The Territory Labor Government is tackling youth crime in theKatherine region by working with local Aboriginal organisation Kalano todeliver youth diversion programs.
Kalano Community Association will receive $1.5 million over fiveyears to develop community youth diversion programs in Katherine and surrounds,Beswick, Barunga, and Mataranka.
The partnership with Kalano came out of the Local Decision-Makingprocess, which is a Territory Labor Government commitment to transferdecision-making and government service delivery to Aboriginal control.
The community youth diversion programs will be aimed at childrenand young people who are referred by the NT Police or the Local or SupremeCourt.
The programs will be led by Aboriginal leaders who willdetermine what actions young offenders will undertake to repair the harm thatthey have caused to the community. Restorative actions may include housingrepairs, mechanical repairs, maintenance and essential services. These programswill be operational in October.
The Kalano community youth diversion programs will operate inaddition to the Territory Labor Governments Back on Track programs that will begin on 9 September.
Back onTrack programs in Katherine include youth wilderness camps, victimconferencing, early intervention and prevention programs for children under theage of criminal responsibility, and VET programs.
As stated by Minister for Territory Families, DaleWakefield
The Territory Labor Government has the mostextensive suite of measures to address the issue of young offenders ever seenin the Territory.
Through our new Backon Track program as well as funding for community youth diversion programs,we are investing in local solutions and breaking the cycle of youth crime thathas gone on for too long.
As stated by Member for Katherine, Sandra Nelson
We are giving young people in Katherine andsurrounding areas the opportunity to repair the harm that they have caused, aswell as give them education and training pathways so that they can becomeproductive members of our community.
The Territory Labor Government continues to investin Katherine and in local solutions to local issues. As the Local Member forKatherine, this is something that I have been advocating for and I willcontinue to work closely with Kalano to help deliver these programs.
As stated by CEO of Kalano Community Association, Bill Headley
Kalano is committed to supporting young people andthe community in Katherine. One mistake doesnt define a young persons entirelife as its in the best interests of the young person, their family and thecommunity that they are diverted away from the criminal justice system andsupported into education, training and provided with the opportunity to workwith their victims.
Kalano is excited about the partnership with the NorthernTerritory Government to deliver youth diversion, as this will complement our existingcommitments to deliver after-hours youth outreach and establish the KatherineChildren and Family Centre.
