COMMUNITY WELLNESS HUB THURSDAY 20TH MARCH 2025:
Despite the rain we had an excellent number of guests. We continue to have people attending regularly which is always encouraging.
Our Guest Speaker was Rick Sarre, Emeritus professor of Law and Criminal Justice at the University of South Australia and an Adjunct with UniSA: Justice and Society. He was formerly Dean of Law at the UniSA law School 2019-2020. His topic ‘What we know and what we need to know’ Crime Prevention.
Rick Sarre believes strongly that we need to treat youth crime in a more helping manner. Locking up youth only provides an environment to become harden criminals in adulthood. He stated that it costs $1320213,00 per prisoner per year. The number of First Nations People 2021 Census – 812,000 or 3.2% of Australia’s population.
- 32% of all prisoners
- 24% youth suicides
- 13% homicides.
Possible 5 Strategies to help prevent youth being imprisoned:
5. Encourage public and private security partnerships.
Champion diversionary and restorative practices.
4. Champion diversionary and restorative practices.
3.Instill protective factors in young people’s lives.
Heavily funded programs that enhance the social and mental health of all young people and raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14.
2. Protect victims of domestic and family violence.
Provide more women’s shelters and fund every program that has been shown to be effective in reducing the levels of abuse to women and children.
1. Address social and economic disadvantage.
Address mental health, community housing, broad educational pathways, mentoring, employment and empower groups that are found on the margins, First Nation communities especially. Ric Sarre’s presentation gave us all food for thought on how youth crime is presently dealt with. By addressing the problems of domestic abuse for a start. We were all very grateful to hear Rick’s insights.
Leanne again conducted chair exercises for the group, which was very well received, thank you Leanne.
Finishing of the day with a light lunch.
Special thank you to the volunteers helping to make the event so successful. Des, JC, Ian, Trish, Steph, and Maria.
Thank you also to the City of Burnside for their continual support.
Next month’s speaker is Beth Walton and her topic – ‘Our climate – What is happening.’ Beth previously worked at the Bureau of Meteorology and has vast experience and knowledge of the state of our weather. I highly recommend Beth’s presentation.
Next Community Wellness Hub – Thursday 17th April 2025 11- 1 pm.
Margie Maloney