Intensive Family Support team announced to address youth crime issues in Carnarvon

The State Government has heeded calls from the local Carnarvon community crying out for help in tackling youth crime in the town, backing a proposed intensive family support program. Staff will work with local families whose children are at risk of going into the child protection system and families aiming for reunification. The team is designed to provide counselling and support, addressing factors such as substance abuse, lack of housing, domestic violence, trauma, mental health issues and poor attendance at school. The hope is that by addressing these factors, the team can reduce youth offending rates and keep children with their families rather than bring them into State care. Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk said the program in Carnarvon will “have a significant impact on the local community and will help keep children safe at home where they belong.” The announcement comes after a community push for State Government intervention over the past year. In December 2021 around 300 Carnarvon residents signed a petition calling for the McGowan Government to intervene on youth crime. In March the Shire of Carnarvon voted in favour of rolling out the program. Opposition leader Mia Davies welcomed the move. “The Labor Government’s announcement of an Intensive Family Support Program is a positive sign they are starting to listen but more needs to be done,” she said. The Nationals leader argued these measures should have been brought earlier, and that Labor was only responding to pressure. “The Premier and Minister for Communities have been dragged kicking and screaming to acknowledge the challenge’s Carnarvon faces — they could have acted,” she said. The program is part of the $75 million boost to WA child protection and intervention system, announced in the 2022-23 State Budget. “I am proud of the work the State Government is doing to reduce the number of children in care,” Ms McGurk said. “In the past two reporting years, we have seen the first reductions in children in care for 25 years.” Last month, Shire of Carnarvon president Eddie Smith made a direct plea to Premier Mark McGowan for urgent help, saying locals were living in fear and parts of town resembled a “war zone”.