b'Young and vulnerablefriendship group that saw them get into trouble before, and their confidence can build so that they can attempt The profile of teenagers entering the youth justice systema more productive, satisfying lifeeven becoming a follows a depressingly consistent formula and, withoutcontributing taxpayer.intervention, they have a high chance of social failure and a life in and out of prison. The estimated annual cost of STREATs work for that 16-year-old in that moment of transitional danger is about Kate says compound disadvantage has often led to the$45,000 (as against much more than that in government young person finding themselves behind bars in a youthspending for damage control; not just now but in the correctional facility. No stable adult or role model in theiryears to come).life? Psychological or physical trauma because of the people who are in their life? Substance abuse as self- Hence, the gratitude and need for Newsboys assistance.medication? Cognitive issues? Cultural or First NationNewsboys support complexities? You can tick them off.Its a ghastly blueprint that reveals which young peopleKate said: We never take Newsboys funding for granted. are most likely to slip into criminal behaviour, because ofOne thing we have learned is that to support young any combination of the six or seven disadvantages. people, there is something that has a more critical effect than clever techniques or strategies. Its trust. Our The technical term is intersectionality but Kate sayssupport for them needs to be predictable and consistent you only need to look at the hard and clear data fromand, in a similar vein, Newsboys provides that for us. Its Victorias Parole Board that shows two-thirds of the youngnot a one-off sugar hit of funding, or stop-start support people fronting the Board are survivors of trauma orthat we need to tap-dance for. Newsboys support is violence, and 50 per cent have been placed under childreliable and its a trusted partnership where we know protection orders, which Kate says demand an alarmingNewsboys understands the importance of what we are threshold to even be granted, because of an under- looking to achieve, and how vital it is to these young lives, resourced system.and we know there is an enormous alignment, that means we dont have to go hustling for money. We can do the The cost of action, or inaction actual work.Backed by Newsboys, STREAT is working to break theEven Newsboys origins, in providing education and life cycle. The average 16-year-old, drifting into the criminalskills to the newsboys, aligns with what Thyme Out is justice system as described above, costs the governmentabout. Newsboys support makes such a huge difference a disturbing $7775 per day (more than $2.8 million a year)for us, she said.in detention costs alone (according to the Productivity Commissions Report on Government Services 2025) andWith continuing support, STREAT is confident the long-thats before you get to wider potential costs, such asterm results for young people exiting the criminal justice police, legal, health, psychological and unemploymentsystem can be even stronger. The organisation has services. embraced working with other Not For Profits and Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISE) where possible Without intervention, research shows that a waywardto ensure there are layers of wrap-around support for teenager will cost governments millions of dollars in carethem, across the state. For example, one graduate of and management throughout their lifetime. Thyme Outlets call him Stephenheaded back to his Or, theres the STREAT planto step in and offer a moremajor regional town, where he had previously only found productive, hopeful future path, teaching them skillstrouble. STREAT reached out to another WISE, an allied before theyre even released from youth detention,caf, where the owner employed him, and Stephen not through the Thyme Out programwhich includesonly utilised his STREAT-learned skills, he began teaching ongoing funding by Newsboys. other local youths hospitality skills.Then to follow up, upon release, with stable transitionalNobody is talking about his criminal history anymore; housing, counselling, reducing drug use, genuinethey are talking about the way he makes his lattes, Kate vocational training to make them workplace readyinsaid. Hes a respected local young man.hospitality or other fieldsand then transitional supportNick Placeinto actual work.Surrounding them with supportive friends, mentors and workmates means they are less likely to seek out the NEWSBOYS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 20259'