A successful program diverting at-risk western suburbs youth from a life of crime will fold without urgent support, according to its head.
Operation Newstart has assisted more than 2000 of the state’s most vulnerable young people, including almost 500 in the western suburbs.
Executive officer Phil Wheatley told the Weekly the award-winning program was likely to disappear without urgent help from the state government and Victoria Police.
“We are operating five programs this term with the support of schools, but the outlook in the medium term is very problematic.”
Last year the federal government allocated the program a $300,000 grant from the National Crime Prevention Fund, but the offer was withdrawn by the new Coalition government. Late last year, Victoria Police withdrew its operational support, leaving the program without the police officers who were a lynchpin of its success, according to Mr Wheatley.
“All of the evidence shows that by keeping kids in school as long as possible there is a real chance of enabling them to have productive lives.”
Opposition police spokesman and Wiliamstown MP Wade Noonan raised the matter in State Parliament, calling on Police Minister Kim Wells to meet with program leaders.
“Many of the secondary school-aged young people who have benefited from this program have been described as gifted, but through a variety of circumstances they have fallen on hard times and dabbled in crime, drugs, alcohol or other antisocial behaviours,” Mr Noonan said.
“As such, many drop out of school and potentially consign themselves to lives lacking hope or direction. That is why Operation Newstart matters to them.”
Footscray MP Marsha Thomson said Operation Newstart had proven a success in Footscray, with 480 completing the program.
“If the Napthine government wants to maintain a shred of credibility in the area of crime prevention then they need to support Operation Newstart in Footscray.”
The minister’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
