Community de-radicalisation scheme to stop youths at risk of terrorism
DOZENS of young Victorians at risk of extremism or committing terrorist acts will be the target of community-based de-radicalisation programs.
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DOZENS of young Victorians at risk of extremism or committing terrorist acts will be the target of community-based de-radicalisation programs.
The Australian-first scheme will see community groups trained to steer teenagers and young adults away from the clutches of Islamic State recruiters and extremist groups.
Detail of the $3.2 million State Government pilot programs, to be launched in January, is being kept close to protect their integrity.
EDITORIAL: Anti-terror program may save lives
It is believed intervention tactics will be used to divert potentially dozens of young people from violent extremism.
Three of the programs, to be led by community members, will focus on young people in Melbourne who might be at risk of Islamic extremism, or are being groomed.
Two of those will be in the city’s north, with the third in the southeast.
A fourth program will operate statewide, aimed at people falling under the influence of Neo-Nazism.
A fifth broadbased initiative believed to be focusing on Islamic extremism is still being developed.
The programs would be designed to reach those who were in the initial stages of radicalisation or those who were susceptible to carrying out acts of violent extremism.
Multicultural Affairs Minister Robin Scott said the pilot programs would provide an important support network for parents if they or their child were in need of help.
“We are working with the community to help protect our vulnerable youth from being exploited by these extremist groups,” Mr Scott said.
“While children love their parents, they don’t always listen to them, so another trusting, supportive voice can make a big difference.”
The programs would empower local communities to deal with the extremist threat, the minister said.
“The support groups are for the community, by the community. It’s not a top-down approach by government officials,” he said.
The pilot program is an Australian-first initiative, based on academic research and international best practice.
Funding for the pilot program will be drawn from the Government’s $25 million social cohesion fund.
This is administered by a ministerial taskforce set up to tackle violent extremism.
Since teen terror suspect Abdul Numan Haider was killed attacking two police officers in Endeavour Hills, community leaders in the southeast have lobbied for more programs to reach disaffected youths.
After last September’s attack, a number of Haider’s friends were persons of interest in the Australian Federal Police’s Operation Rising investigation into terrorism.
Following a series of co-ordinated counter-terrorism raids in Melbourne’s southeast, Sevdet Besim was charged with allegedly plotting to kill police officers on Anzac Day and is awaiting trial.
A number of young Muslims from Melbourne’s northern suburbs joined extremist groups fighting in Syria and Iraq.
These included 18-year-old Jake Bilardi, who died in a suicide bombing.
A 17-year-old boy from Melbourne’s north was charged with a bomb plot in May after police allegedly found pipe bombs in his home.