Victoria Launches New Program To Help Vulnerable Youth
A squad of 55 youth workers will be on streets across Victoria as part of a new program designed to prevent young people carrying or using knives, Community Services Minister Lisa Neville announced today.
“We understand that young people who get in trouble with the law often have complex backgrounds and we want to provide as much support as we can to help them get their lives back on track,” Ms Neville said.
Ms Neville today joined Member for Footscray Marsha Thomson and leading youth worker Les Twentyman at the RecWest Community Recreation Centre in Braybrook to announce details of where the 55 new youth workers would be located.
“We know that the more help we can give to people when they are young, the more chance they have of turning their futures around,” Ms Neville said.
“That is why we are introducing the Youth Support Service, which will mean youth workers will be on the ground in all regions across the state.
“Young people will be referred to them by police, schools and other community services.
“We want young people to understand the new weapons laws in Victoria, the impact of knife crime on others, learn strategies to prevent violence, and to take responsibility for their actions,” Ms Neville said.
As part of the Youth Support Service, Rapid Response Outreach workers will work in partnership with police on the streets across Melbourne’s CBD, Frankston, Dandenong and Footscray.
Ms Thomson said she was pleased the program would operate within her local area, so that young people would have more support.
“Police will be able to refer at-risk youth to the Rapid Response Outreach workers, who will connect them to the supports they need, including health, accommodation and legal services,” Ms Thomson said.
“The youth workers will also work with Victoria Police on the street to identify young people who need extra supports from services.”
Ms Neville said the Youth Support Service would also be introduced in regional Victoria, with youth workers in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, the Latrobe Valley, Shepparton and Mildura.
“In these regional centres, several of the new youth workers will be employed in youth justice units, where they will provide statutory supervision services to high-risk young people on community-based orders,” Ms Neville said.
“We are doing this because we understand that young people are less likely to engage in anti-social behaviour when they feel connected to and engaged in their communities.
“The new service will help address the underlying causes of youth offending by giving young people more support to access services, preventing them from having to wind up in the criminal justice system.
“We already have the toughest anti-knife laws in Australia and we are determined to show young people that knives are not defensive weapons.”
The program will be delivered across the state by the new Youth Support Service, part of the Brumby Labor Government’s $22 million four-year youth support package funded in the 2010-11 State Budget.
Topics: 2010, anti social behaviour, anti-knife laws, Australia, Ballarat, Bendigo, Braybrook, Brumby Labor Government, children, community, Footscray, Geelong, Governance, government, Health Care, knife crimes, knives, Latrobe Valley, law enforcement, legal servicews, Lisa Neville, Mildura, moniter, monitor, news, police, RecWest Community Recreation Centre, schools, Shepparton, society, supervision, Victoria, violence, weapons laws, young people, youth, youth justice units, youth workers
Print This Article in Plain Text
|
|
Latest Headlines
- Osama Bin Laden Dead?
- Florida To Share $1 Billion For Gulf Coast Restoration Efforts
- Texas Prays For Rain During Extreme Drought Conditions
- Governor Christie Takes Action To Reduce Diesel Emissions, Improve Air Quality
- Governor McDonnell Outlines Draft Transportation Improvement Program
- Alaska Energy Bill Passes Legislature
- Illinois State Building Receives ENERGY STAR Award
- Homeland Security Begins Using National Terrorism Advisory System
- U.S. Outlines New Health Insurance Options For Graduating College Students
- Electrolux Expands In North Carolina, To Create 200 Jobs In Charlotte
- Virginia Storm Victims To Receive Tax Extension
- U.S. Expands Broadband Investment For Rural Areas To Accelerate Job Creation
- U.S. To Invest $130 Million For Advanced Energy Research
- Michigan Passes “I’m Sorry” Bill
- Kentucky Sells Two State Aircraft To Save Taxpayer Dollars
