$185,000 to help troubled Lake Macquarie teens
1st June 2018
The NSW Government will provide $185,000 to fund an 18-month program which supports at-risk youth in Lake Macquarie to help break the cycle of crime, Attorney General Mark Speakman and Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper announced today.
Mr Piper said Community Activities Lake Macquarie (CALM) will use the funding for a range of crime prevention and youth diversionary projects that will reduce crime rates and improve community safety.
“The focus is on early intervention for at-risk youth to keep them off the streets and help them before major issues arise,” Mr Piper said.
The grant will enable a new Community Development Officer to deliver supervised recreational activities and mentoring programs to drive down crime in the area.
“The initiative aims to find creative ways to engage teenagers to keep them out of trouble including music workshops, mentoring programs and street art lessons,” Mr Piper said.
“CALM is a well-known organisation which supports the vulnerable in our community and these measures will improve social cohesion and reduce anti-social behaviour.”
The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research recently found a significant rise in disorderly conduct and theft in the Cardiff region where the program will centre.
“Grassroots community programs like the one run by CALM helps residents understand the issues in their community and encourages them to play an important role in addressing them,” Mr Speakman said.
“This grant is in addition to the NSW Government’s $14.5 million investment in Youth on Track, a program aimed at reducing youth offending and improving police interactions across the state with services provided in Lake Macquarie.
“We are partnering with rural, regional and metropolitan communities on 16 Community Safety Fund projects, ranging from helping disadvantaged young people to get their driver licence to installing lighting and CCTV in crime hot spots.”