THE successful Safe Aboriginal Youth program will be expanded across New South Wales to additional locations, including Moree.
The program will provide services for Aboriginal youth in Moree, Orange, Coffs Harbour, Tamworth and expanded services in Dubbo, building on the positive impact the program is already making at Kempsey, Taree, Newcastle, Dubbo, Bourke and Wilcannia.
The program provides a safe transport and outreach service to help keep Aboriginal young people off the streets late at night.
The SAY program is designed to help divert young people from harmful activities and reducing the likelihood of criminal involvement, while also reducing the risk of them becoming victims of crime.
The expansion of the program is part of the Minns Labor Government’s $26.2 million package of reforms and initiatives to support community safety and wellbeing, particularly in regional NSW, with a focus on strengthening early intervention and prevention programs for young people.
By providing more after-hours support, the Government is helping to prevent crime and helping more young people stay on the right track.
The new locations for the program were identified following extensive consultation with local communities and analysis of crime data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
The expansion comes as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap, which in the Youth Justice space focuses on early intervention services to help prevent young people from becoming involved in the justice system.
A tender process will begin in November and will prioritise Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to manage the services in these new areas.
The tender process is expected to be finalised by April 2025.
Youth Justice NSW is committed to ensuring the SAY program is community-driven, with services tailored to each area.
Minister for Youth Justice Jihad Dib said the expansion of the Safe Aboriginal Youth program is a step forward for Aboriginal young people.
“The journey for every young person across NSW is different and we want to make sure as many young people as possible have opportunities to find a positive path in life. Our priority is to keep young people safe, supported and away from possible involvement with the justice system,” he said.
“It’s important that these programs are led by the community and that’s why we are prioritising Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. The support provided by SAY and other programs plays an important role in reaching the state’s Closing the Gap objectives and improving outcomes for Aboriginal youth in NSW.”
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said the program has already proven a success in helping keep at-risk Aboriginal young people safer and away from criminal involvement.
“Early intervention is critical to giving at-risk youth the best chance of staying away from harmful activities and getting their lives on a positive pathway,” he said.
“We know the best way to close the gap is by Aboriginal people shaping and driving outcomes for Aboriginal people, in partnership with the NSW Government, and the Safe Aboriginal Youth program is a great example of that.”
