An Illawarra centre that helps kids turn their lives around could be shut down. Father Chris Riley from Youth off the Streets can’t fathom why the NSW Government would de-fund the centre that treats young people with problematic sexual behaviours.
At 14, Alex has already endured some of life's hardest knocks. Abused as a child, he went on to sexually harm others.
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Unable to live with his biological family or a foster carer, he has ended up in a therapeutic residential care program in the Illawarra where he reports his behaviour is "much better."
"The most traumatised young people in this state for the first time feeling safe and secure and addressing their issues, disrupted and made more vulnerable than ever. Nothing justifies this."
Billy, 15, has just left the program after 18 months of intensive support for his sexually harmful behaviour and is now talking about finishing high school and getting a job.
These two young people are the so-called "hard cases", among the most vulnerable in the state's child protection system.
Proposed reforms to the out-of-home system promise to improve therapeutic treatment for traumatised young people but a restructure of providers has put Alex and Billy's care facility on the chopping block.
Operated by Youth off the Streets, New Pathways is the only residential treatment facility in NSW for young people who have problematic sexual behaviours.
In 15 years of operation, it has helped dozens of teenagers, who receive highly supervised, intensive psychological support delivered by qualified staff. Very few have re-offended after leaving the two-year program.
Youth Off the Streets chief executive Chris Riley cannot fathom why the facility, along with a home for Aboriginal children, have been de-funded as part of a Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) shake-up of residential care.
"This action of FaCS is systemic abuse of the worst kind," he said.
"The most traumatised young people in this state for the first time feeling safe and secure and addressing their issues, disrupted and made more vulnerable than ever. Nothing justifies this."
FaCS provides $288,000 a year to fund each child, with Father Riley accusing Family and Community Services minister Pru Goward of mishandling with the reform, initially announced by her predecessor Brad Hazzard.
"Unfortunately, under Pru Goward's watch we have returned to the days of chaos and more poor outcomes for kids," he said
Youth off the Streets staff fear for the future of the young people, all aged between 13-16, currently in New Pathways.
Youth work co-ordinator Carly Watt said the decision to de-fund the program spelled a bleak future for the teens.
"Without proper treatment, they have no options," she said. "They can't get a job, they can't live safely in the community. They are put on the scrap heap at a really young age and that's just not fair."
A spokeswoman for Ms Goward said the reform to residential care would help more children recover from trauma, allowing them to live safely in the community.
