The key to addressing youth crime and antisocial behaviour in remote community's and regional towns, is for an Aboriginal led solution that address's the challenges of the children before they start criminal and anti-social behaviour.
For 3 years we interviewed current and former Don Dale managers, the kids, parents and many others.
From that work we have produced a new way forward that will put the child's needs front and centre, building them and empowering them to understand that culture and education are the pathways to attain their wildest dreams.
When presented at the 9th Annual National Indigenous Health Research Showcase, Professor Tom Calma jumped up and said, "we should be doing a longitudinal study on this."
The program is based on Applied behavoural Analysis, the same method I used to engage with my son who was within the spectrum of severe autism. He is now one of Darwin's top live event sound technicians.
https://www.murdoch.edu.au/news/articles/murdoch-research-aids-autism-recovery
Waiting to address antisocial behaviour when a child comes in contact with the juvenile justice system means they have already in many cases had 2/3 years of criminal behaviour.
They have missed the foundations needed to gain a good education. This limits their future employment opportunities and increases the likelihood of continuing a life of crime.
Many of these children have family or even parents who have been through the juvenile justice system into the adult prison system. So, the antisocial and criminal behaviour becomes intergenerational.
Whilst many programs focus on short term diversion or when a child is classed at risk at 12 or 14, the success rate is only measured the reduction in crime.
In my way of thinking they have failed the child because of the very fact that many of these children's education levels are no higher than grade 2.
There is limited potential of them regaining those years and achieving their greatest dreams and aspirations.
Like anything with children, early intervention is the key. With youth crime and antisocial behaviour it is no different.
Contact ceo@deadlyguardians1.com
For further information.
1. ELDERS LEADING COMMUNITY CHANGE
A new way forward in addressing juvenile justice led by
community Elders, strong women and strong men.
By all means, e my
image to
By all means, use
my image to
promote and spread
the word. Congrats,
mate. Anytime you
might be in need of
further input from
me, I’d be delighted
to make my
contributions.
Cheers
3. WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE
• A better way in addressing intergenerational youth crime.
• Providing a true culturally safe environment
• Led by strong nurturing people on a pathway .
• That will embrace a child,
• Ascertaining their passions,
• Their capability
• Leading to positive pathways into adulthood.
6. WHY DO CHILDREN BECOME LOST?
• Disengaged with school due to FASD and emotional challenges.
• Socio economic status of the family .
• Their home environment becomes unsafe at night due to alcohol.
• Lack of self worth and seeking identity and value in a gang.
• Home life not supportive of attaining a good education
• No strong mentors within the child’s life.
• Street gangs and prison has become a rite of passage.
7. WHY IS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FAILING KIDS?
• The child’s needs are not being met.
• The focus has been on removing the child from the community.
• Short term attempts at behavioural change fail.
• Children are often returned to the same environment.
• Children are not empowered to drive change in their lives.
• The child is not given the belief they can influence their future.
• Emotional and physical challenges are not addressed.
• There is no real investment in time nor money towards the child.
• The parents are not happy nor are the children.
9. THE CONCEPT – CHANGE LED BY COMMUNITY
Strong local men and
women caring for children
in secure purpose built
boarding facilities in
community and towns.
10. CHILDREN ARE THE COMMUNITIES BUSINESS
Local Traditional
Owner's create codes
of conduct for ALL
children.
1.You must go to
school
2. No mucking up in
11. A VOICE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
These Codes of Conduct
are enshrined as local shire
council by-laws giving
authority, recognition and
support by government.
12. STRONG MEN AND WOMEN ENGAGING
COMMUNITY
The whole community are advised of the new community created
Codes of Conduct that apply to
ALL children Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
You must go to school
No mucking up in community or town.
Strong women visit the parents of disengaged children and
advise should children break the Codes of Conduct, then the
community will look after the children in a local secure hostels.
13. CATCH THEM BEFORE THEY FALL
The key to addressing intergenerational youth crime is to
engage with the child before they fall and take on the gang
mentality.
The first warning sign is the child stops going to school.
That is when and how the strong women under Codes of
Conduct will ultimately reduce the high levels of incarceration
over time.
14. LEARNING RESPECT ON COUNTRY
Children first attend a station camp with strong women and
men to learn cultural respect.
An assessment as to their cognitive abilities is undertaken.
They will develop their own education programs based on
their dreams and aspirations in life.
15. A MENTOR SUPPORTING & EMPOWERING
Before leaving the camp the
children will choose an online
mentor, a famous sports star,
singer or idle as an AI avatar who
will guide and support them at
school.
The mentor plays a crucial role in
constantly supporting the child.
Encouraging them and
congratulating them for every
small or large achievement.
16. BACK TO SCHOOL WITH A VISION
Children return to the secure boarding facility and
back to school,
armed with their own education program and
a real vision for the future that they will drive.
17. WHEN BOYS ARE MEN
There will be boys who have gone through initiation and who are
now men.
For this reason, in line with traditional cultural practice, once boys
have attained a certain age they will move to the men’s boarding
house where they will be cared for by both men and women.
There are strong safeguards in place through the online children’s
club for all children to be able to reach out to their mentor without
fear, should they not feel safe.
18. WEEKEND EXCITEMENT
On the weekends children have a choice as to the activities
they want to undertake.
Play in a local sporting competition.
Hunting and fishing on country.
Norforce activities.
Ranger activities and learning culture on country.
19. PARENTS ONGONG ENGAGEMENT
Parents are encouraged to maintain contact with the
children during daily visiting times.
This will be conditional on that the parent not being
intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
Should a parent be intoxicated this will be used as
an opportunity to engage and sit have a cup of tea
and yarn on how the strong women can help.
20. HOW LONG DO THEY STAY AT THE BOARDING
FACILITY?
The children stay at the boarding home until they finish
there schooling.
It is hoped that with parents being able to have constant
contact,
the positive cultural environment the children are living
in,
along with exciting weekend activities,
that both the children and the parents will be happy.
21. CHALLENGES.
The parenting payment MUST BE LEFT with the parents.
Removing the payment will cause financial hardship and will also be a
deterrent from the parents wanting the child to leave the home.
Children with higher degrees of FASD and emotional challenges with
tendencies for violence will need to be cared for possibly in another section of
the boarding home to ensure the safety of other children.
Should kids continue to muck up they go back out to the camp until they learn
respect.
The boarding facility must not be used as a child minding centre.
An additional centre could set up for that but must be independent
Noongar person to do Acknowledgement or INSERT Simon Forrest video OR
To begin the course today, we would like to Acknowledge the people of the xxxx Nation on who’s land we are meeting today. We pay our respects to the xxxx Elders, both past and present and acknowledge their continuing connection to country and culture.
2mins
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Many of you…
What if you were willing to…
I share this with you….
Turn to your partner and say….
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Many of you…
What if you were willing to…
I share this with you….
Turn to your partner and say….
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Many of you…
What if you were willing to…
I share this with you….
Turn to your partner and say….
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Many of you…
What if you were willing to…
I share this with you….
Turn to your partner and say….
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Many of you…
What if you were willing to…
I share this with you….
Turn to your partner and say….
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Many of you…
What if you were willing to…
I share this with you….
Turn to your partner and say….
2 mins
Many of you…
What if you were willing to…
I share this with you….
Turn to your partner and say….