Nationals WA questioning reveals Target 120 program in Geraldton has helped 22 families

More than 20 Geraldton families had been assisted by the Target 120 program, focusing on at-risk youth in a bid to reduce juvenile reoffending rates. In answers to questions from the Nationals in Parliament, Community Services Minister Sabine Winton last week said 22 families in Geraldton had been assisted by the program — the joint highest number in the State along with the Mirrabooka program. Ms Winton said eight children, and 28 of their family members, had completed the program at the nine expanded locations in WA. As of September 19, the early intervention program had engaged more than 44 young people, and 153 family members related to the recruited youth. The program was developed in 2017 and is now operational at 18 of the 20 promised locations. The Labor Government has long talked up funding for the program, announcing in April an additional $11.7 million would be spent extending the shelf life of T120 to mid-2025. Before this, in 2022 Ms Winton announced expansion of T120 programs to towns in WA’s north as part of the State government’s $40m response to soaring youth crime. Ms Winton said negotiations were at an advanced stage with a service provider to roll out the program to the remaining two locations — Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley. The minister explained finding a service provider to deliver the program was challenging, and had experienced difficulties staffing the program.