Released 20/12/2023
The ACT Government is continuing to invest in better support for children and young people with the establishment of a new crisis support service.
The Safer Youth Response Service (Safer Youth) will support children and young people who are engaging in harmful behaviour. Safer Youth will work with ACT Policing and other services to provide access to youth workers, emergency accommodation and follow-up case management.
Minister for Children, Youth and Family Services Rachel Stephen-Smith said the 18-month pilot of Safer Youth is one part of the work underway to support the ACT Government’s commitment to raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility.
“Children and young people who engage in harmful behaviour often experience complex issues relating to trauma, abuse and unmet needs. We need the right services available to support these young people to address the challenges in their lives.
“Safer Youth will work alongside other service providers and ACT Policing to provide children and young people with the immediate and ongoing support they need when their behaviour is creating risks for them or the community,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
From early next year, a child or young person referred to Safer Youth by ACT Policing will receive urgent crisis intervention from on-call youth workers. If needed, Safer Youth will arrange emergency accommodation for children and young people who are unable to return home safely.
This addresses an existing service gap which requires ACT Policing frontline officers to stay with any person under 18 years of age where an appropriate legal guardian is not available or returning to the care of a legal guardian is not a safe option.
The service will also provide follow-up case management, including referrals to a range of other services if required. This includes working with the child or young person and their family to address underlying issues and harmful behaviours.
The ACT Government has partnered with Marymead CatholicCare Canberra and Goulburn to deliver the Safer Youth Response Service.
“Marymead CatholicCare has extensive experience over many decades in providing a range of supports to children, young people and their families. The team shares our commitment to diverting children away from the justice system and towards wraparound therapeutic supports and services.
“Importantly, Marymead CatholicCare understands the value of working closely with other service providers, family members and the child or young person to ensure their individual needs are met and the right foundations are in place to change their life trajectory,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
The ACT Government is investing $1.6 million over four years to fund Safer Youth from 2023, pending evaluation of the pilot period.
Safer Youth will also gather data, assess demand, and inform the development of this and other services in the lead up to the minimum age of criminal responsibility being raised from 12 to 14 years in mid-2025.
Quotes attributable to Anne Kirwan, CEO of Marymead CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn
“We are excited to be working alongside and in partnership the ACT Government and ACT Policing to deliver the Safer Youth Response Service to keep children and young people out of the criminal justice system.
“We recognise that interacting with the criminal justice system at an early age can have life-long impacts.
“Our aim is to provide earlier intervention to divert children and young people aged under 14 years old and their families from the criminal justice system and offer genuine opportunities for young people to change their life trajectory.”
- Statement ends -
Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases