‘Proposal is a start’: Radical plan to tackle youth crime needs key factor to work

Better investment and focus is needed if a radical new proposal to red-flag at-risk schoolkids is going to work, SA’s top advocate for Aboriginal children says.

The state’s top advocate for Aboriginal children says a radical proposal to red-flag and target vulnerable schoolkids for early intervention would only work if there was “proper investment” towards the community they come from.

Under the proposal by National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds, the education system would be completely overhauled and integrated with health, community and welfare services in a bid to tackle youth crime gripping the country.

Although the proposal is targeted at children from all backgrounds, South Australia’s Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, April Lawrie said for it to help Indigenous children in SA, there would need to be a holistic approach towards communities.

“We know that when you’ve got high levels of youth offending, there’s a distressed community,” she said.

“So the response needs to be based on community development.

SA WEEKEND April Lawrie, Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young people in Victoria Square on August 6, 2020. Picture Matt Turner.

“Whether you’re talking about education or health, or welfare, the integration of services, I would agree with all of what Commissioner Hollonds is proposing, but we must listen to the signals that tell us there’s a community in distress.”

Ms Hollonds’ proposal is a result of her inquiry into juvenile justice nationally, which has to date gathered 160 submissions.

Her proposal aims to tackle the national youth crime crisis, with the latest figure showing more than 50,000 youths were charged in the past year with serious crimes.

In SA, Indigenous young people are 12.5 times more likely to be involved with the juvenile justice system than non-Indigenous young people, and 19.7 times more likely to be in detention.

Malcolm “Tiger” McKenzie says his home has been broken into 15 times in the past year. Picture: Riley Walter

Adnyamathanha elder, Malcolm ‘Tiger’ McKenzie is a resident of Davenport Aboriginal community on the outskirts of Port Augusta, where residents have been grappling with youth crime for a number of years.

Adding to the crisis, the Davenport Community Council was placed into administration by the Aboriginal Land’s Trust in 2021, and was appointed an external manager after some residents complained of dilapidated buildings and accused the council of mismanagement.

Mr McKenzie said he has had his house broken into 15-times in the space of 12 months.

He was sceptical of the proposal because he did not believe the services who would be alerted were working with communities adequately.

“It’s looking at those service providers. Do an assessment on them,” he said.

“So here in Port Augusta, are they (services) getting out into the community to meet individual families and those children who are struggling and not going to school? No, they are not.

“I’ll say it now. If they (Ms Hollands) don’t get out and do a proper assessment, like a voice from community members, it’s not only going to be a big failure, but a waste of taxpayers money.”

Ms Hollonds’ proposal will be presented to the federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfuss in July, and outlines a widespread consensus that locking kids up does not work and could exacerbate the crisis.