Going For Gold: Award-winning project helps vulnerable Indigenous youth in Redfern

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Going For Gold: Award-winning project helps vulnerable Indigenous youth in Redfern

By Peta Gilbert

Three times a week at 6am, close to 100 people attend the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence to box.

Most of them are young, vulnerable Redfern youth who are part of two initiatives aimed at reducing crime rates in Indigenous juveniles.

Mentor Jesse Riley-Toomy puts kids through their paces at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern on 25th November, 2016.

Mentor Jesse Riley-Toomy puts kids through their paces at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern on 25th November, 2016. Credit: Brook Mitchell

The Clean Slate Without Prejudice and Never Going Back initiatives, that won gold at the national Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACVPA) last Wednesday, use a mentoring program to support the local young people.

Jesse Riley-Toomy, 18, first joined the program three years ago after he was referred by a judge, and is now a mentor for the younger kids.

Participants in a youth outreach program finish a class at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence.

Participants in a youth outreach program finish a class at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence.Credit: Brook Mitchell

"It has changed the way we talk to the police, we're all a lot more friendly to each other now," Jesse, who believes the program has brought a sense of harmony back to the community, said.

Jesse, who enjoys working with the children said he hopes to pursue a career in social work when he's older: "I never had good role models growing up, so it feels good to give back to the community and give the kids someone to look up to."

Other mentors, Burt Gordon and Eunice Grimes praised the program for not only encouraging sport participation and discipline, but also providing participants with Indigenous culture and language classes.

The idea was introduced by Redfern Superintendent Luke Freudenstein in 2009, who approached Shane Phillips, a Redfern community leader with the idea of engaging vulnerable youth in activities to keep them out of trouble.

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Uncle Bert takes kids through their paces at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence.

Uncle Bert takes kids through their paces at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence.Credit: Brook Mitchell

"We wanted to change the relationship between the police and the young Aboriginal kids", Mr Phillips said. He believes the real heros are the mentors in the group. "They work hard so hard and this award reflects that," Mr Phillips said.

In NSW, Indigenous youth are 15 times more likely than non-Indigenous youth to have had greater levels of contact with the juvenile justice system and 17 times more likely to spend time in detention.

Isaiah (right) a youth mentor and member of the 'Iproud' program puts Ian through his paces at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence.

Isaiah (right) a youth mentor and member of the 'Iproud' program puts Ian through his paces at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence.Credit: Brook Mitchell

Since its inception, Phillips said robbery rates in the Redfern area have decreased by roughly 80 per cent.

The ACVPA is an annual ceremony that recognises and rewards good practice in the prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crime in Australia. This year NSW Police won two awards; one gold and one silver.

"[The program] is a true partnership between police and the Aboriginal Community with the shared commitment of caring for kids and vulnerable persons whilst keeping the community safe," Supt. Freudenstein said. "The gold award is exactly what the Redfern community deserves."

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