Bunbury has been named as the first location for the state government’s Target 120 funding to prevent youth crime. Announced as part of the 2018-19 state budget, the $20.5 million initiative will aim to provide targeted intervention for troubled youth.
Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk said the program was an innovative and sophisticated approach to dealing with anti-social behaviour.
She said the funding would go towards allowing service providers to wrap around the young people and their families which police or community leaders identity as at risk of going into the justice system.
Target 120 will look at the issues, such as substance abuse, lack of housing, domestic violence, trauma, mental health issues, and poor attendance at school.
Bunbury MLA Don Punch said the program would help connect the families who were at risk with the correct services. He said it was an important announcement for vulnerable families but also the community as a whole.
Target 120 will help up to 300 young people and their families as it gets rolled out across WA over four years.