Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson’s push for greater investment in youth diversion has helped deliver a voluntary diversion pilot for the town.
Mr Anderson said the pilot followed his ongoing lobbying for greater investment in youth diversion in Tamworth, after the Department of Communities and Justice recommended its establishment.
“People have a right to feel safe in their homes, and for too many, that right has been taken away from them by disturbing incidences of serious crime,” Mr Anderson said.
“It’s shocking that some of these crimes are being committed by young people who have taken a wrong path and are committing serious and violent crimes.
“That’s why I’ve been pushing for greater investment in youth diversion programs, so that those wraparound services can intervene when a young person is getting off track and push them in the right direction.”
Backed by an $8.4 million investment in the 2026-27 NSW Budget, the Tamworth pathway is set to be rolled out by early 2027, with a second pilot site to be announced in coming weeks. It will provide wraparound support to children aged between 8 and 13 with complex needs who are engaged in, or at risk of engaging in, concerning or high-risk behaviour, and will not require a young person to be charged with a criminal offence to be eligible.
Attorney General Michael Daley said the pathway was designed to intervene before children entered the justice system.
“We’re not waiting until a child is charged with a crime to intervene. This pathway will identify at-risk young people and support them and their families to help prevent offending rather than just respond to it,” Mr Daley said.
Minister for Youth Justice Jihad Dib said the model would be delivered by Youth Justice NSW with culturally responsive support from Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
“The earlier we can make sure children who need support get help, the better our chances of preventing them from entering the justice system,” Mr Dib said.
The pilot comes as new NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures show the number of young people before the courts for non-domestic violence-related assault rose 20.2 per cent, from 982 to 1,180, in the year to June 2026, while breach of bail matters rose 13.6 per cent to 1,714.
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