Thursday, 5 June 2025

At-risk young people in Mildura will receive more support with a new Youth Crime Prevention Program helping them to stay on the right track thanks to the Allan Labor Government.

Sunraysia Community Health Service will receive $350,000 to deliver Mallee Together: Supporting Our Young People that will get young people engaged in school, gain employment and strengthen connections to their community.

The program targets young people aged 10 to 24 years at risk of involvement, or previously involved with, the justice system through intensive case management, mentoring and social activities.

Sunraysia Community Health Service will work with local partners to deliver the program, including Hands Up Mallee and the Yarning Group, to ensure programs are aligned with community need and are culturally safe.

These programs are already up and running in 13 locations across Victoria, including Ballarat, Brimbank, Casey, East Gippsland, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Greater Geelong, Horsham, Hume, Latrobe, Melton, Shepparton and Wyndham.

Hands Up Mallee has strong relationships with local Aboriginal communities and a history of effective engagement with young people in the area.

An independent evaluation of Youth Crime Prevention Programs found it reduced the incidence of offending by young people completing the program by 29 per cent and significantly reduced the severity of their offences.

Youth Crime Prevention Programs have supported more than 7,500 young people – giving them the tools and connections to prevent offending.

The Labor Government has delivered more than $40 million towards youth crime prevention. This year’s Budget delivers a further $3.8 million for Victoria Police’s Embedded Youth Outreach Program and $14 million for Aboriginal community services like the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service’s regional hubs in Mildura.

Quote attributable to Minister for Community Safety Anthony Carbines

“The whole community benefits when young people have the support they need to keep their lives on track, and right across the state Youth Crime Prevention Programs are doing just that.”

Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes

“The best way to keep our community safe is to intervene early and keep young people on the right path. Sunraysia Community Health Service will be working in partnership with local Aboriginal leaders to make sure the services offered make a difference.”