A NEW youth crime prevention initiative is calling for people to become youth mentors.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The initiative, Connecting the Service Puzzle, aims to address a rise in youth participatory crimes in Horsham after it was listed as a top priority in the Victorian Government Justice Department’s youth crime prevention grant.
Statistics from 2016 showed an increase in crime rates, where almost half – 44 per cent – of all crime in the municipality was carried out by youth aged 10 to 24. This was well above the state average of 34 per cent.
Wimmera Southern Mallee LLEN executive officer Tim Shaw said youth mentoring had a proven track record of reducing risky behaviour among adolescents.
“It provides support to vulnerable children and young adults and makes positive change by getting them engage and promotes individual achievement,” he said.
Mr Shaw said the initiative allowed them to develop the MATES mentoring program that operates in 20 schools across the region.
“Connecting the Service Puzzle will allow us to build on the program and reach more at-risk young people than ever before and provide them with positive role models,” he said.
“The partnership services are coming together, just as the title suggests, and mentoring is just one element of that support.”
Mr Shaw said WSMLLEN wanted to recruit everyday people.
“Who we are looking for are people with a genuine interest in children and their development,” he said.
“We are seeking people who can commit to the program and youth who face significant challenges. They need to be aware there will be difficulties.”
He said volunteers needed to be over the age of 18 and willing to undergo a national police and working with children check.
He said people interested in becoming a youth mentor could contact WSMLLEN project officers Vanessa O’Loughlin or Mary Bysouth on 5381 0122.