Community-led programs across the North Coast and Mid North Coast are set to benefit from a share of nearly $5 million in state funding aimed at reducing youth crime and improving safety.
The State Government’s Community Safety Investment Fund is part of a wider $124 million package focused on early intervention and diversion, with several initiatives in coastal communities targeting at-risk young people.
Among the funded projects are $40,000 for Cultural Fishing and Development Workshops in Nambucca Heads and $40,000 for the Doobai Bush Food Youth Program in Byron Shire, both designed to strengthen cultural connection, skills and engagement.
Statewide, the fund supports a mix of smaller, short-term projects and larger, multi-year programs, including night-time safe spaces, mentoring, employment pathways and life skills training.
Youth Justice Minister Jihad Dib said the focus on locally designed programs was key to addressing youth offending.
“Communities on the North Coast and Mid North Coast have been dealing with the impacts of youth crime, and these grants are about backing solutions that are built locally,” he said.
“When young people are supported early, it can change outcomes — keeping them engaged in education, training and work, and away from the justice system.”
The announcement coincided with a visit to the new Maruma-Li Walaay youth bail accommodation in Moree, which services the broader north-west but reflects a statewide shift toward alternatives to custody.
The $8.7 million facility provides culturally safe, supervised accommodation for young people on bail who cannot return home, with a focus on Aboriginal youth.
Department of Communities and Justice Secretary Michael Tidball said locally driven approaches, including partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, were central to improving outcomes.
“Programs like those funded on the North Coast show how communities can take the lead in supporting young people and strengthening safety,” he said.
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