In 2021-22, the rate of youth detention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged 10 to 17 years was higher than the rate for other Australian young people in all Australian states and territories.
Western Australia had the highest rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in youth detention at 278.1 per 10,000 young people. The Northern Territory had the greatest difference in detention rates between the two groups: the rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people was approximately 30 times the rate for other Australian young people.
Tasmania had the smallest difference in detention rates: the rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people was just over five times the rate for other Australian young people. In Victoria, the rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people was over 10 times the rate for other Australian young people.
All states and territories, except the Australian Capital Territory, had an increase in detention rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people between 2020-21 and 2021-22. The rate in the Australian Capital Territory decreased by 16.5%, from 165.8 in 2020-21 to 138.4 in 2021-22.
The Northern Territory had the largest increase in detention rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, from 144.5 in 2020-21 to 232.1 in 2021-22, an increase of 60.6%. In Victoria, the detention rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people increased from 47.5 per 10,000 young people in 2020-21 to 56.6 in 2021-22.
Note: Data is based on the count of unique persons aged 10 to 17 in youth detention at any time during the year.
Rates per 10,000 young people aged 10 to 17 in youth detention in 2020-21 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and other Australian young people
Jurisdiction | Rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people | Rate for other Australian young people | Ratio |
---|---|---|---|
Western Australia | 278.1 | 9.4 | 29.6 |
Northern Territory | 232.1 | 6.6 | 35.2 |
South Australia | 169.5 | 9.2 | 18.4 |
Queensland | 153.6 | 7.5 | 20.5 |
Australian Capital Territory | 138.4 | 13.7 | 10.1 |
New South Wales | 117.6 | 8.2 | 14.3 |
Victoria | 56.6 | 5.4 | 10.5 |
Tasmania | 29.9 | 5.8 | 5.2 |
Australia | 152.1 | 7.6 | 20.0 |
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Youth Justice in Australia 2021-22, supplementary table S83b (2023).