The NT Government is already being questioned about the seriousness of its plan to roll out a new youth crime program in Katherine.
It was revealed today the government is not holding an industry briefing in Katherine to attract interest on its $5 million Back on Track Program.
The government said briefings will be held in Darwin and Alice Springs, but not Katherine.
The lack of a briefing here has led to social media debate on how serious the government is about launching the program here in Katherine.
Yesterday the government unveiled a $5 million Back on Track youth diversion program aimed at problem youth between 8-17 years old.
Youth charged with crimes in Katherine will be offered community work programs as a new court sentencing option.
Today the Government called on non-government organisations to “put forward innovative solutions and help put at-risk children and young people back on the right track”.
An Expression of Interest asked non-government organisations to co-design and deliver the new $5 million (annual) Back on Track youth diversion program, that will help break the cycle of crime in the NT.
Back on Track program will service all at-risk children and young people (8-17 years) across the Territory to ensure that they face the consequences of their actions, repair the harm that they have caused, while being taught skills to become productive members of our community.
The program will be delivered in Greater Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, and Nhulunbuy.
Back on Track program will target two age groups – 14 to 17 years, and 8-13 years.
A two-stage competitive procurement process will be undertaken to facilitate the design and delivery of the Back on Track program.
• Stage 1: Expression of Interest for a suitable service provider(s) to contribute to the co-design and delivery of the program for 8-13 year olds and 14-17 year olds. The EOI is now open until 4 February 2019.
• Stage 2: A Request for Tender process will open in March 2019.
The Back on Track program is expected to be operational by mid-2019.
Industry briefings will be held in Darwin and Alice Springs next week.
A government spokeswoman said service providers from across the NTare invited to attend either of the sessions in Darwin or Alice Springs.
“It was envisaged that Katherine and Nhulunbuy service providers could attend the Darwin meeting and Tennant Creek service providers the Alice Springs industry briefing.
“The industry briefing sessions are being advertised in all NT newspapers including the Katherine Times.
“Additional information sessions may be held in early 2019, depending on need. Attendance at the Industry Briefing is not mandatory to submit an Expression of Interest for the Back on Track program.”
Territory Families Minister Dale Wakefield said: “The Back on Track program will help break the cycle of crime by ensuring that young Territorians become better people, not better criminals. We need to make sure that young people who do the wrong things face the consequences of their actions, while also being taught skills so that they can become productive members of our community.
“We are calling on the community to come up with innovative solutions to help put these kids back on track. The issues that we face in the Territory are not for Government to solve alone. The solutions must be driven by the community and backed by Government.”
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