Youthlaw

Youthlaw is Victoria’s only specialist community legal centre for young people under 25. We support the children and young people most impacted by unfair laws and systems – those facing homelessness, family violence, discrimination, criminalisation and mistreatment.

As a multidisciplinary practice, we provide integrated legal-social help, education, and outreach that meets young people where they’re at. Our vision is for a just and equitable society for and shaped by young people.

We prioritise services for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, which means we stand beside young people too often left out or left behind – breaking down barriers to justice through wraparound legal-social supports, fearless advocacy, and an unwavering belief in young people’s rights, voices and potential. We partner with the organisations that young people access, including youth homelessness and mental health services. Our core work includes providing legal help to young people leaving out-of-home care, helping young people who’ve been charged with minor crimes to avoid criminalisation; and providing a free legal helpline open to all young people in Victoria, so young people can find legal help when they need it.

In the past year, we have supported 900 young people through more than 4,300 legal and social work services across critical challenges such as housing, family violence, child protection and criminal law. Behind these numbers are stories of young people returning to school, finding safe homes to live in, and reconnecting with their communities.

WEBSITE