2. ABUSE
Interventions to halt child abuse in Aboriginal communities
This is the title of an editorial in the latest 'eMJA' (the electronic 'Medical Journal of Australia') in which Ian T. Ring and Mark Wenitong offer a succinct overview of the issues involved in halting child abuse in Indigenous communities and the complex web of health, social and economic problems associated with abuse. Reflecting on current measures taken by the Australian Government in the Northern Territory, the eMJA editors add their voice to those saying the solution to the problem of child abuse lies in taking action with, rather than for, Aboriginal people and communities, and conclude with a summary of the government's measures to combat child abuse in Indigenous communities in the NT, and an outline of the recommendations in the Anderson Wild report, 'Little children are sacred'. See: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/187_04_200807/rin10803_fm.html
3 ARTS, MUSIC
Australian Children's Music Foundation
The ACMF recently received $600,000 to expand its work and increase young people's engagement with music. The new funding will support the ACMF national song writing competition, an upgrade of the ACMF website, the delivery of a disadvantaged youth program in juvenile justice centres, Indigenous and disadvantaged schools programs, and Indigenous and isolated regions programs. See: http://www.acmf.com.au
4. CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP
Social Educators Association of Australia National Biennial Conference 2008
On 21-22 January 2008, the Social Educators Association of Australia is holding its national biennial conference in Newcastle, NSW. The theme is: 'Making a difference: Multidimensional citizenship education in a changing world'. In conjunction with the conference, the SEAA is running a WebQuest competition for students in Years 7 to 10, exploring the notion of citizenship in a global context. The competition is designed to help teachers integrate ICT into citizenship education. More at:
http://www.seaa.org.au
http://www.seaa.org.au
5. CRIME AND JUSTICE
Being 17 in Queensland: A human rights perspective
This article by Terry Hutchinson of the Queensland University of Technology, assisted by Nicola Mathews, discusses the contentious issue of the Queensland criminal justice system, which has come under the international spotlight in relation to its policy of treating 17-year-old offenders as adults. See: 'Alternative Law Journal', v.32, n.2, June 2007, pp.81-84.
Young people most likely to be victims of robbery
In June 2007, the Australian Institute of Criminology released a fact sheet comparing levels of robbery victimisation suffered by different age groups. The fact sheet indicates that young people aged 15 to 24 years face the highest risk of being a victim of robbery. In every age group, males were more likely to be victims of robbery. These statistics refer to personal victims of robbery, with robbery including 'armed and unarmed robbery and ... the use, or threatened use, of force or violence'. See: 'Crime Facts Info, n.150, Robbery victimisation' at:
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/cfi/cfi150.html(Source: Australian Institute of Criminology website, viewed 10 August 2007.)
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/cfi/cfi150.html(Source: Australian Institute of Criminology website, viewed 10 August 2007.)
Young people, crime and community safety: Engagement and early intervention
Young people are disproportionately involved in risk-taking, antisocial behaviour and activities that compromise both their own safety and that of others. They're also greatly at risk of reducing their life opportunities through low educational attainment, early school leaving and involvement with the law. Their life chances may also be influenced by other factors, such as ethnicity disability, or low socioeconomic status. These issues are the subject of a forthcoming two-day conference on young people, crime and community safety which is to be held in Melbourne on 25-26 February 2008. It's being organised by the Australian Institute of Criminology in association with the Victorian Safe Communities Network. For the call for papers, guidelines and other details, see: http://www.aic.gov.au/conferences/2008-YoungPeople/or contact Conference Solutions, ph: (02) 6285 3000; fax: (02) 6285 3001; email: aic[AT]con-sol.com
'Juvenile justice in Australia 2005-06'
On 10 August, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released this statistical report that provides data on all young people in both community-based and detention-based juvenile justice supervision throughout Australia. It is based on the experience of the young person in supervision rather than on legal orders, and analyses trends in community-based supervision and detention since 2000-01. See:
http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10497
http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10497