By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE State Government has announced this week it will distribute funding to Operation Newstart in Casey.
The Coalition on Tuesday committed to investing $90,000 to the Casey program over three years, part of a $270,000 funding announcement that will see the South Eastern Operation Newstart site, the Northern site and the Casey site share in the spoils.
Each site will receive $30,000 per year.
Youth Affairs Minister Ryan Smith was joined by Narre Warren North Liberal candidate Amanda Stapledon and Gembrook MP Brad Battin at the Casey Newstart facility in Narre Warren to announce the funding.
Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley welcomed the funding announcement but questioned why it took so long for a commitment for Operation Newstart to be made.
“I have been calling on the Napthine Government to act to ensure this outstanding program can continue to provide support for our young people since last year,” she said.
“Youth unemployment in the south east has now hit a staggering 17.4 per cent, our young people are being left behind and need our help.
“I sincerely hope that this is not simply a cynical election commitment designed to help local Liberal councillors and candidates and instead a genuine, long-term commitment.”
Operation Newstart is an early intervention program for disengaged young Victorians aged 14 to 17 years old.
The program supports more than 160 students to work with professionals in recreational activities, vocational training, community service and therapeutic interventions each year.
Mr Battin however said the matter of police involvement in the program was up to Victoria Police.
“Police involvement is organised directly via the Chief Commissioner’s office. We can’t be involved in where they allocate their staffing,” he said.
“How they operate with Operation Newstart is up to them.
“I still encourage police at a local level to be involved.
“What this funding does is ensure, even if police say we can’t do this term, that the program will still operate, and it will still have staff there for kids to get the best outcome.”
Mr Smith said the funding for the three Operation Newstart sites formed part of the Government’s Engage program.
“Through the Engage program, more than 100 Victorian organisations are assisting young people to make the most of volunteering and mentoring opportunities, enabling them to develop wide-ranging skills for education, training and employment,” Mr Smith said.
“The Engage program is another example of how the Napthine Government is working with the community to give young people more opportunities to follow their dreams and achieve their best.”
