Centacare to launch Keep on Track program in Tamworth, Armidale, Narrabri, Moree to support at-risk youth

The $1.3 million investment announced by the state government on Friday means Centacare New England North West can expand its youth services to a new cohort of at-risk kids with the launch of Keep on Track.

"We recognise the earlier that we can get to those young people hopefully the better their outcome," Centacare's Executive Manager of Families, Wellbeing and Justice Services Fallon Roberts said.

"It means that we can support more young people in the region."

The Keep on Track initiative will see four new caseworkers employed and based in Armidale and Tamworth, along with Moree and Narrabri for the first time.

It's designed to work hand-in-hand with the Youth on Track initiative, a structured and intensive program designed to help a small number of youths each year who have already been charged or involved with cops.

The opportunity to engage with these young people before they get caught up in crime was a big motivator for Centacare to go for funding for Keep on Track.

"It also helps us support young people that might not be eligible for [Youth on Track], they might not have committed a crime yet but nonetheless they're still at risk, disengaged, and vulnerable," Ms Roberts said.

"We realised there was a lot of young people that hadn't had any formal engagement with the police yet but nonetheless they still really needed support, so this is one of the essential criteria of that program is to get to those young people and help them."

READ ALSO:

The waitlist for Youth on Track can reach up to 20 at times, so Keep on Track will be able to support those children and teenagers in the meantime, as well as others at-risk that have been referred by organisations, police and justice services.

Ms Roberts anticipated that over the two-year program, more than 80 people could be supported to tackle things like making good choices, getting a driver's licence, and engaging with mental health support and drug and alcohol programs.

Keep on Track will target young people aged between 12 and 24, but case managers will work with their families as well, including supporting siblings of any age.

"It's a holistic approach to help young people and their families," Ms Roberts said.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson told the Leader the significant investment was made as a direct result of a spike in juvenile crime in Tamworth in the past year.

NSW minister for regional youth Ben Franklin was in Tamworth to announce the funding on Friday as part of the government's flagship Our Region, Our Voice program.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: