Australian Indigenous legal experts and advocates have called on all state and criminal governments to raise the criminal age of responsibility to 14.
It is part of a ongoing push to stop children as potentially young as 10 being found culpable and locked up.
The Australian Institute of Judicial Administration on Sunday hosted the Indigenous Youth Justice Conference with gathered community leaders, judges and lawyers agreeing to a resolution calling for raising the age.
"Much change is needed in our justice system, but above all else, we must begin by embracing the principle that we should not criminalise children," the joint resolution said.
"The time has come to end this shameful practice of imprisoning children, especially before their 14th birthday."
Experts have argued a young child's brain is still developing and not able to comprehend the impact of their offending.
The Northern Territory, which has long had a problem with over-representation of Aboriginal youth in detention, is the only jurisdiction to have made active steps to raise the age.
Legislation was introduced in the Northern Territory parliament in October proposing raising the criminal age from 10 to 12.
The ACT government said it was mulling changes nearly two years ago but has yet to make any steps to do so.
Australia's first Indigenous senior counsel, Tony McAvoy, said there was no rationale for delay by state and territory governments.
'"These laws harm children at a critical time in their development, while doing nothing to address crime," he said.
"In fact, locking up children locks in a pattern of reoffending which is detrimental to individuals and the broader community."
