Mparntwe-Alice Springs Youth Action Plan released, outlining seven goals for 2027

Alice Springs kids are more likely to experience homelessness, live in poverty and drop out of school than the average Australian child. See how a seven-point plan aims to address the barrier facing Territory kids.

Sit down with Ngaree Ah Kit at her Karama electorate office to talk about crime Picture Glenn Campbell

The cycles of poverty and inequality that have weighed down on Central Australian kids could be addressed as the government releases the second ever Mparntwe-Alice Springs Youth Action Plan.

New Youth Minister Ngaree Ah Kit released the latest seven-point priority list to improve the lives of Mparntwe kids on Christmas Eve, two years after the region’s last plan expired in 2021.

The seven-point 2023-2027 plan said more was needed to ensure all Mparntwe kids felt loved and safe, had the material basics, were healthy, engaged in education, participating in their community, had a positive sense of their culture and identity and were involved in sustainability projects.

Then Education Minister Eva Lawler and Youth Minister Lauren Moss meet with members of the 2022 Youth Roundtable in Alice Springs.

Among its calls was for trauma-informed practices in youth services, support for kids out late at night, culturally appropriate and inclusive public safety initiatives and targeted health messaging.

The new plan also highlighted the toll economic inequality played on the Territory’s youth, as one in three NT kids are currently living below the poverty line according to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.

The Mparntwe action plan called for access to adequate food and clean drinking water, the necessary clothing to thrive and critically stable housing.

An August report by the Children’s Commissioner and NT Shelter found that in a single night more than one in 20 kids were experiencing homelessness in Mparntwe, many fleeing domestic violence, alcohol or drug affected homes or poverty.

Yet only one of the 17 homelessness services for the region offered specialist services to young people — Alice Springs Youth Accommodation and Support Services — and the waitlists for its 12 crisis, short and medium term beds were closed due to excessive demand.

With NT Education data showing that Central Australian kids are 8 per cent less likely to attend school than the average Territory kid — with only 64.7 per cent of kids in schools — the Action Plan also called for better engagement with education services including mentorship programs.

The Youth Action Plan also called on the arts, sports, culture and the services industry to employ and engage with kids, and for youth leaders to be consulted when designing urban spaces, school holiday and after-hour programs.

Ms Ah Kit said the results of the plan were already being felt, with Territory Families’ regional youth program co-ordinators working with local business to develop training and employment pathways.

She highlighted young people like Gabe Richards, who was struggling at home and at school before he took part in Alice Springs gym Get Physical’s Better Bodies Program.

Alice Springs young person Gabe Richards, Get Physical Business owner Jenny Steer and NT Youth Minister Ngaree Ah Kit.

Through his training and employment, Gabe said he felt empowered to take part in a carpentry apprenticeship.

“By working together and prioritising the wellbeing, safety and growth opportunities for young people, we can help to empower them to become the resilient leaders of tomorrow,” Ms Ah Kit said.

However, unlike the last Mparntwe Youth Action Plan, the 2023 report is significantly less specific in its goals and also sets no metrics or key performance indicators.

Among the calls in 2019-2021 were for a funding review for youth service providers, a youth inpatient mental health service with a resident clinical psychologist, an investigation into the Koori court mode, reducing the lag time for diversion programs and court delays and urgent action to address youth homelessness.

The 2019-2021 Action Plan also called for a focus on youth justice reform and support for remote housing — neither of which were mentioned in the current action plan.

Darwin and Tennant Creek’s Youth Action Plans have also expired and have not been updated.