17/10/03
The State Government has responded promptly to a recent youth crisis at the Balgo community in the East Kimberley.
Kimberley Minister Tom Stephens said the Government had provided additional staff and resources, as well as planning a longer-term response to the problems facing youth and the broader Balgo community.
Mr Stephens said community leaders had advised him that the atmosphere at Balgo had improved as a result.
"There is no quick fix for the challenges facing Balgo," he said.
"However, through the Local Response Group, Government officers have been able to respond quickly to the immediate issue."
Substance abuse, violence, hopelessness and self-harm have seen four young people take their own lives in the past year.
Mr Stephens said the Government's response included:
- police and the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Community Development (DCD) dealing with self-harm victims outside the justice system, where possible, and providing appropriate family support;
- from Thursday October 9, a mental health nurse and the Kimberley Community Drug Service Team began attending the community;
- a new Child Protection Worker commenced work at Balgo on October 13;
- DOJ and DCD staff supporting self harm victims who were currently being held at Halls Creek Police Station;
- DCD providing a program of weekly workshops for identified high risk children with follow up action with families, including overnight visits for an initial five week period;
- the Department of Health providing a suicide prevention workshop program conducted by its Indigenous Psychological Service; and
- the departments of Sport and Recreation and Health providing activities at the Community for young people over the next month.
"We are also committed to dealing with the underlying issues that lead to youth suicide as identified in the Gordon Report," Mr Stephens said.
"To ensure law and order, which was identified as the highest priority, we are building a $1.4million facility at Balgo, to provide a permanent police presence and accommodate a child protection worker and court and justice officers.
"In the meantime the police have assigned additional officers to provide a 24-hour police presence.
"A place manager will be appointed to Balgo, to ensure effective co-ordination of services and work with the community to develop its capacity to manage its own affairs."
This week the Government also made additional funding commitments to provide for:
- a youth worker based at Balgo and funded by the Office of Crime Prevention;
- a co-ordinator to plan future Government agency responses to youth issues, particularly substance abuse and self-harm until a place manager is appointed; and
- supporting activities associated with workshops being provided by DCD and initiatives identified by the youth worker or the co-ordinator.
Mr Stephens said the State Government's response, which was led by the Premier's Department and co-ordinated by the Kimberley Development Commission, had seen co-operation between agencies and organisations reach a new benchmark.
"The speed and effectiveness of this response is a sign that we are achieving 'joined up' government - and that it is working," the Minister said.
"Government at all levels, Federal, State and local, has a role to play in addressing Balgo's long-term challenges, but any successful solution will need to have the support and participation of the Balgo Community."
Minister's office: 9213 6500
