Attendees - 50

Dee Hastings: BGT [Springboard & Reconnect]
Chair & Acknowledgement of Country

Asha Buckmaster: Highlands LLEN
Note Taker

Emily Nester: Berry Street
Senior Coordinator, Multi Agency Support Team [MAST]
Tim Soloman: Berry Street
Specialist Services Manager

Ballarat Youth Crime Prevention Project
 

The Ballarat Youth Crime Prevention Project is a crime prevention and early intervention service providing a new support pathway to a Multi Agency Support Team (MAST) for up to 40 young people and their families. This support has the potential to influence and change the trajectory of a young person’s life. The causes of youth offending are extensive and complex, including: family violence, abuse or neglect; diagnosed and undiagnosed mental illness; poor impulse control; unstable housing; inadequate parental supervision; educational disengagement; underemployment; alcohol and other drug misuse; physical illness and socio-economic disadvantage.

The Ballarat Youth Crime Prevention Project received $700,000 over two years as part of the Victorian Government’s Youth Crime Prevention Grants program through the Department of Justice & Regulations. The funding is aimed at helping communities to design and implement initiatives to address offending behaviour and recidivism in young people who have had contact with or have a demonstrated risk of being involved with the criminal justice system. Ballarat was one of eight priority areas for the funding due to higher rates of crime and recidivism. It is a place-based approach with key Government Departments, agencies and community organisations creating a local partnership. There are three funded organisations involved: Ballarat Community Health (lead organisation and responsible for evaluation/action research), Child & Family Services – ChildFIRST (Assessment) and Berry Street (Senior MAST Coordinator). Non-funded partners, include the City of Ballarat, the Central Highlands Children & Youth Area Partnership, Victoria Police, Centacare, SalvoConnect, Uniting, Highlands LLEN, Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice and Regulation. All these partners are represented on the Project Accountability and Governance Group (PAGG) that provides oversight to the Project. The project commenced in July 2017.

Referrals to MAST come from Victoria Police or Youth Support Service and go through ChildFIRST. ChildFIRST’s assessment includes previous service engagement and intervention, in order to establish the most appropriate way forward and which services should be involved with the young person and their family. Once ChildFIRST have completed an assessment, Emily (the MAST Coordinator) becomes involved in order to bring together the Multi Agency Support Team who, in collaboration with the young person and their family, will develop an action and support plan that enables the young person and their family to receive priority access to a range of supports matched to their individual needs. MAST is voluntary and participation requires the consent of the young person and family. Assessments focus on risk and protective factors facilitating very targeted case planning, interventions and use of brokerage funds.

In addition to supporting the 40 young people through MAST, the Ballarat Youth Crime Prevention project also tests new ways of working and makes or recommends changes to the way the system works to meet the needs of young people who are at risk of escalating criminal behaviour. Emily’s role is focussed on strengthening the way workers and organisations work together and working through challenges and barriers|silos. MAST is not just a pilot project but hopes to embed improved cross sectoral practice and communication to support young people at risk of escalating offending.

QUESTION: What is the age range?
The funding allows for work to be undertaken with young people up to 17 years old, however this region is specifically targeting 10 to 14 year olds. Referrals are triggered by Victoria Police cautions but also Missing Person reports.

QUESTION: Is it voluntary?
Yes. No young person has said no at this point in time.

QUESTION: Will the target number of 40 be finalised by this year?
MAST hope to reach their target of 40 by September 2018.

QUESTION: What is the geographical coverage?
City of Ballarat. This is related to the funding body and requirements. The funding is in place until June of 2019.

QUESTION: Are you hoping the structures will continue beyond the funding?
Yes. Sustainability is continually being reviewed and cross sectoral practice embedded.

BROCHURES:
1. MAST brochure young person
2. MAST brochure services schools

Anna Flood: Ballarat Community Health
Youth Support Service

The Youth Support Service (YSS) is a program of Ballarat Community Health and is for 10 to 18 year old’s who are exhibiting or at risk of developing the early stages of involvement with Victoria Police. YSS is a free service that is voluntary and requires parental consent. The program functions on an outreach model and young people are engaged in a variety of environments including in the home, at school and even McDonalds. YSS deliver case management in a flexible, outreach capacity. The program assists young people to identify their risks of offending behaviour, such as housing, alcohol and other drug use, mental health issues, education disengagement and family violence. YSS are holistic and youth centred whilst still engaging with family and tailor interventions to developmental stages. An allocated Worker will assess the needs of and risks to the young person, develop a case plan, work on strengthening supportive relationships, encourage young people to make positive choices and changes, review engagement in education, training or employment and improve independent living skills where appropriate. Anyone can make a referral and whilst there is occasionally a wait list, YSS staff will stay in contact until a Worker is allocated.

CASE STUDY: YSS received a referral from Victoria Police for a 14 year old who had been cautioned for property damage. The young person was particularly difficult to make contact with. Anna eventually met the young person and is father at home. The father had multiple, complex issues and was already engaged with services. The 14 year old had recently moved in with his father and had since ceased attending school, commenced smoking cannabis and was associating with known recidivists. His father will likely be incarcerated soon, and this would leave the young person homeless. A lot of car drives and time at the skate park eventually lead to positive engagement. Within eight weeks, the young person had returned to school, engaged with headspace Ballarat (having previously refused to do so), ceased cannabis use, recently choose not to commit a crime for financial gain and is actively asking for help. The young person recently stated to Anna that he is proud of himself. #annalovesherjob

Ben Bradley: Child & Family Services
Step Up
 

Step Up is a program that focusses on adolescent violence in the home, however the program works with the whole family and other family violence may be present. The word perpetrator is not used. Referrals to Step Up can come from all services and include Victoria Police and schools. The program uses a family centred framework, that includes assertive outreach and onsite appointments, case work and counselling as well as group and individual work. Interventions usually continue for four to six months. Ben discussed how violence and aggression can mean that young people are not in a position to access other services to address underlying issues, hence the Step Up program’s focus on violence and aggression. Individual work with parents also includes counselling and case management similar to the interventions with young people, but with a focus on their parenting and how they can manage challenging behaviour. Support for parents also includes a focus on safety, supporting the young person to “take a break” with circuit breaker behaviour, boundary setting, communication and consequences. Parents are also supported by the other parents engaged in the program via group work. When working with young people the focus is on taking responsibility and talking about choices, learning new skills, non-violent communication, coping with emotions, setting goals, restoring family relationships and addressing other coexisting issues. Enquiries for the group commencing in Term 2 are now being taken. Groups engage young people and parents for both combined and separate sessions. Young people need to have the skills to engage in group work, however this does not involve literacy skills. Group sessions are two hours in length and Step Up will seek to run a group program each school term. Step Up faces many challenges. Many of the parents are abusive in some way, as well. Sometimes the young person wants to engage and the parents do not. Engaging young people in the process can be difficult. Intergenerational trauma is not uncommon. Whilst Step Up has up to 45% of parents decline to engage in the program, they “don’t give up”. If young people decline engagement, Step Up will continue to try and engage with them, however this is much more difficult if parents decline. Step Up is a voluntary program and the majority of their work is with 13 to 16 year old’s, however they have noticed a demand in the 8 to 10 age bracket.

QUESTION: What are the attendance requirements?
Weekly engagement with Step Up is required. There is currently a wait list of 6 to 8 weeks, however Step Up can provide a Safety Session with parents prior to engagement. Step Up now covers Ararat, Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh.

QUESTION: Do you work with the 8 to 10 year old’s?
Step Up is for 12 to 17 year old’s. We are working with CAFS Family Services to support the younger age range.

QUESTION: If a young person has been kicked out of home due to violence are they eligible?
If the young person wants to return to the family home Step Up can provide some family reconciliation support. This is assessed on a case by case basis and can depend on the age of the young person and specific circumstances.

QUESTION: Where are groups run?
Currently groups only occur in Ballarat but will be established in Ararat, Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh in next six months. You can refer families from the broader region, but they will need to be able to attend groups in Ballarat at this stage.

QUESTION: Do you facilitate mixed gender groups?
Yes. We will also combine age ranges whilst being mindful of group dynamics. Step Up groups are delivered by two facilitators.

QUESTION: How many parents seek support once they understand their role in this?
This program is a lot like a sales role. We get a lot of “fix my kid”. The engagement of parents is a lot about how we pitch the program to them.

QUESTION: Are siblings involved?
In family work yes, but not generally in group work. The whole family unit are engaged in the assessment process.

Kirsten Mende | Aidan Murphy | Joanne Gilbert: Youth Justice
Youth Justice
 

Youth Justice (YJ) in Ballarat are a team of 12. Their roles involve assessment, planning, work with families, links to community and providing structure. YJ work with mandated clients through the courts and seek to reduce recidivism and divert young people away from the Justice system through engagement in education or employment, recreation and other pro social activities. YJ also provide bail supervision for young people released on bail and advice to the court. Centacare run the Youth Justice Group Conferencing Program, which is based on restorative justice principles and aims to help the young person avoid further or more serious offending.

There is a focus on health and rehabilitation for those in custody and links to the YJ Community Support Service at Centacare. There are two transitional properties available for young people exiting youth detention, however more are needed.

The Youth Referral & Independent Persons Program (YRIPP) is a service available for young people being interviewed by police who require support from an independent adult.

The Youth Diversion Program rolled out state-wide on January 1, 2017. The Program is for 10 to 18 year old’s and engaged in first time or low end offending. This program has a focus on prevention from deeper engagement with the Criminal Justice system. It aims to address criminogenic needs and create links to services and support structures. Charges are “discharged” at the end of a Youth Diversion Order and will not show up in a criminal records check.

Probation Order – 10 to 18 year old’s. 10 to 18 months in length and the young person had been to court once or twice. The young person must report as directed, not reoffend, advise of change of address and not leave the state.

Youth Supervision Order – The young person has been found guilty of a serious offence or numerous offences when under 18 years old. They must report as directed which could be up to 6 hours a week and they may have to complete community work.

Youth Attendance Order – The young person is aged 15 to 18 and the Magistrate is considering incarceration/custody. The young person must report to YJ up to 10 hours per week and complete up to four hours of community work per week. It can be very difficult for YJ to find agencies/organisations/businesses that will take young people on community work, which focusses on work readiness skills and relationship building with Workers.

Adult Court Advice Service – This is where YJ provides advice to the court regarding young people aged 18 to 20. In Victoria Youth Justice have a dual track system where 18 to 20 year old’s can be sentenced to a youth justice facility rather than adult custody due to their vulnerability and prospects for rehabilitation. Bail support is also provided.

Open Floor

Centacare provides the Victims Assistance Program in Ballarat. This program can provide specific support and assistance. To make an enquiry please contact 1300 033 818 [NOTE: this number can bounce to other sites, so please state that you are calling from Ballarat]. Often there are many factors at play when a crime has taken place and victims can fly under the radar. We encourage you to utilise this service for young people who have been victims of crime.

QUESTION: When can this service be accessed? Post-conviction?
It is quite complex and is assessed case by case. So, it is well worth calling to discuss the specific circumstances. Please visit the following link for further information:
www.centacareballarat.org.au/services/victims-assistance/victims-assistance-program/

Mel Peters from the Ballarat Proactive Policing Unit promoted that funding has been secured to work with the local African communities. This work will be focussed on engaging young people in a range of areas, such as education and community involvement. This project commenced. With an African Festival on Saturday 12-8 African Festival at Federation University, Mount Helen Campus.

Reclink are establishing a Community Football Team in Ballarat. It has a very flexible structure, for example if a person does not want to be tackled, they can wear a bib indicating this. Training is one week, with a game played the following week. 11am at White Flat Oval - 12 Hickman Street, Ballarat. Workers are encouraged to attend and train or play with clients. This initiative is supported by Victoria Police, Ballarat Community Health, CMY (Centre for Multicultural Youth) & Uniting.Reclink

www.reclink.org

BYSN would like to thank Saxon House for providing us with a venue for Meetings in 2018.

BYSN would also like to thank Kittelty’s Ballaarat for providing fantastic catering!
https://kitteltys.com.au/

Next Meeting:

Theme: Education Dis/Engagement
Tuesday, 17 April 2018, 9.00am - 11.00am
Saxon House (City Oval), 1431 Mair Street, Ballarat