❓ Ms. Beard questions the Minister for Child Protection on the Target 120 program's effectiveness in Carnarvon and requests commitment to safe spaces in Meekatharra and Carnarvon. The Minister responds with program details and openness to community-based solutions, but cautions against oversimplification.
AnsweredQoN 804Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TARGET 120 — MEEKATHARRA AND CARNARVON
804. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the Target 120 program,
an early intervention program designed to steer at-risk youth away from the
criminal justice system, along with the desperate need for safe night space
programs for vulnerable and disengaged youth, particularly in towns such as
Meekatharra and Carnarvon.
(1) Given school
attendance rates are seemingly in decline, along with an ongoing rise in youth
crime and antisocial behaviour, will the minister provide an update on the
Target 120 program and its effectiveness in Carnarvon?
(2) Will the minister commit to safe spaces in
Meekatharra and Carnarvon for use by disengaged youth at night?
804. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the Target 120 program,
an early intervention program designed to steer at-risk youth away from the
criminal justice system, along with the desperate need for safe night space
programs for vulnerable and disengaged youth, particularly in towns such as
Meekatharra and Carnarvon.
(1) Given school
attendance rates are seemingly in decline, along with an ongoing rise in youth
crime and antisocial behaviour, will the minister provide an update on the
Target 120 program and its effectiveness in Carnarvon?
(2) Will the minister commit to safe spaces in
Meekatharra and Carnarvon for use by disengaged youth at night?
AnswerView source ↗
(1) It is lovely
to see that the Liberal Party at least in this place is interested in the
electorate of Wanneroo. I look forward to a local champion taking it up on its
behalf.
I
thank the member for North West Central for her question and her ongoing
interest in what are challenging and complex issues for young people in
our regions, and also in our city. Let us face it, everyone: it is not easy to be a young person at the moment. I am glad
that the member highlighted Target 120 in her question , because, of
course, Target 120 was an election commitment by us around realising,
appreciating and wanting to value and invest in young people and provide them
every opportunity to reach their potential. As members know, Target 120 sees
some $43 million invested in 20 locations right around the state to support
young people aged 10 to 14 years who have had some interaction with police and
provide them with the intensive resources to guide them back to positive
activity in their life, whether it is supporting them through engagement with
schools or supporting them through engagement with social activities throughout
their communities.
Target 120 is a pretty special
program because it also relies on a whole-of-government and whole-of-community
response. In each location for Target 120, we have a standing committee made up
of representatives from the Departments of Health, Education and Communities
and involving the police to provide a holistic response to those vulnerable
young people, and we know we are having great outcomes right around the state.
If
the member had given me some notice, I would have been happy to provide some
more detail specifically on the Carnarvon site. As when the member has
made contact with my office previously, I would be happy to provide her with a briefing
on Carnarvon and how it specifically is going.
(2) The other
part of the member's question referred to Safe Places. I know that the
member has advocated for that strongly in
Carnarvon and other places. I, as well as all members of government, am very
interested all the time in place-based solutions, because communities
know best what works for them. But I would also caution the member for North
West Central. It is not as simplistic as I think her questions sometimes imply,
because those safe places also need to make sure that those young people are
protected in that environment. I am always open to new suggestions. We know we
are doing great work in safe spaces in Broome. We do great work in providing a safe
place for young people who are disengaged and at risk late at night in Northbridge. Our government is focused on working with
local communities to support and enable
them to provide the supports that they know work best with their young people
in their communities.
to see that the Liberal Party at least in this place is interested in the
electorate of Wanneroo. I look forward to a local champion taking it up on its
behalf.
I
thank the member for North West Central for her question and her ongoing
interest in what are challenging and complex issues for young people in
our regions, and also in our city. Let us face it, everyone: it is not easy to be a young person at the moment. I am glad
that the member highlighted Target 120 in her question , because, of
course, Target 120 was an election commitment by us around realising,
appreciating and wanting to value and invest in young people and provide them
every opportunity to reach their potential. As members know, Target 120 sees
some $43 million invested in 20 locations right around the state to support
young people aged 10 to 14 years who have had some interaction with police and
provide them with the intensive resources to guide them back to positive
activity in their life, whether it is supporting them through engagement with
schools or supporting them through engagement with social activities throughout
their communities.
Target 120 is a pretty special
program because it also relies on a whole-of-government and whole-of-community
response. In each location for Target 120, we have a standing committee made up
of representatives from the Departments of Health, Education and Communities
and involving the police to provide a holistic response to those vulnerable
young people, and we know we are having great outcomes right around the state.
If
the member had given me some notice, I would have been happy to provide some
more detail specifically on the Carnarvon site. As when the member has
made contact with my office previously, I would be happy to provide her with a briefing
on Carnarvon and how it specifically is going.
(2) The other
part of the member's question referred to Safe Places. I know that the
member has advocated for that strongly in
Carnarvon and other places. I, as well as all members of government, am very
interested all the time in place-based solutions, because communities
know best what works for them. But I would also caution the member for North
West Central. It is not as simplistic as I think her questions sometimes imply,
because those safe places also need to make sure that those young people are
protected in that environment. I am always open to new suggestions. We know we
are doing great work in safe spaces in Broome. We do great work in providing a safe
place for young people who are disengaged and at risk late at night in Northbridge. Our government is focused on working with
local communities to support and enable
them to provide the supports that they know work best with their young people
in their communities.
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