- Thirteen community projects receive up to $200,000 each
- Programs to help vulnerable young people and survivors of FDV
- Funding is more than double the amount awarded in the last round
Projects aimed at supporting at-risk youth and survivors of family and domestic violence are among the latest beneficiaries of a grants program funded by money seized from criminals.
Attorney General John Quigley today announced the recipients of the State Government's Criminal Property Confiscation Grants totalling more than $2.2 million.
The projects are run by not-for-profit organisations and local governments serving Perth and regional and remote WA and target crime prevention and community safety.
They include a seven-day community night patrol, drug and alcohol support for FDV survivors and a project diverting young people from the justice system through employment.
Recipients from this round of funding are:
- Jobs South West Inc will receive $170,352 to work with 60 at-risk young people in the Mandurah area. Case workers will build relationships with them and manage individual interventions;
- Centrecare Incorporated will receive $200,000 for providing services such as mentoring, counselling and recreational activities for children at risk of entering the youth justice system in the Cannington, Gosnells and Armadale areas;
- Newman Women's Shelter will receive $200,000 to employ a full-time Martu Youth Worker in Newman and the remote community of Punmu to develop activities to reduce anti-social behaviour and provide drug education;
- South West Refuge Inc will receive $156,900 for drug and alcohol counselling for people in Bunbury who have experienced family and domestic violence. It will also provide guidance around financial support applications and skills training for better job prospects;
- Tenacious House will receive $199,500 for an 18-month residential program in Bullsbrook and Joondalup targeting the causes of criminal offending and substance abuse. It will offer counselling, vocational training and financial literacy education;
- Waalitj Foundation will receive $94,200 to engage a Youth Mentor to help stem the rise in youth disengagement and the resulting rise in anti-social and unlawful behaviour in the Laverton area. The program involves mentoring support and job training;
- Wirrimanu Aboriginal Corporation will receive $199,797 for night patrols in Balgo which coordinate with services and police. It will transport people at risk of becoming victims of crime and potential offenders to a safe place;
- City of Mandurah will receive $197,985 to improve residents' ability to be more responsible for their own household and personal safety. The Project Officer will respond to residents' concerns and use data to work with local police;
- City of Canning will receive $39,900 to deliver a neighbourhood sport-skills program for young people aged 8-15 years around Bentley and Queens Park, partnering with local sporting organisations;
- Ruah Legal Services will receive $197,700 for a Perth metro pilot to integrate legal and non-legal support for young people with co-occurring mental health and legal needs;
- Parkerville Children and Youth Care Incorporated will receive $187,912 to employ a specialist family and domestic violence advocate at its Midland centre. The person will work with clinicians to provide services to young people and families impacted by FDV;
- Dismantle will receive $195,000 for a Perth project which partners with Reboot, a throughcare recruitment agency to help youth who are no longer under the supervision of the justice system to be inducted, employed and upskilled for up to 18 months; and
- Sudbury Community House Association will receive $199,966 for an initiative in the Mirrabooka Town Centre which involves the regular presence of outreach staff and the holding of public events to encourage community participation.
The grants program is funded by money and property seized under the Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000 and is administered by the Department of Justice.
For more information, visit: Criminal Property Confiscation Grants Program (www.wa.gov.au)
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
"Recovering the proceeds of crime takes the profit away from criminals and I'm very pleased to see the money being redirected to benefit the Western Australian community.
"It's only right that seized criminal assets should fund programs which prevent and reduce the harmful effects of crime.
"These grants also give grassroots organisations across WA added resources to help improve their communities through strategic and targeted programs."
