Calls to invest in support system where children thrive

 Australia spends over a billion dollars annually putting children in lock up – that’s according to the Productivity Commission Report on Government Services which found youth detention-based supervision cost $1.1 billion in 2024-25. This includes a national average $1.3 million per child per year.

But Indigenous experts are pushing for change, convening at at the Stronger Smarter Together Summit in Brisbane which calls to reimagine Australia’s sovereignty.

CEO of Stronger smarter institute Dr Chris Sarra says Australians needs to decide if we’d rather spend billions on youth detention or invest in support systems where children can thrive.