“Every child and young person has a lot to offer not only for their community but for the broader community as well”
Justin Mohamed has been appointed Victoria’s Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People commencing his 5 year tenure on the 28th of May.
Mr Mohammed is a proud Aboriginal man of the Gooreng Gooreng Nation near Bundaberg in Queensland who has dedicated more than 25 years working towards building a stronger and healthier nation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The incoming Children’s commissioner acknowledges that his nomination comes at a crucial time when there are some improvements in Children’s and young people’s outcomes. There are also tremendous challenges as evidenced by official statistics about juvenile delinquency, and other socio-economic outcomes.
Mr Mohamed wants to build on the good work that has been done by his predecessor, the Department, the families and communities to address these challenges. He’ll then turn his focus on other areas where there are opportunities for improvement.
He is also very proud of Aboriginal youth many of whom are already displaying leadership capabilities. He says: “our children are really being leaders, they are the first in their family to complete year twelve or go to University, or go to work and they are really making their communities proud.”
He added, “I do also know that there are some very good ideas out there, a lot of aspirations for communities to be able to break this cycle of adversity. I think it is the Commissioner’s role to be able to turn these positive aspirations into reality. I see our young people as value to the society. Not a deficit, as they are sometimes portrayed.”
