- $5.9 million invested to establish the Kununurra Youth Night Space and support a safer community
- Aboriginal-led, community co-designed service to provide after-hours support for street-present young people
- Interim facility begins operating ahead of works at the permanent site
- Cook Labor Government building safe and inclusive communities
TheKununurraYouthNightSpace (KYNS) has begun operating this week to provide a safe place for young people in the East Kimberley town.
The Cook Labor Government has invested $5.9 million through the Kimberley Juvenile Justice Strategy (KJJS) to support a safer Kununurra community by establishing theNightSpace for young people who are on the streets at night.
The temporary Night Space service is based at the premises of KununurraWaringarri Aboriginal Corporation (KWAC), which is providing the service.
The Button Drive site will be used until refurbishment works are carried out at the permanent location on Ivanhoe Road, allowing immediate increased support and community engagement with young people in the community.
The Night Space will provide refuge, food and activities for young people between 10pm and 4am.
It will be strictly non-residential and time limited, with young people transported by vehicle to and from the premises, minimising any potential disruption to the neighbourhood.
The Department of Justice is in ongoing discussions with the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley aboutplanning and operational requirements for the permanent site.
The KYNS will be similar in function to Ngurra Buru (Broome Night Space), which has contributed to a 34 per cent fall in burglaries and a drop in other youth crime rates since it began operating.
As stated by Attorney General Tony Buti:
"Opening a Night Space in Kununurra is part of the Cook Labor Government's efforts to tackle youth crime in the Kimberley through diversion and early intervention.
"The model is Aboriginal-led and co-designed with the local community, ensuring services provided are both culturally appropriate and effective.
"Broome and Fitzroy Crossing have recorded significant falls in youth crime, including burglaries and other property crimes, since those night spaces began operating.
"We expect the Kununurra Night Space can achieve similar results to other Cook Labor Government initiatives aimed at turning young people away from crime, reducing harm and making the community safer."
Comments attributed to Kimberley Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The Night Space has been shaped through consultation with local stakeholders, Elders, Traditional Owners and young people to ensure it reflects the needs of the Kununurra community.
"I'm pleased to see an Aboriginal-led organisation delivering this service with local knowledge and community connections at its core.
"Providing a safe place for young people will help connect them with support and reduce their exposure to harm.
"The Cook Labor Government is committed to safer communities and better opportunities for young people across the Kimberley."
As stated by Kununurra Waringarri Aboriginal Corporation Chief Executive Officer Adrian McCann
"This is such an important milestone. After 12 months of community-led co-design and detailed implementation planning, we are incredibly excited to bring the KYNS model to life for Kununurra's young people, families and the wider community.
"The strength of KYNS is that it has come directly from the community it will support and places young people's voices, strengths and desire for change at its centre. It builds on the trusted relationships local staff already have with young people, families, WA Police, KJJS and other services.
"We have a highly experienced team coming together, bringing strong local knowledge, lived experience and extensive experience working with young people.
"Together, the team, the space and the community-led model provide a strong foundation for delivering culturally safe, practical and coordinated support for Kununurra's young people and their families."
