"High priority" Kempsey set to receive millions in government funding dedicated to supporting youth

Kempsey is set to receive millions in targeted funding focused on breaking the cycle of young people re-offending while on bail. The funds will also aim to decrease the amount of at-risk youth entering the justice system in the first place.

• Kempsey is considered a “high-priority” regional community by the NSW Government.

• This means Kempsey has been identified as an area deserving of funding dedicated to helping young people engaging, or at risk of engaging, in crime.

Why it matters: Regional communities in NSW face higher crime rates than cities, and Kempsey, Moree, and Tamworth in particular continue to experience higher than average rates of youth crime.

What happened: Recently, Kempsey was included in the NSW Government’s announced $23 million youth crime prevention funding package.

The package: The youth crime prevention package focuses on bail supervision, intensive case management, and early intervention and diversion across NSW. Kempsey will receive some of this targeted funding. 

While the full breakdown of the funding has not been made public, there are some things we know: 

• $12 million has been allocated to expand “place-based” youth crime prevention responses in Kempsey – as well as in Moree and Tamworth. 

• The government will work beside local communities to co-design programs that help young people engaging, or at risk of engaging, in crime. This could include youth hubs, after-hours activities, intensive family support, intervention programs and alternative education pathways.

• $6.3 million has been allocated for intensive supervision and support for young people on bail, including two new caseworkers based in Kempsey to prevent re-offending and help the youth understand their legal orders.

• A further $5 million has been allocated for a new Community Safety Investment Fund to support diversion and prevention projects. It will be open to community and non-government organisations across the state. The fund will support innovative local initiatives that prevent or respond to youth offending.

PCYC helping Kempsey kids: Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) will also benefit from a state-wide $15.6 million funding commitment to deliver youth programs aimed at breaking the cycle of crime.

• PCYC currently delivers youth programs in 22 locations across the state, including Kempsey.

• The NSW Government is contributing $10 million to a four-year partnership with PCYC, which will contribute $5.66 million.

• Over the next four-years, PCYC NSW will deliver 278 programs across regional NSW focused on employability, connection through sports, and resilience.

A PCYC NSW spokesperson told the Mid North Coaster the team is currently identifying which youth programs will be delivered at each location, including Kempsey and the wider Mid North Coast, “based on local community needs”.

Current youth programs: PCYC Kempsey currently offers Fit for Life and U-Nites. 

• Fit for Life is a fitness and mentorship program where young people participate in physical activity, are mentored by PCYC staff and NSW Police, and are served a nutritious breakfast before being driven to school in a PCYC bus.

• U-Nites runs on Friday and Saturday nights to provide a “safe and structured environment” where young people can socialise. Dinner and transportation are provided. 

Mentorship matters:  A PCYC NSW spokesperson told the Mid North Coaster it has a “unique partnership” with NSW Police and Youth Engagement Officers to support the delivery of youth programs, and act as mentors for young people on the Mid North Coast.

🗣️“PCYC provides a safe space where young people feel a sense of belonging, that combined with the positive relationship that youth build with PCYC staff and NSW Police, helps to reduce and prevent antisocial behaviour in the community,” the PCYC NSW spokesperson said.

Stronger bail laws:  Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp, said he was happy to see Kempsey included in the prevention package but is pushing for changes in legislation for stronger bail laws.

• “No one wants to see young people locked up unnecessarily. But when a young person is carrying a weapon and threatening someone, the community deserves stronger protections for the victims,” Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp said in a statement.

Communities and justice: A spokesperson for the Department of Communities and Justice told the Mid North Coaster the funding would give local people “opportunities to break cycles of disadvantage”.

• "Every young person deserves the chance to turn their life around, and this funding will provide practical support through education, skills and diversionary programs. These programs are about supporting families, strengthening community ties, and ensuring our kids have positive choices for the future," the spokesperson said.