- Key partnership struck to establish a $4 million
community-led Immediate Response Night Space (IRNS) service for young people in
the Kimberley
- Service will provide a location for children who
are found wandering the streets at night, or who come to the attention of
police, knowing they will receive suitable shelter, food and support
- Provides a comprehensive local approach to
improve youth wellbeing and community safety
The Cook Government has
taken a major step towards delivering a vital Immediate Response Night Space service
for young people in Broome.
An agreement has been signed
between the Department of Justice and Aboriginal-led service provider Kullarri
Regional Communities Indigenous Corporation (KRCIC) to implement a $4 million
pilot program providing a location out of harm's way for at-risk youth who are found
in public areas at night.
As well as connecting
young people with a responsible adult to keep them safe from harm, the program
will offer follow-up holistic care, such as family supports, safety planning
and encourage participation in education.
Operating from Thursday
to Sunday, police and program staff patrolling Broome streets at night will
transport at-risk young people to a responsible adult or the IRNS.
Night Space has been
designed by a committee of local Aboriginal community members and Empowered
Young Leaders led by West Kimberley Futures – Empowered Communities (EC West).
Other project partners
include the Department of Communities, Department of Local Government, Sport
and Cultural Industries, Western Australia Police Force, Mental Health
Commission and the Shire of Broome.
The two-year IRNS pilot
program is part of the Cook Government's $11.8 million commitment for Kimberley
Juvenile Justice Strategy (KJJS) initiatives.
The partnership puts into
practice shared decision-making principles outlined in the National Agreement
on Closing the Gap and demonstrates the Government's commitment
to progress Priority Reforms.
A naming process to
establish a title in the traditional Yawuru language will also be carried out.
Comments attributed to Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia:
"This Kimberley Juvenile
Justice Strategy initiative seeks to fill a gap in Government and community
efforts to keep young people in Broome safe and off the streets at night.
"Night Space will provide
a safe location for WA Police and the local community to respond to children who
are found wandering the street at night.
"Until now, police would
be diverted from other duties as they sought out a responsible adult to take
care of an unaccompanied child.
"By addressing the
drivers that contribute to the risk of young people engaging in criminal and
anti-social behaviours, we can deliver better outcomes for them, improve
community safety and reduce pressure on officers.
"The coordinated approach
involving local people who know the community will provide immediate assistance,
as well as ongoing supports, to young people who currently can't always find a
safe place to be."
Comments attributed to Acting Community Services Minister Simone McGurk:
"Keeping children and young people safe is a priority for
the Cook Government.
"This $4 million investment will help keep at-risk youth safer,
while providing them with access to food, shelter and support from a local service
provider.
"By providing a safe location for young people at night,
it will be easier to divert at-risk youth from anti-social behaviour and engage
them with other wraparound services which aim to improve their future outcomes."
Comments attributed to Kimberley
MLA Divina D'Anna:
"The Night Space pilot will be of great benefit to the
community.
"Kullarri Regional
Communities Indigenous Corporation will provide emergency triaging and support
services to young people present on Broome streets at night.
"KRCIC has a strong history supporting Broome
residents and this Immediate Response Safe Space will build on the incredible
work already being done to support youth in the region."
