Last week’s state budget has received a mixed reception in the western suburbs, with measures targeting youth crime welcomed, but a lack of investment in social housing criticised.
More than $2.5 billion was allocated towards tackling the problem of youth crime, including funding for prevention and early intervention initiatives such as the School Lawyer program operated by western suburbs community legal service Westjustice.
Westjustice chief executive Melissa Hardham said the funding would help the organisation place more lawyers in schools across the region.
“We are excited to continue working in local schools so more kids understand their rights, stay out of the justice system, and have their issues addressed early and sustainably,” said Ms Hardham who also welcomed the continuation of funding for some of their other youth justice programs across the west.
“We are also excited to continue our Settlement Justice Partnership with Wyndham Central College and MiCare, our Youth Employment Justice Program which teaches young people about their workplace rights, the Youth Crime Prevention and Early Intervention Program which assists young people to stay out of the criminal justice system, and the Putting Families First Program with Oz Child in the Brimbank area,” said Ms Hardham, adding that the opening of the new Wyndham Law Courts would also help.
“Together, these budget initiatives will help western suburbs families thrive by helping to keep them in pro-social spaces like jobs and schools and out of the criminal justice system.”
Others were less impressed with the budget, particularly in regards to housing.
“It was sad to see that the much needed investment in social housing did not come through in the state budget,” said head of early intervention and adult homelessness at the Melbourne City Mission, Lisa O’Brien.
“We commend the extension of a number of critical initiative’s that services the west such as the rough sleeping initiative’s, supportive housing via McAuley House and the Adolescent Violence In The Home program.
“We do however, need to see scaled up government investment on more homelessness support programs and more social housing if we genuinely want to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis facing Victoria.”
