Retired District Court Judge and current chair of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, John Robertson will be the guest speaker at a very special Buderim Foundation Breakfast on Wednesday 11th May.
Mr Robertson will be presenting “Sentencing Children – Myths and Remedies” at the breakfast, which will raise money for the Buderim Foundation’s investment fund. Earnings from the fund are given out in annual grants to organisations supporting the local community.
Buderim Foundation chair Dr Russell Stitz said Mr Robertson’s presentation was sure to be of interest to the local community and expected a lively question and answer session.
“At the Buderim Foundation we want to support the community and part of that is giving people the opportunity to consider important issues like youth justice, and to hear from experts like Mr Robertson, who bring a non-political, evidence-based approach to the issue,” Dr Stitz said.
“The present approach to dealing with children in the criminal justice system has failed and the common themes in public discourse of youth crime waves are not based on evidence,” Mr Robertson said.
Mr Robertson has 23 years’ experience in sentencing some of the worst child offenders and three years as President of the Children’s Court of Queensland. He is presently the Chair of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, a body that engages actively in research into sentencing including the sentencing of children.
Mr Robertson said there were new innovative approaches to dealing with children in the criminal justice system, especially in communities where First Nation’s children are grossly over-represented both in the commission of crime and in detention.
“These involve a collaborative approach that, unlike the “lock em up” mentality, actually are working to reduce youth crime and rebuild lives.”
The Buderim Foundation Breakfast with John Robertson will be held at the Buderim Tavern on Wednesday 11th May at 7am for a prompt 7.30am start, with tickets available for $40 per person.
Tickets are limited and expected to sell out. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.buderimfoundation.org.au/ or email Susi Du Toit at info@buderimfoundation.org.au or phone 0419 674 or 622 by Friday 6th May.
The Buderim Foundation is a philanthropic organisation that aims to enrich and enhance the quality of life for people who live in the Buderim area. The Buderim Foundation also manages the Thompson Fund, which aims to support people in need throughout the Sunshine Coast.
For more information on the Buderim Foundation, please visit, www.buderimfoundation.org.au.
