Three programs are being continued in Tamworth to try and address the causes of youth crime, including a locally developed program achieving remarkable results.
Winanga-Li has been selected to deliver the Safe Aboriginal Youth (SAY) program, and the Casework Support Program, in Tamworth as part of the NSW Government’s multi-agency plan to address youth crime and make communities safer.
SAY is a community-based service that provides supervised activities and safe transport for Aboriginal young people aged 12 to 18 years, helping them stay safe after dark. It is designed to divert young people away from harmful activities and reduce the likelihood of criminal involvement, while also reducing the risk of them becoming victims of crime. The new provider will start service design in consultation with the local community next month and deliver the program for the next four years.
Winanga-Li has also been contracted to deliver the Youth Justice NSW funded Casework Support Program in Tamworth which provides practical support for young people aimed at reducing their ongoing involvement with the justice system and achieving positive change in their lives.
The program involves mentoring and strengthening cultural connections, re-engagement with school and education, and training and employment support for young people who are on community supervised orders or Youth Justice Conference referrals, receiving bail support or transitioning from custody into the community.
“Through programs like Safe Aboriginal Youth and Casework Support the NSW Government is empowering locals to deliver the solutions they know will work best in their own communities.” said Minister for Youth Justice Jihad Dib.
“With services tailored to each local area, our investment demonstrates our commitment to making communities safer, and helping young people stay on the right track.”
“This is not a one size fits all approach; we are focused on working with communities and the police, courts, community service providers and Youth Justice NSW to divert young people from the criminal justice system, help them change offending behaviour and keep communities safe.”
Locally developed program with great results seeks support
Local businesses are being invited to support a third local program being run and designed by locals and achieving amazing results.
The program, known as Yilaan.gaal Dhina (Fresh footprints in the Gamilaraay language) was trialled over 16 weeks in late 2024, and was shown to be successful in tackling youth crime statistics and providing career pathways support for young people at risk of becoming entrenched within the justice system. The program is based around an employment skills, and personal and family support, framework and was designed in partnership with young people within Youth Justice case management.
Over the first few months of 2025, the group behind the initiative, the Tamworth Justice Collaborative, have been busy securing grant support for the new program, and are now asking the local business community to chip in, to ensure its long-term success.
“This is a locally designed, place-based initiative, and we really want the local community to get behind it,” said Joanne Stead, Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council’s Project Officer.
Over 16 weeks in late 2024, a pilot phase of the program worked with 5 young people identified by
the Police as priority youth and youth crime ringleaders. Through Yilaan.gaal Dhina they were supported to develop employment skills, undertake paid work, and build a portfolio of training, and essential documents and identification to set them up for work.
Over 16 weeks participants’ engagement in crime reduce by more than half and one young person move onto full-time employment. 20 young associates of those involved in the program were identified via NSW Police intelligence, and their criminal activity also decreased by more than a third in just the 16 week trial period.
With such positive early results, the Tamworth Justice Collaborative has been working towards recommencing this program for 2025, with some government funding support now in hand, and they are looking for local support by way of additional financial contributions, or in-kind business involvement through opportunities for mentoring, workplace/industry tours and information days, and work contracts that the young people can fulfil (within their supervised program).
The fundraising night will be held from 5:30 – 6:30pm, on Tuesday 1 April at the Tamworth Youthie, 1A Quinn Street, West Tamworth. The evening will include a presentation about the program, overview of sponsorship opportunities and Q&A opportunity.
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