Sport and =
recreation=20
programs will play an important role in the State Government=E2=80=99s pla=
n to tackle=20
anti-social behaviour in Northbridge.
One of the=
issues=20
identified as a problem in Northbridge is the number of young children roa=
ming=20
the streets late at night unaccompanied by responsible adults.
The Depart=
ment of=20
Sport and Recreation (DSR) will work together with other government and=20
non-government agencies to provide alternative activities for children on =
Friday=20
and Saturday nights.
=E2=80=9CM=
any of the kids that=20
visit Northbridge at night on the weekend are only 12 and 13. It is an adu=
lt=20
precinct and they simply should not be there unaccompanied,=E2=80=9D Sport=
and=20
Recreation Minister Terry Waldron said.
=E2=80=9CL=
et me be clear that=20
providing a sport and recreation program on Friday and Saturday night will=
not=20
solve all the social problems behind this problem, but we will be providin=
g fun,=20
safe and healthy alternatives.
=E2=80=9CS=
port can be a really=20
effective method of engaging young people and, once engaged, they can be=20
provided with other learning opportunities.
=E2=80=9CG=
reat examples of=20
this are the Midnight Basketball tournaments that have been running in Ger=
aldton=20
and Midland, and in the near future, Kwinana.
=E2=80=9CA=
t these tournaments=20
the kids are attracted by the fun of basketball, but part of the deal is t=
hat=20
they also attend a variety of seminars where they learn important life=20
skills.
=E2=80=9CI=
nitially we will be=20
piloting projects in Midland and Armadale because police and Mission Austr=
alia=20
statistics tell us these areas are where many of the kids we are targeting=
come=20
from.=E2=80=9D
DSR has al=
ready held=20
meetings with community representatives in Midland and Armadale to assess =
what=20
activities and resources already exist.
=E2=80=9CI=
t is important that=20
the community drives these projects because they understand what will attr=
act=20
the children and, in the long run, it will be community support that will =
make=20
this sustainable,=E2=80=9D the Minister said.
=E2=80=9CW=
e will be investing=20
in each area to support activities on Friday and Saturday nights, and this=
=20
investment will be allocated in consultation with the=20
community.=E2=80=9D
To support=
this=20
initiative DSR is also working on related projects to:
- =
Link youth at risk and thei=
r families=20
with local sport clubs. This may include a one-on-one mentoring=20
program=20
- =
Use DSR recreation camps to=
provide=20
camps-based program opportunities with integrated recreational activitie=
s and=20
leadership and life skills training=20
- =
Collaborate with Juvenile J=
ustice=20
teams to offer sport and recreation volunteer activities such as officia=
ting=20
and administration as alternatives to current community service activiti=
es=20
such as cleaning graffiti.
=E2=80=9CThese are great examples of how sport and recreation=
can help build=20
stronger, healthier, happier and safer communities,=E2=80=9D Mr Waldron=20
said.
Mi=
nister's=20
office - 9213=20
7200