In 2025, we have an ambitious agenda for reforms that will make our society fairer and improve people’s lives. While extremist politics, cost of living difficulties and international volatility will continue to bring challenges, we are driven by a hopeful vision for social justice.
This is the Australia we want to see in 2025.
10-year-old children are no longer arrested and thrown in cells
Late last year, Raise the Age NSW launched a bold ad campaign to raise awareness that 10-year-olds (kids in Year 4 and 5 in primary school) can be arrested, charged and locked up away from their families and communities. We are calling on the NSW Government to be guided by the evidence and raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14.
Together with our partners we are increasing the pressure on all NSW MPs to do better for our children while making our communities safer. With a network of experts and community leaders in children’s health, education, community services and First Nations rights and justice, we’re explaining the alternatives to putting 10-year-old kids in prisons and police cells. You can help our progress by joining the campaign.
People with disability can fly in Australia without discrimination
Equal access to air travel is a step closer after the Australian Government committed to co-designing aviation-specific disability standards, which will set minimum accessibility requirements for airlines and airports.
This was a big win in 2024 and we are now calling on the Government to follow through. Together with disability advocates and disability representative organisations, we have highlighted the need for robust standards to address the compounding barriers people with disability face during air travel, from booking a ticket to disembarking the plane. Co-design of the standards should begin in the first half of 2025 and we will take an active role in ensuring the process is genuine, transparent and rigorous.
People in mental health crisis get healthcare, not police
Following a series of lethal interactions between police and people in mental health crisis, in 2024 we co-convened a panel on improving responses to mental health emergencies. After hearing from experts and family members, NSW Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson promised to develop a framework for an alternative response to people in mental health crisis.
We are yet to see this framework – or any serious consultation with key community stakeholders. With allied legal, First Nations, mental health and disability organisations, we are urging the Minister to progress this life-saving reform and hope to see action on a health-led response soon.
Rental homes that don’t cause illness or unaffordable energy bills
Many Australian rental homes are too hot in summer and too cold in winter: making homes more expensive to live in and making renters sick.
Last year, the NSW Government promised to investigate introducing minimum energy efficiency performance standards for rentals in 2025. These standards could require landlords to transform dangerous and drafty dwellings into healthy rental homes. We are pushing government to go beyond investigation and set standards that will improve renters’ health and finances.
People in immigration detention can access the healthcare they need
The announcement in late 2024 that controversial multinational Serco would no longer profit from operating Australia’s oppressive immigration detention regime was welcome news. But the Commonwealth Government is ultimately responsible for standards in detention. And harmful, inhumane practices are likely to continue under the new operator, US private prisons administrator Management and Training Corporation, unless there are fundamental changes to oversight and regulation.
Australia has a duty of care to the people we detain. But too many people seeking asylum are locked up without adequate medical care, and forced to wear handcuffs to access care despite PTSD impacts from a history of trauma. We are working towards minimum healthcare standards and improved regulation around the use of restraints in immigration detention, to safeguard fundamental human rights and prevent cruelty to detainees.
A Commissioner to stand-up for Aboriginal children in NSW
First Nations children thrive when they are with their families, on Country and connected to culture. In a positive step for First Nations families, Lil Gordon was recently appointed acting National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, to provide critical oversight, advice and leadership to help the Commonwealth meet its Closing the Gap targets.
In NSW, the over-representation of First Nations kids in the ‘child protection’ system is only getting worse. To reverse the trend, the NSW Government must start by appointing a state commissioner, to promote the rights of Aboriginal children and families, reduce child removals and hold failing systems to account.
Social housing is available to people in need
For people experiencing disadvantage, social housing is often the final safety net before homelessness.
Last year, the NSW Government committed to building 6,200 additional social homes, with priority given to housing women and children fleeing family violence.
While this is a step in the right direction, NSW social housing stock remains woefully inadequate to meet escalating demand with over 60,000 people now on the waitlist. We are urging the NSW Government to build at least 5,000 new social homes every year for the next decade, commencing immediately. Lived experience advocates in our StreetCare project will be making sure government keeps hearing this message and is accountable for delivering on its promises.
Our vision for social justice in 2025
In 2025, we have an ambitious agenda for reforms that will make our society fairer and improve people’s lives. While extremist politics, cost of living difficulties and international volatility will continue to bring challenges, we are driven by a hopeful vision for social justice.
This is the Australia we want to see in 2025.
10-year-old children are no longer arrested and thrown in cells
Late last year, Raise the Age NSW launched a bold ad campaign to raise awareness that 10-year-olds (kids in Year 4 and 5 in primary school) can be arrested, charged and locked up away from their families and communities. We are calling on the NSW Government to be guided by the evidence and raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14.
Together with our partners we are increasing the pressure on all NSW MPs to do better for our children while making our communities safer. With a network of experts and community leaders in children’s health, education, community services and First Nations rights and justice, we’re explaining the alternatives to putting 10-year-old kids in prisons and police cells. You can help our progress by joining the campaign.
People with disability can fly in Australia without discrimination
Equal access to air travel is a step closer after the Australian Government committed to co-designing aviation-specific disability standards, which will set minimum accessibility requirements for airlines and airports.
This was a big win in 2024 and we are now calling on the Government to follow through. Together with disability advocates and disability representative organisations, we have highlighted the need for robust standards to address the compounding barriers people with disability face during air travel, from booking a ticket to disembarking the plane. Co-design of the standards should begin in the first half of 2025 and we will take an active role in ensuring the process is genuine, transparent and rigorous.
People in mental health crisis get healthcare, not police
Following a series of lethal interactions between police and people in mental health crisis, in 2024 we co-convened a panel on improving responses to mental health emergencies. After hearing from experts and family members, NSW Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson promised to develop a framework for an alternative response to people in mental health crisis.
We are yet to see this framework – or any serious consultation with key community stakeholders. With allied legal, First Nations, mental health and disability organisations, we are urging the Minister to progress this life-saving reform and hope to see action on a health-led response soon.
Rental homes that don’t cause illness or unaffordable energy bills
Many Australian rental homes are too hot in summer and too cold in winter: making homes more expensive to live in and making renters sick.
Last year, the NSW Government promised to investigate introducing minimum energy efficiency performance standards for rentals in 2025. These standards could require landlords to transform dangerous and drafty dwellings into healthy rental homes. We are pushing government to go beyond investigation and set standards that will improve renters’ health and finances.
People in immigration detention can access the healthcare they need
The announcement in late 2024 that controversial multinational Serco would no longer profit from operating Australia’s oppressive immigration detention regime was welcome news. But the Commonwealth Government is ultimately responsible for standards in detention. And harmful, inhumane practices are likely to continue under the new operator, US private prisons administrator Management and Training Corporation, unless there are fundamental changes to oversight and regulation.
Australia has a duty of care to the people we detain. But too many people seeking asylum are locked up without adequate medical care, and forced to wear handcuffs to access care despite PTSD impacts from a history of trauma. We are working towards minimum healthcare standards and improved regulation around the use of restraints in immigration detention, to safeguard fundamental human rights and prevent cruelty to detainees.
A Commissioner to stand-up for Aboriginal children in NSW
First Nations children thrive when they are with their families, on Country and connected to culture. In a positive step for First Nations families, Lil Gordon was recently appointed acting National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, to provide critical oversight, advice and leadership to help the Commonwealth meet its Closing the Gap targets.
In NSW, the over-representation of First Nations kids in the ‘child protection’ system is only getting worse. To reverse the trend, the NSW Government must start by appointing a state commissioner, to promote the rights of Aboriginal children and families, reduce child removals and hold failing systems to account.
Social housing is available to people in need
For people experiencing disadvantage, social housing is often the final safety net before homelessness.
Last year, the NSW Government committed to building 6,200 additional social homes, with priority given to housing women and children fleeing family violence.
While this is a step in the right direction, NSW social housing stock remains woefully inadequate to meet escalating demand with over 60,000 people now on the waitlist. We are urging the NSW Government to build at least 5,000 new social homes every year for the next decade, commencing immediately. Lived experience advocates in our StreetCare project will be making sure government keeps hearing this message and is accountable for delivering on its promises.
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