AN ARMIDALE outreach service that picks up Aboriginal youth from the streets at night and takes them to a safe place will receive almost $40,000 in funding from the State Government.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said Armidale Youth Assist would continue to operate the Safe Aboriginal Youth program on Friday and Saturday nights in the city.
“The program helps Aboriginal young people who are on the streets at night and may be at risk of being a victim of crime or being caught up in anti-social activity,” he said.
“The outreach bus service collects young people – predominantly aged 13 to 17 years – and takes them to their home, to a supervised activity or to another location where they will be safe.
“The program also refers young people to local support services if they need extra help.”
Mr Marshall said similar programs currently operated in Dubbo, Nowra, Bourke, Taree, Kempsey and Newcastle.
The MP said that over the past four years around 87,000 young Aboriginal people had taken advantage of the program across the state.
“The Armidale program has been running since 2009 and has helped young people on more than 7000 occasions,” Mr Marshall said.
“The program here is hugely successful and provides increased safety and transport options for our local youth.”
The latest allocation of government funding will cover the Armidale program’s expenses until 30 June next year.
In the future, the state’s Safe Aboriginal Youth programs will receive funding annually at the beginning of each financial year.
