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Continued Boost for Youth Crime Prevention

More funding to a vital youth crime prevention program.

By Portal Admin - 5th November 2018 - Back to News

Young people in Morwell will be able to get the help they need to stay on the right side of the law, with the Andrews Labor Government to provide more funding to a vital youth crime prevention program.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today joined staff from Anglicare in Morwell to announce an additional $700,000 for their ‘Reboot’ youth crime prevention program.

This vital program helps address why young people are committing offences and stops them reoffending.

This funding comes in addition to $700,000 the Labor Government has already provided to the program, allowing funding to continue until June 2021.

This will allow Anglicare to continue supporting 30 young people currently engaged in the program and allow a further 20 young people to access this important service.

The project – which has been running since 2017 - provides intensive support to some of our most at-risk young people aged between 14 and 18 years who have already been involved in the criminal justice system.

These projects make a real difference to the lives of some of the most at-risk young Victorians, with evidence already showing stronger family and community connections, and engagement in school, training or work.

The funding is part of the Labor Government’s Youth Crime Prevention Grant program – as part of a response to youth offending, tackling the issue through the proven strategy of strengthening the ability of communities to intervene early and divert young people from criminal behaviour.

Specialist youth and family workers work with the young people to steer them away from criminal behaviour by promoting connections with community and families - and building their resilience.

The Labor Government has also funded 42 additional police Youth Resource Officers to work in local communities and divert young people from a life of crime.

The additional staff are part of the Labor Government’s record $2 billion Community Safety Statement, which includes 3,135 new police, more powers, equipment and additional measures to hold young offenders to account.

These investments stand in stark contrast to the former Liberal Government, who failed to invest in one single additional officer, cut $100 million from the Victoria Police budget and slashed 350 Victoria Police staff.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

"This is a life-changing program that is helping local teenagers who need proactive support and engagement to realise their positive potential and only Labor will continue funding the Reboot program."

"This program is already making an enormously positive impact on the lives of the young people involved, by getting them connected to education, social activities, community participation including through sport, and work experience."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: support@gippsland.com