Ms WALKER - 2009-02-19
Today’s announcement by the Chief Minister and the Minister for Central Australia is the most comprehensive youth plan ever announced for Alice Springs. Can the minister advise this House what initiatives will be taken to ensure that kids are safe at night?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms McCARTHY: I can outline to the House with, no doubt, the full support of the Chief Minister and the two ministers of Central Australia, that this package brings additional services to Alice Springs and is a real action plan to helping our young people in Central Australia.
It is about ensuring that existing government and non-government services are collaborating and coordinating their efforts, as well as developing and establishing new services. It must be acknowledged that existing service providers are doing a great job, and I commend them for their efforts. This plan will give them greater assistance with providing much needed services.
The announcement of a dedicated youth coordinator based in Police will be of benefit to both government and non-government services. The coordinator will ensure that youth services in Alice Springs are integrated and working well. This will improve the overall effectiveness of youth service provisions in Alice Springs.
I am pleased to say that the Gap Youth Centre will receive $75 000 per annum to assist, and it will provide after-hours youth recreational services. Together with Tangentyere Council and Congress, it will form an important spread of youth services in the region. The planned youth service hub includes a Police Citizens Youth Club, which will mean a greater variety of youth recreational options. Well coordinated community patrol and transport services are integral to ensure that people can get home. The youth coordinator will mean better coordination of night and day patrol services, ranger services and, most importantly, the Return to Country program.
It is also critical to address the need for a safe place for kids to go at night when they have nowhere else to go, and I am very pleased to say that an additional safe house will be established. This will provide greater capacity for police and youth services to safely accommodate young people found on the streets at night with no other safe alternative.
It is a comprehensive plan, and I will ensure that my department will play a key role in ensuring young people have appropriate recreational and care alternatives in Alice Springs.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms McCARTHY: I can outline to the House with, no doubt, the full support of the Chief Minister and the two ministers of Central Australia, that this package brings additional services to Alice Springs and is a real action plan to helping our young people in Central Australia.
It is about ensuring that existing government and non-government services are collaborating and coordinating their efforts, as well as developing and establishing new services. It must be acknowledged that existing service providers are doing a great job, and I commend them for their efforts. This plan will give them greater assistance with providing much needed services.
The announcement of a dedicated youth coordinator based in Police will be of benefit to both government and non-government services. The coordinator will ensure that youth services in Alice Springs are integrated and working well. This will improve the overall effectiveness of youth service provisions in Alice Springs.
I am pleased to say that the Gap Youth Centre will receive $75 000 per annum to assist, and it will provide after-hours youth recreational services. Together with Tangentyere Council and Congress, it will form an important spread of youth services in the region. The planned youth service hub includes a Police Citizens Youth Club, which will mean a greater variety of youth recreational options. Well coordinated community patrol and transport services are integral to ensure that people can get home. The youth coordinator will mean better coordination of night and day patrol services, ranger services and, most importantly, the Return to Country program.
It is also critical to address the need for a safe place for kids to go at night when they have nowhere else to go, and I am very pleased to say that an additional safe house will be established. This will provide greater capacity for police and youth services to safely accommodate young people found on the streets at night with no other safe alternative.
It is a comprehensive plan, and I will ensure that my department will play a key role in ensuring young people have appropriate recreational and care alternatives in Alice Springs.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016