General News
30 August, 2022
Indigenous community unites against youth crime
YARRABAH Community leaders are fed up with the behaviour of a small number of community members and universally declare, “Enough is Enough”.
Led by Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Ross Andrews, Yarrabah community leaders gathered to lend their collective voice, appealing for community members to take a stand against the escalating youth crime issues in Yarrabah and across FNQ.
“Enough is enough; the community is sick and tired of the behaviour of a small number of community members, along with an apparent lack of supervision and responsibility from some parents,” Mr Andrews said.
“We are not talking about hundreds of kids creating issues, it’s less than a dozen who are running riot, and we need their parents and the youth justice system to take responsibility and help to bring these kids under control.”
Mayor Ross Andrews said the recent figures for joyriding paint a grim picture.
“The number of joyriders has almost tripled in the past few years, creating a feeling of anger and despair within the Yarrabah community,” he said.
“It’s got to stop before we repeat the tragic circumstances of a few years ago in our region.
“The consequences for these young offenders do not discourage them. We need the government, community, families and justice system to work together to fix this.
“Service providers and Queensland Police Services in the Yarrabah Community try their utmost best, but the disengagement is quite challenging,” Mr Andrews said.
Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services chief executive Suzanne Andrews sees the car theft as part of wider issues in Yarrabah.
“The solution is not just a simple one of punishment for crimes committed.,” Ms Andrews said.
“We need to address many social issues that contribute to this problem. We have to treat and address the causes and not just the symptoms.
“Overcrowding, unemployment, and economic disadvantage all contribute to this problem.”
Currently, only one Youth Bail Support Officer is working with young offenders in Yarrabah. The program is run by Gindaja Treatment and Healing in Yarrabah in association with YETI (Youth Empowered Towards Independence), based in Cairns.
Ailsa Lively, chief executive officer with Gindaja Treatment and Healing, has experienced the frustration of parents and the Yarrabah community daily.
“We applied for funding for a second support officer, but unfortunately, it was knocked back,” Ms Lively said.
“The Youth Bail Support Officers are a vital cog in this issue.
“We need to work with the young offenders, designing plans that address their issues and reducing the instances of them reoffending.
“The support of government is critical.”
Mayor Ross Andrews called upon the wider FNQ community not to judge Yarrabah, instead joining with his community leaders and petitioning for changes to the Youth Justice Act and greater accountability from parents of offenders.
Mayor Andrews has been advocating for a few years now for introducing the Families Responsibility Commission (FRC) to workshop its intent as an intervention and prevention program. Currently, the FRC is under review by Government.
