Young people at risk have a place to go

8 July 2022

An early intervention program to support young people in Western Sydney who come into contact with Police and the courts has been extended thanks to a funding boost from the NSW Government.

Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones announced an extra $2.9 million to extend ‘A Place to Go’ until December 2023 after an independent evaluation from the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales highlighted the program’s success.

“Thanks to the multiagency nature of the program, the evaluation found young people were well-supported in finding stable and appropriate accommodation, accessing health services, removing barriers to education, and connecting with their communities,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

“Through this program, we are empowering young people in Western Sydney to avoid re-offending, make positive decisions and take control of their lives.”

A Place to Go includes cross coordination between the Department of Communities and Justice, Department of Education, NSW Health, Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, NSW Police Force, the NSW Children’s Court and Mackillop Family Services.

The program takes a young person’s contact with Police and/or the court as an opportunity to intervene early by linking them with appropriate community supports and services, court liaison staff, and cross-agency panels.

A Place to Go provides these young people with short-term accommodation and support that tackles the underlying causes of their offending behaviour while also supplying an alternative to remand for young people charged with an offence who are unable to return home.

The successful program has been operational in the Nepean Police Area Command and Parramatta Children’s Court since November 2018.