$789,500 of Federal Government funding for rehabilitation programs for high-risk youths

The Community Sports Mentoring & Coaching Ltd has been awarded $789,500 by Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP through the Federal Government’s Safer Communities Program. This funding will help provide early intervention and rehabilitation programs for up to 200 youth at high risk of criminal and anti-social behaviour.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP recently visited Hibiscus Sports Complex in Upper Mount Gravatt to deliver the news to former Brisbane Bullets Basketball coach Brian Kerle, who will be overseeing the project. Mr Vasta said his government remains committed to providing support to local communities who provide solutions to address crime in youth, noting that each area has different demographics and different needs when addressing early prevention and rehabilitation.

“The Federal Government is committed to keeping local communities safe and the Safer Communities Program is just one of many tools we are using to ensure our communities are safe and secure,” Mr Vasta said.

“This rehabilitation and early intervention program established by Brian and his team, will provide skills, knowledge and real connections to help youths create a better life for themselves,

“When youths get caught in the cycle of crime, a high percentage of the time it is environmental factors that lead them down this path, that is why not for profits like Community Sports Mentoring and Coaching are so important as they provide the supports, guidance and mentoring these youth need to help break that cycle.”

Brian Kerle said this funding will go towards changing the lives of up to 200 youths at high risk of crime and anti-social behaviour, providing with opportunities and supports to help them break the cycle of a life of crime.

“This $789, 5000 from the Federal Government will go directly into providing opportunities for at risk-youths and helping them change their lives for the better, and we are so thankful for Ross’s support with this project,” Mr Kerle said.

“The youths we will be helping through this funding come from partner networks including corrective services, local police, cultural and community organisations and charities,

“The programs we will be implementing include positive mentoring, literacy and numeracy programs, cultural connections, sports and recreation, job readiness and employment, as well as training for certification,

“I strongly believe that when you are helping youths at high-risk of crime and anti-social behaviour, you have to provide supports for a multi-pronged approach as there are often multiple factors contributing to this behaviour, and this funding enables us to do exactly that.”

The Safer Communities Fund targets organisations which demonstrated experience in providing early intervention actives to youth at high risk to prevent them from engaging in criminal activity or anti-social behaviour. The objectives of the Safer Communities Program is:

• to provide community safety for all Australians through funding local crime prevention actives that address anti-social behaviour by youth at high risk of offending
• help marginalised youth aged 12-24 at high risk to develop life skills, including through educational and vocational skills to prevent them from becoming entrenched in the criminal justice system and to promote inclusion and build community resilience.

For more information on the Safe Communities Fund, click here: https://www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/award-funding-under-the-safer-communities-fund