Youth Services – Whole Lands Program Review and Delivery

Mark Weller completed a site review of Youth Services through extensive engagement with local stakeholders and the community. In the summer holidays before the program implementation, there were a significant number of burglaries and other crimes, unfortunately, perpetuated by young offenders in communities. One estimate put the cost of damage at over $400,000. Mark planned the coordination and delivery of Youth activities to 6 communities in the Ngaanyatjarraku lands. This included coordinating a multi-agency approach with involvement from the Police, the Education Department, Shire and other agencies. The program was a significant success, providing activities from 6 am (breakfast club and literacy program) through to a late-night basketball program. Believed to be a result of youth feeling engaged in their community, crime dropped significantly during the implementation period of the new program. There was only one reported youth crime incident from out-of-town offenders and not by community members. The community, police, Education Department and other personnel praised the program's success. Most importantly, the program contributed to the well-being of youth in the community.