Australasian Youth Justice Administrators present the
5th Australasian Youth Justice Conference Strengthening Connections: The Power of Relationships and Strong Service Partnerships
Melbourne Cricket Ground
16th – 18th April, 2024
#AYJC2024
Tickets sold out!
We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming response to our conference! Thanks to your enthusiasm and support, we're thrilled to announce that all available seats have been filled, and registration for the event is now closed.
We understand that many of you were eager to join us, and we truly appreciate your interest. While we wish we could accommodate everyone, the limited capacity of the venue means we must adhere to our current registration numbers.
In collaboration with the Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria, the Australasian Youth Justice Administrators (AYJA) will partner with Swinburne University of Technology to deliver the 5th Australasian Youth Justice Conference: Strengthening Connections: The Power of Relationships and Strong Service Partnerships (AYJC 2024). This three-day conference seeks to bring together policy contributors, clinicians, legal decision makers, advocates, researchers and those with lived experience to work together and learn from each other through presentations, keynote addresses, Q & A, and panel discussions.
Conference Themes
The theme for AYJC 2024 is Strengthening Connections: The Power of Connections and Strong Service Partnerships, with two major streams Culture a powerful connection to identity, empowerment and self-determination and Building safe, stable and connected workforces.
In addition, five sub-streams for AYJC 2024 are:
- Understanding and supporting young people’s positive development and social identity
- Working together to create alternative pathways for 10–13-year-olds
- Partnerships to navigate complex needs
- Sharing challenges, and achievements in contemporary youth justice practice
- Other
Life experiences are highly influenced by relationships and shared connections. Strong relationships and quality interconnections between people and services aid transition between community and custody, enhance practice, strengthen workforces, empower cultural and family relationships and improve a range of outcomes for young people in youth justice, their families and communities. Cultural connection through storytelling in Australia and whakapapa (lineage, tribes and land) in Aotearoa/New Zealand needs to be supported and encouraged to navigate connectedness and give a voice to young people. This Conference will provide a platform to hear from those voices.
Keynotes announced
We are excited to have Keith Cruise, Arrin Hazelbane, Nyachan Nyak, and Meena Singh, and Stephane Shepherd give keynote presentations. Visit the keynote speaker page to read their bios.
Important dates
- Call for abstracts close on 22nd January 2024
- Presenters notified on 21st February 2024
- Presenter registrations due by 29th February 2024
- Presenter PowerPoint presentations due by 9th April 2024. Submission details will be sent to presenters soon.
- Early bird registrations close on 15th March 2024
- Full registration CLOSED
Join our mailing list
This event will host a number of international and national speakers who will address the conference themes. Stay up to date with all our conference news by joining our mailing list.
Event Partners
Australasian Youth Justice Administrators
The Australasian Youth Justice Administrators (AYJA) is a collective body of senior government executives from Australian states and territories, and Aotearoa New Zealand, whose purpose is to share information, support the collection of data and research, and promote and maintain national principles, standards and guidelines for youth justice.
Each year AYJA commissions important research and information papers to help build the national evidence base for youth justice policy. AYJA works closely with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the Productivity Commission and other research bodies in the development of this work. This includes the delivery of the biennial international youth justice conference.
Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science
The Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology and Forensicare provides academic and clinical excellence in forensic mental health research and practice. We bring together academics, clinicians, researchers and students from a variety of disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, nursing, social work, law, occupational therapy and epidemiology. Our research, consulting services and professional development and training programs have strengthened the field of forensic behavioural science in Australia and overseas.
Conference Location
This conference will be held in the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Naarm - Melbourne, which will provide an exciting opportunity to meet in an historic meeting place to share research, practice and policy developments that enable a critical examination of novel approaches to empowering relationships and strong service partnerships.
Plan your route
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Gate 3, Brunton Ave, Richmond
VIC 3002
P: 0396578888
Contact Us
The 5th Australasian Youth Justice Conference is proudly delivered by the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology.
Conference Organiser
Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science
Swinburne University of Technology
www.swinburne.edu.au/cfbs
Get in Touch
+61 3 9214 6222