The Territory Labor Government is breaking thecycle of crime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs through a comprehensiveplan, which includes expanded hours with night patrol and youth drop-in centresnow operating seven days a week.
The Tangentyere Council Brown Street Youth Drop-InCentre, The Gap Youth and Community Centre, and the Tangentyere Night Patrolpreviously only operated for five days a week. Both youth drop-in centres havealso extended their bus services to ensure that young people get home safely.
New operating hours are:
- Tangentyere Night Patrol Everyday 6pm to 3am
- Tangentyere CouncilBrown Street Youth Drop-In Centre Sunday to Thursday 5:30pm to 9:30pm. Fridayand Saturday 5:30pm to 12:00am
- The Gap Youth andCommunity Centre Everyday 4pm to 10pm
The youth drop-in centres provide regular,safe, and structured activities for at-risk young people. Activities are allfocused on health and well-being, positive socialisation, and educationalactivities. These include learning how to cook healthy meals, sports competitions,movie nights, overnight camps, computer skills development, music-making,writing and performing.
The Tangentyere Night Patrol helpsget young people off the streets at night and also provide assistance to peoplesleeping rough.
Expanded hours for night patrols and youthdrop-in centres, is part of the Territory Labor Governments Breaking the Cycle plan to tackle youthcrime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs.
Other initiatives include:
- Appoint seven Youth Engagement Night Officers (YENOs) to work seven days a week from 8pm-3am with young people who are on the street (and regularly involved in crime) and get them on a better path. YENOs will support NT Police, Territory Families and non-government youth services. A trial of the new service was conducted during the Easter school holidays. (In effect 28 June)
- More mobile CCTV cameras in anti-social behaviour hot spots. (Already in effect)
- Two School Engagement Officers to work with young people who have been identified as being disengaged from schooling. These officers have been appointed. (Already in effect)
- Three School Compliance Officers to work with young people when attempts to increase school attendance has not been successful. These officers have been appointed. (Already in effect)
- Create an Aboriginal-led Youth Outreach Service. A team of senior, respected Aboriginal outreach workers will provide advice and support to youth engagement officers and mentor Aboriginal youth, drawing on the cultural authority of the Tangentyere Council Mens Four Corners Group and Tangentyere Womens Family Safety Group. (In effect 1 July)
As noted by Minister for Territory Families,Dale Wakefield
The Territory Labor Government is listening to Centralianswho have had enough of crime, youth crime, and anti-social behaviour. The Breaking the Cycle plan gives us abetter chance of breaking the cycle of crime and keeps Alice Springs safer.
Investing in and supporting youthservices is crucial to tackling youth crime and anti-social behaviour. Expandedhours at youth drop-in centres and the night patrol will ensure that at-riskyoung people are not on the streets at night, and instead engaging in positiveactivities and can be safely escorted home.
This is in stark contrast to the chaotic CLPgovernment who cut vital youth services in Alice Springs. They failed toimplement any plan to fix alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour onour streets.
As noted by CEO of Gap Youth and Community Centre, Michelle Krauer
The Gap is open from 4pm dailywhere young people have an opportunity to engage in positive activities. Themost important thing about the centre is that young people know that the GAP isa safe place and that they can talk to staff about any concerns they have, orabout opportunities they want to take up and we support them to achievethis. We also provide a safe ride home for any young people who attendthe centre.
By having regular activities atthe centre young people get a sense of belonging and know that we care. All our activities are underpinned by an educational framework, its not justabout literacy and numeracy, its about personal growth, expanding theirknowledge, and creating opportunities.
As noted by Youth Services Coordinator, Brown Street Drop-inCentre, Robele Yishake
As a result of the expandedhours at Brown Street, young people have the opportunity to engage in numerousprograms including the healthy eating and cooking program, Look AfterYourself. The program also provides young people with the opportunity to learnabout hygiene and healthy relationships.
The programs at Brown Streetprovide a foundation for young people to learn life skills that they canimplement which results in increased confidence, motivation and social skills.The food cooking program incorporates cooking cultural Indigenous foodsincluding damper and kangaroo tail stew. This part of the program recognisesthat cultural identity and connectedness is paramount in service delivery foryoung people who attend Brown Street.
As noted by Divisional Manager, Tangentyere Night Patrol, MareeCorbo
The Tangentyere Night patrolservice is a culturally safe service that works to keep the Alice Springscommunity safe. The expanded hours will ensure that the service is able totransport people home or to a safe place, but most importantly offer supportand provide safety for vulnerable people during the night.
