Mission Australia
Charity
Donate via PayPal
Media coverage - Courier Mail: Help them, don't lock them away |
| 31 August 2011 |
 As the number of young people entering youth detention centres continues to rise and members of the community express desperation over how to stop youth offending, it's time to take a hard look at Queensland's approach to juvenile justice.Rather than jump at a quick fix or take a "tough love" approach, we need a rational discussion on youth justice to address community concerns. Recent calls in Cairns for naming and shaming of young offenders and the case in Townsville of a desperate mother resorting to public humiliation to punish her son for stealing show just how urgent the need for sensible discussion has become. As one of Australia's leading providers of services to young people in crisis, Mission Australia knows the best way to address youth crime is to help young people change for the better. It's not about taking a soft approach; it's about long-term solutions and common sense. If we want to reduce adolescent crime and stop "the revolving door" that characterises our youth detention centres, we have to help young people turn their lives around - not push them further into isolation by subjecting them to public humiliation. Given the statistics show those who end up behind bars are more likely to reoffend and return to prison as adults, we must reduce the number of young people entering detention. Mission Australia's diversionary programs for young offenders - programs that tackle the underlying causes of offending behaviour as an alternative to the juvenile justice system - show they can cut offence rates by more than 50 per cent and are up to 50 times cheaper than detention. These programs are more successful because they recognise and address the signs of "problem behaviour" and support young people to negotiate problems before they offend. Instead of treating them as criminals, these programs help troubled young people learn how to make a positive contribution to the community and change their lives for the better. Early-intervention programs take this a step further, by working to prevent young children who may be at risk of developing behavioural problems in their teenage years from reaching that point. Mission Australia's Pathways to Prevention project in Inala, which has been running for 10 years, was originally designed as a long-term crime-prevention program. By working with vulnerable children aged up to five and their families, this program helps them make a successful transition from home life to school, a stage which, if mishandled, can lead to serious problems later in life. While I have no doubt some will argue for young offenders to simply be punished and locked away, I believe what the public really wants is to feel safe and for young people to lead rich and fulfilling lives. The evidence is in: detention and public humiliation don't work and taxpayers are paying through the nose for the privilege. If we invest more in diversionary and early-intervention programs to support children and young people, not only would we see a reduction in offending, but the whole community would reap the benefits. This article was originally posted to the Courier Mail on 31 August 2011   |
News Updates
| Living with teens - north-west Sydney information nightsWednesday, 23 May 2012Mission Australia's Clifton Adolescent and Family Solutions (CAFS) and Youth Connections, in partnership with Hornsby Council, the GP Network and the Hills Schools Industry Partnership, are presenting a free series of information nights for parents living with teenagers.
The program will provide parents and carers with an opportunity to... + Read Full Story |
Miller Pathways celebrate Families WeekMonday, 21 May 2012Mission Australia’s child and family service in the Liverpool area, Miller Pathways, celebrated Families Week on Friday by hosting a free Community Fun Day.
The Federal Minister for Human Services, Senator Kim Carr, Federal Member for Fowler, Chris Hayes, and Mayor of Liverpool Wendy Waller all attended and officially opened the... + Read Full Story | More News Articles | ||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |