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Sport and recreation programs to divert kids from Northbridge

Sport and recreation programs will play an important role in the State Government's plan to tackle anti-social behaviour in Northbridge.

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Minister Terry Waldron with Midnight Basketball participants and Perth Wildcats players Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron recently made the announcement at the Loftus Recreation Centre in Leederville where he was joined by participants of the Swan Midnight Basketball Program and Perth Wildcats.

One of the issues identified as a problem in Northbridge is the number of young children roaming the streets late at night unaccompanied by responsible adults.

The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) will work together with other government and non-government agencies to provide alternative activities for children on Friday and Saturday nights.

"Many of the kids that visit Northbridge at night on the weekend are only 12 and 13. It is an adult precinct and they simply should not be there unaccompanied," Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron said.

Jeremiah Trumper, 17 "Let me be clear that providing a sport and recreation program on Friday and Saturday night will not solve all the social problems behind this problem, but we will be providing fun, safe and healthy alternatives.

"Sport can be a really effective method of engaging young people and, once engaged, they can be provided with other learning opportunities.

"Great examples of this are the Midnight Basketball tournaments that have been running in Geraldton and Midland, and in the near future, Kwinana.

"At these tournaments the kids are attracted by the fun of basketball, but part of the deal is that they also attend a variety of seminars where they learn important life skills.

"Initially we will be piloting projects in Midland and Armadale because police and Mission Australia statistics tell us these areas are where many of the kids we are targeting come from."

Swan Aboriginal Liaison, John Mogridge, who is involved in running the local Midnight Basketball program, said the state government's investment in sport and recreation activities in communities like Midland was a good one.

Midnight Basketball participants "There is still a need out here in the Swan, particularly for those kids who aren't involved in anything," he said.

"They're at that age where they can make the right choices and it will carry them for the rest of their lives, or they can make the wrong choices and fall over."

The participants – who as a result of Midnight Basketball have been trained, and many are now working, as referees – agree.

"I was sitting at home one time and John came to my house and asked if I wanted to play basketball on Tuesday nights," said 17-year old Jeremiah Trumper.

"I learnt to umpire through the rec centre – we did Level 0 and now we're up to Level 1 – and now I spend heaps of time at the centre refereeing. Last holidays I spent two weeks there, and these holidays just gone I spent another two weeks there." 

Jeremiah now has his sights set on getting a traineeship at the centre, and is excited at the prospect of having more sport and recreation-based activities start up in the Swan.

DSR has already held meetings with community representatives in Midland and Armadale to assess what activities and resources already exist.

"It is important that the community drives these projects because they understand what will attract the children and, in the long run, it will be community support that will make this sustainable," the Minister said.

"We will be investing in each area to support activities on Friday and Saturday nights, and this investment will be allocated in consultation with the community."

To support this initiative DSR is also working on related projects to:

  • Link youth at risk and their families with local sport clubs. This may include a one-on-one mentoring program
  • Use DSR recreation camps to provide camps-based program opportunities with integrated recreational activities and leadership and life skills training
  • Collaborate with Juvenile Justice teams to offer sport and recreation volunteer activities such as officiating and administration as alternatives to current community service activities such as cleaning graffiti.

"These are great examples of how sport and recreation can help build stronger, healthier, happier and safer communities," Mr Waldron said.

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