Statement on the tragic loss of young lives
The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) is devastated by the deaths of two young Victorians, Chol Achiek and Dau Akueng in Cobblebank on Saturday. This is a tragic loss for the whole community. It simply should never have happened.
Our hearts are with Chol and Dau’s families, friends and community, who are grieving the loss of their sons, brothers, friends. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who knew them, on behalf of the whole CMY team. We ask that the families and community are given the respect and privacy they need at such a difficult time.
This tragedy follows a period of significant loss of young lives from a community that is already grieving. As the auspice organisation for a South Sudanese Community Support Group in Melton and Brimbank, our team is feeling the weight of this loss, compounded by recent events in Victoria. We will continue to be led by the community in responding directly to their needs for support, as well as advocating for change.
While we can’t prevent the shocking tragedy that has occurred, we believe we all have a shared responsibility to do everything in our power to prevent this from happening again, and ensure all young Victorians are safe and protected from harm.
There is no denying that current youth justice approaches are not working. We must prioritise culturally-responsive, early intervention and prevention approaches that centre the voices of those with lived experience. CMY remains committed to working with multicultural young people and their communities to develop real solutions that will address the root causes of this issue and make a tangible impact on the ground.