Social RESEARCH REPORT
Streetwork is so proud to have launched the groundbreaking Insight Centre report entitled, “Prevention is the Cure: Early Intervention is the Key to Combatting Our Youth Crisis,” in collaboration with The Hon. Rose Jackson MLC, Minister for Water, Housing, Homelessness, Mental Health, Youth and the North Coast last Friday, 31 January 2025 in Parramatta. This report delivers a stark analysis of the escalating youth justice and wellbeing crisis gripping NSW, revealing the urgent need for greater investment in early intervention programs to break cycles of crime, mental health struggles, and social disengagement among young people.
📊 Key Findings from the Report:
Youth detention-based services in NSW now cost over $200 million annually, with the cost of keeping a child in custody nearing $2,800 per day or $1.1 million per year – more than double the cost from a decade ago.
NSW has seen a 55% increase in spending on mental health services over the last decade.
Supporting a homeless young person costs $20,300 a year, with a total annual cost of youth homelessness of over $200 million in NSW.
At Streetwork, we’ve seen firsthand how effective early intervention can be. Our Kickstart Mentoring Program and the Change Your Course Empowerment Program (delivered in partnership with our youth service partners) demonstrate that:
71% of participants with crime-related challenges do not re-offend while in our programs.
Self-discipline, perseverance, and community connection all improve significantly for our participants.
For every $1 invested in Streetwork, saving the taxpayer $16 by reducing the prevalence of youth crime, homelessness, mental health issues, and education disengagement.
We would also like to thank Dr Shanthi (Sha) Robertson, author and Managing Director of The Insight Centre, for brilliantly writing this report. The report makes a compelling case for the need for more significant investment in early intervention programs by our policymakers, educators, funders, and community leaders so that vulnerable people can improve their lifelong outcomes and reduce costs to our welfare, health, and justice systems. While the financial benefits are clear, the heart of this issue is about changing lives and empowering young people to create a better future.
This report will assist all our service partners in the youth sector and organisations who deliver early intervention and prevention programs to vulnerable people.
💡 Join us in advocating for a shift in focus by policymakers, educators, funders and community leaders - let’s work together to build a safer, stronger community.
📖 Read the full report: Social Research Report — Streetwork (click below)
