The Children and Young Persons Act 1989 (No. 56/1989) was implemented in stages up to 1992 and clearly separated services for children in need of protection from services for young offenders. The Act hastened the process of deinstitutionalisation in juvenile justice, and led to the closure of the few surviving ‘children’s homes’ in Victoria. It was repealed by the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.
The long title for the Bill for this Act was “a Bill to establish the Children’s Court of Victoria, to provide for the constitution, jurisdiction and proceedings of that Court, to make fresh provision in relation to the protection of children and in relation to children who have been charged with, or who have been found guilty of, offences, to repeal the Children’s Court Act 1973, to amend the Community Welfare Services Act 1970 and various other Acts and for other purposes.” Sections of this Act commenced in 1991. It was amended numerous times and was repealed on 23 April 2007 by the Children Youth and Families Act 2005 (No. 96/2005).