Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation selected to deliver Target 120 program in Karratha

Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation has been selected to deliver the State Government’s flagship youth crime prevention program, Target 120, in Karratha. Announced by Minister for Community Services Sabine Winton during a trip to Karratha on March 2, the North West’s largest population centre will become the 15th site to facilitate the program. Target 120, developed in 2017, aims to support youngsters aged 10 to 14 who are at risk of becoming repeat offenders by providing them with appropriate services and support for a broad range of issues, including substance abuse, poor attendance at school, lack of housing, family and domestic violence, trauma and mental health issues. The Government announced in last year’s Budget an $11 million expansion of the program to nine new locations, including Karratha, but, at time of print, only three of the nine locations were operational, with Karratha set to become the fourth, and the 15th site since the program’s inception. In locations the program has been active, and according to State Government data, nearly half of all participants have not had any further contact with police since their commencement in the program. The minister said the program would help make long-term change across the State. “We see the great results this program is achieving and know the best way to ensure it succeeds is to engage local service providers with a good understanding of their community and strong connections with local people,” she said. Of the planned new sites, the program is active in the Mandurah, Ellenbrook and Broome, with implementation underway in the remaining locations of Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Carnarvon, Derby and Newman.