The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build better regional communities and address concerning rates of regional youth crime with a new partnership with the National Rugby League and PCYC to help keep kids on the right track.
Over $270,000 is being invested into the program which will see senior NRL players including Brad Fittler, PCYC staff and NSW Police representatives engaging with young people across a series of events including Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Cup games, PCYC centre events and Fit for Life sessions.
Designed to support social cohesion, collaboration and skills building, the program will also engage young people in important conversations about mental health, physical fitness and nutrition.
As the Government continues to pull every lever to increase community safety across regional NSW these programs will be rolled out in all corners of regional New South Wales, including Dubbo, Cessnock, Queanbeyan, the Central Coast, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Coffs Harbour and Tamworth.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government's ongoing work to engage young people and crackdown on crime across the state, which has included:
- Amending the Bail Act to include an additional bail test for young people between 14 and 18 charged with committing a 'serious break and enter offence' or motor vehicle offence while on bail for a similar offence.
- Creating a new 'post and boast' offence under the Crimes Act, criminalising the filming and disseminating of footage of certain serious offences to publicise or advertise the commission of that offence.
- Paying recruits to attend the Goulburn Police Academy and welcoming 294 probational constables to the NSWPF ranks in December, the largest class to graduate in a decade.
- Passing and enacting 'Jacks Law' which provides NSW Police with powers to scan people for knives without a warrant and raised the age from 16 to 18 for the sale of knives to young people.
- Doubling the maximum penalty for certain knife crimes.
Further, this follows the launch of Project Pathfinder last year, a partnership between the NSW Police Force, National Rugby League and Youth Justice NSW which provides at risk teenagers from regional areas with mentorships and opportunities to reach their full potential.
Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns said:
"This is a great initiative and one the NSW Government is really proud to support.
"We want our regional communities to be safe, which is why we are working around the clock to take every action we can from legislative reform, to supporting grassroots interventions.
"Programs like this are vital to keeping kids engaged with their local community and on the right track."
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley said:
"The NSW Police and Government are doing everything we can to keep our regional communities safe - we don't want to see anyone living in fear.
"Our police are working around the clock to not only investigate crimes but to engage with young people and show them positive alternatives to crime.
"I thank the NRL and PCYC for their continued support for our young people and regional communities."
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
"The NSW Government is putting resources into initiatives like this that are ready to go, and use methods which regional youth will relate to and engage with and then experience activities and learnings which can create conversations that help build a brighter future.
"This partnership means more kids in regional NSW will have the opportunity to come together, learn, stay fit and grow through a shared love for rugby league.
"This initiative is about opening doors for regional youth by turning sport into platforms for connection, resilience and community empowerment."
Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper said:
"The outcome of sport is so often greater than the scoreboard. Sporting communities in many cases are the heart of our regional communities and they can be great ways to engage our younger generations and promote positive role models."
Andrew Abdo, National Rugby League CEO said:
"Rugby league changes lives and this new partnership will harness the power of government, community and sport to positively impact on young people across NSW.
"Supporting youth in regional areas is important to us and this funding will help us reach even further into communities to provide opportunities and a support network to young people who need a helping hand."
Ben Hobby, Police Citizens Youth Club NSW (PCYC NSW) CEO said:
''The PCYC has a strong and enduring tradition of working with youth in regional areas across NSW, and we know how impactful the role models in the NRL can be to these communities - young people look up to these incredible athletes and sports stars.
"We value our partnership with the Government and the NRL and know that having current and former players of the NRL and WNRL working with regional youth will be life-changing for the rising generation and the broader communities we support."
