VICTORIAN YMCA COMMUNITY SERVICES RECEIVES FUNDING
Joint Media Release
The Hon Brendan O'Connor
Minister for Home Affairs
The Hon Lindsay Tanner
Member for Melbourne
3 September 2009
Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor and Member for Melbourne Lindsay Tanner today visited Victorian YMCA Youth and Community Services Inc to deliver funding for a program to reduce re-offending by young people under the Australian Government’s Proceeds of Crime Act (2002).
“The Government is committed to ensuring money received through the criminal justice system is targeted at preventing crime and community programs, such as this, that support, training and employment opportunities to young offenders help stop the recurring cycle of crime, poverty and imprisonment,” Mr O’Connor said.
“It is grass roots groups of this kind who can make a difference in addressing the issues faced by young offenders in Australia. This funding will help young offenders aged 16-21 to re-engage socially and economically with their community by strengthening their vocational and work readiness skills to improve work prospects.”
The project uses networks and partnerships that have been developed over the past years with industry, employers and unions providing entry level employment opportunities in the transport, construction, manufacturing and automotive industries.
“This grant is one of a number to be made under the POCA which enables money from assets confiscated under Commonwealth law to be returned to the community,” Mr O’Connor said.
More than $6 million of funding under the POCA will be distributed to community groups for projects supporting initiatives in crime prevention and Indigenous Prisoner throughcare.
“I will be making further announcements about other recipients in the near future,” Mr O’Connor added.
Member for Melbourne Lindsay Tanner said he was pleased that this funding was available to assist young people in the Melbourne electorate.
“This project will assist young offenders to re-engage with the community and get their lives back on track by providing access to work experience and employment opportunities in the local area,” Mr Tanner said.
Media Contact: Christian Taubenschlag 0438 595 567
