Youth on Track

The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (10:02:45):

I move:

(1)That this House affirms its support for the Youth on Track program helping young people reduce their risk of reoffending or committing more serious crimes.

(2)That this House notes that:

(a)the program works with the young person, their family, non-government organisations, caseworkers and members of Youth Justice NSW to help young people make better decisions about their life;

(b)Youth on Track is an early intervention program that identifies young people aged 10 to 17 who are at risk of long‑term involvement in the criminal justice system; and

(c)Youth on Track is location specific and operates in locations in Blacktown, the Hunter, the mid North Coast, the Central West, Coffs Harbour, New England and the Riverina and is funded through the Department of Communities and Justice.

(3)That this House notes that:

(a)the Youth on Track program was introduced by the Coalition Government in 2013 and commenced on 1 July 2013 in Blacktown, Newcastle City and the Mid North Coast Local Area Command, in 2015 expanded to include the Manning Great Lakes, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Mount Druitt and Quakers Hill, and in December 2016 commenced in the Central West, Coffs Harbour and New England, then in 2018 expanded to the Riverina;

(b)the key objectives or aims of the Youth on Track program are as follows:

(i)to identify young people at risk of continuing in the criminal justice system, in a timely way;

(ii)to provide one-on-one case management and evidence-informed interventions targeted to address the individual criminogenic risk factors of the young person; and

(iii)to provide an evidence-informed family intervention to support the family of young offenders to reduce the young person's contact with police.

(c)since its inception in 2013, Youth on Track has supported over 350 young people who have had contact with the criminal justice system a second chance to turn their life around.

(4)That this House calls on the Government to continue to support and fund the Youth on Track initiative.

Motion agreed to.

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