Children and community safety: Can we move beyond criminalisation?
Description
Despite decades of evidence pointing to harm caused by criminalising young children-and its ineffectiveness in making our communities safer- in NSW we continue to send children as young as 10 to prison.
In November 2025, contrary to the recommendations of an independent expert report, the NSW Government made it easier to prosecute young children, with changes to the law concerning “doli incapax”: a legal presumption that children under 14 are incapable of criminal intent.
Why do we seem to be going backwards? And in the face of concerns about crime and safety, how can we do better for children and our communities? Are other jurisdictions also following the same path?
Join us to explore these questions.
Panellists
Jonathon Hunyor
Jonathon Hunyor is the CEO of the Justice and Equity Centre (formerly the Public Interest Advocacy Centre). He has practised for more than 25 years in NSW and NT, in areas including discrimination and human rights, migration and refugee law, Aboriginal land rights, criminal law and coronial inequests. Prior to the JEC, Jonathon was Principal Legal Officer at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency in Darwin, the Director of Legal Services at the Australian Human Rights Commission and worked as a lawyer at the Central Land Council in Alice Springs and the NT Legal aid Commission in Darwin. He has taught discrimination law at the University of NSW and has published widely in academic and professional journals.
Kim Oates AM
Kim Oates AM is a paediatrician and was the first holder of the University of Sydney’s Doulas Burrows Chair of Paediatrics and Child Health. He has held numerous senior roles in Australia and internationally, particularly in the field of child abuse and neglect. He is a Director ACAH Board.
Amelia Lewis
Amelia Lewis is a senior clinical neuropsychologist in the field of child development and disability. Her work is guided by systems thinking, collaboration and child and family centred care. She joined the ACAH Board in 2025.
Jacqueline Small
Jacqueline Small is a developmental paediatrician and Chair ACAH Board. She contributed to Raise the Age advocacy through her RACP roles.
Emily Mayo
Emily Mayo is the Lead - Campaigns and Organising at the Justice and Equity Centre. Emily is coordinating the NSW campaign to raise the age of criminal responsibility alongside a coalition of more than 180 organisations. Emily has worked in organising and social change including leading successful campaigns on women’s and worker’s rights.
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