and self-determination at the centre of support for vulnerable children and families.
“Governments must focus on the causes of offending, with investment in early intervention, rather than relying on incarceration. Detention itself only causes further physical, psychological and developmental harm.”
Dr Kennedy said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are vastly overrepresented in youth detention despite decades of inquiries, evidence and commitments to reform.
“Governments must listen to the evidence and invest in early intervention and culturally safe, community-led solutions that are coordinated, multidisciplinary and responsive.
“Our position statement on the Health Care of Children in Care and Protection Services sets out practical recommendations to improve health outcomes for children and young people involved with child protection and out-of-home care services.
“This is particularly important given the significant overlap between the child protection and youth justice systems, with many children who enter youth justice having experienced earlier involvement with care and protection services and missed opportunities for preventive health care and early intervention.”
The RACP appeared today at the Senate Inquiry on Australia’s Youth Justice and Incarceration System, which is examining whether the Commonwealth's human rights obligations are being breached by the actions and policies of state and territory governments.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association also appeared with the RACP.