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Creating Safer Communities: Establishment of an Aboriginal-Led Youth Outreach Service

Office of the Chief Minister

The Territory Labor Government is breaking the cycle of crime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs to keep streets safer and help young people get their lives back on track.

Minister for Territory Families Dale Wakefield today announced the final piece of the seven point Breaking the Cycle plan for Alice Springs –an Aboriginal-led Youth Outreach Service

The service, known as ‘Looking After the Kids – Walking Together with Young People’, will be operated by Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Organisation.

It will be staffed by a team of respected Aboriginal youth outreach workers, who will provide advice and support to youth engagement officers and mentor Aboriginal young people.

The service will be underpinned by a cultural advisory group made up of the Tangentyere Council Men’s Four Corners Group and Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group.

A trial of this service was conducted during the April school holidays and was met with positive reports.   

All Breaking the Cycle initiatives are now in effect. This also includes:

  • Appointment of seven Youth Engagement Night Officers (YENOs) to work seven days a week from 8pm-3am with young people who are on the street (and regularly involved in crime) and get them on a better path. YENOs will support NT Police, Territory Families and non-government youth services.
  • More mobile CCTV cameras in anti-social behaviour hot spots.
  • Two School Engagement Officers to work with young people who have been identified as being disengaged from schooling. These officers have been appointed.
  • Three School Compliance Officers to work with young people when attempts to increase school attendance has not been successful.
  • Expand the youth drop-in centres at Gap Youth and Community Centre and Tangentyere Council Brown Street to operate seven days a week and extend their bus service.
  • Expand the hours of the Tangentyere Night Patrol to get young people off the streets. Patrol vehicles will run seven days a week from 6pm-3am.


Quotes from Minister for Territory Families, Dale Wakefield.

“The Territory Labor Government is listening to Centralians who have had enough of crime, youth crime, and anti-social behaviour. The Breaking the Cycle plan gives us a better chance of breaking the cycle of crime and keeps Alice Springs safer.

“The new Aboriginal-led Youth Outreach Service will make a positive difference in the lives of at-risk young people, so that they can turn their lives around and get back on the right track. The service will be drawing on the cultural authority of the Tangentyere Women’s Safety Group and the Men’s Four Corners Group – two groups that are already doing life-changing work with at-risk young people.

“All seven Breaking the Cycle initiatives are now in place which also includes new Youth Engagement Night Officers, more mobile CCTV cameras, expanding the hours at the youth drop-in centres and night patrol, and compliance officers to ensure that young people attend school and not on the streets. These initiatives will keep Alice Springs safer.”

 

Quotes from Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Organisation Chief Executive, Walter Shaw.

"The safety of our children is of paramount importance to Town Campers and Tangentyere so we are very pleased to be working with the NT Government and other agencies in this outreach program.

"It is significant this Aboriginal-led program is being launched during NAIDOC week.

"The Tangentyere Men’s Four Corners and Women’s Family Safety Groups have wanted to see programs implemented that drive sustainable positive change and provide support for vulnerable young people in our town.

"The Kids are Safe walking together with young people program will work across our Night and Youth Patrols, integrate with other Tangentyere services and importantly, support and advise external youth services.

"Most importantly the program recognises the role of parents, families and communities in the lives of at-risk young people and will work closely with them to provide the support that is needed to drive long term change for young people and their families."


Media contact: Kim Stephens 0417 683 144

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