Mr. Abraham Kuol
Abraham Kuol is an Associate Research Fellow and PhD Candidate in Criminology at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation at Deakin University; his research explores the post settlement challenges of African Australians with a focus on justice system contact. His research interests include youth violence, risk, and protective factors for offending, and culturally and linguistically diverse young people. Abraham is an emerging South Sudanese leader who is passionate about reducing the justice-involvement of South Sudanese young people in the Youth Justice System. He possesses an undergraduate and honours degree in Project Management from RMIT University. He is a Research Project Manager for Afri-Aus Care, a not-for-profit organisation in the South-East of Melbourne which provides programs for justice-involved African-Australian young people and post settlement support services for their families. He has consulted for leading and emerging culture-based community organisations in the youth justice space.
Presentation
African-Australian Young People, Group Based Offending, & Relationships with Police
The African migrant diaspora in Australia is a very diverse group that have become valued and productive members of Australian society. A small number of African refugees experience a range of acculturation challenges in Australia leading to their justice system contact. The rapidly increasing levels of African migrant representation in Victorian youth justice centres, as well as those involved in youth networks committing serious offences such as aggravated burglaries, car thefts, and home invasions has become a pressing concern for law enforcement agencies. The session will cover African migrant challenges leading to justice contact, highlight drivers of African-Australian justice system contact, and touch on African community perceptions and experiences with Victoria Police. The session will finish by providing practical tips and strategies for Victoria Police in engaging with African communities.