A local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation has been selected to deliver an expanded Safe Aboriginal Youth (SAY) program in Dubbo as part of the NSW Government's multi-agency plan to address youth crime and make communities safer.
Oyster Tribe will be the new provider for the expanded SAY program in Dubbo for the next five years with the new provider to commence service design with the local community next month.
The expansion is being funded through a $26.2 million NSW Government package to enhance community safety in regional NSW by building up early intervention and prevention programs for young people.
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 program will work alongside other Government initiatives to address youth crime including Operation Soteria, a team of 80 dedicated NSW Police officers targeting regional crime hotspots across Western and Northern parts of the State.
The NSW Government is expanding SAY to four more regional locations in addition to existing services in Bourke, Kempsey, Newcastle, Taree, Dubbo and Wilcannia.
Youth Justice NSW also funds the Casework Support Program in Dubbo which provides practical support for young people aimed at reducing their ongoing involvement with the justice system and achieving positive change in their lives.
A new contract has been awarded to the Regional Enterprise Development Institute to deliver the service in Dubbo over the next five years.
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.
The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that these programs are community-driven and community-led, with services tailored to each area.
Minister for Youth Justice Jihad Dib said:
"Through programs like Safe Aboriginal Youth and Casework Support, the NSW Government is empowering local organisations to deliver the solutions they know will work best in their own communities.
"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 justice system, help them change offending behaviour and keep communities safe."
