Community Youth Diversion (CYD) programs will be renewed in more than a dozen remote communities across the Top End and Central Australia following grants to new service providers.
Funding for the programs is part of a $3.155 million per annum investment by the Territory Labor Government for the reform and ongoing delivery of CYD programs for 10-17 year-olds.
CYD programs offer case management services, programs and activities for young people subject to formal police youth diversion.
In addition to programs already operating in Katherine and Ngukurr, CYD programs will now be operated by Adjumarllarl Aboriginal Corporation in Gunbalanya and Jabiru; Thamarrurr Development Corporation in Wadeye and Peppimenarti; and MacDonnell Regional Council – MacYouth in Amoonguna, Areyonga, Haasts Bluff, Hermannsburg, Kintore, Mount Liebig, Papunya, Santa Teresa and Titjikala.
Darwin, Alice Springs, Tiwi Islands and Tennant Creek providers will be announced late next month.
Youth diversion aims to direct young people away from the formal youth justice system at early stages of coming to the attention of police and exhibiting offending behaviours. It does this by helping to build strategies so they don’t reoffend and providing services that improve their chances of a positive future.
As stated by Minister for Territory Families, Dale Wakefield:
“Youth diversion is an important strategy to ensure young people are held accountable for their offending and have opportunities to change their behaviour.
“The CYD program helps to create safer communities by addressing the needs of youth; empowering them to right their wrongs by ensuring they understand the impact of their behaviour on victims, community and family; and providing strong, collaborative support services once they have completed the program.
“We know prevention and diversion programs work, and that’s why the Territory Labor Government is investing in programs like Community Youth Diversion.”
