TARGET 120 NOT THE SOLUTION TO YOUTH JUSTICE CRISIS, SAYS ADVOCATE GERRY GEORGATOS

Gerry Georgatos. Credit: Sydney Criminal Lawyers.

The state government’s Target 120 diversionary program will not solve WA’s youth justice crisis, according to well-known advocate for children in detention Gerry Georgatos.

Target 120 has been implemented in various parts of Western Australia to steer at-risk youth away from the justice system.

The recent state budget included $11.7 million to continue the Target 120 rollout across regional WA.

National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project Coordinator Gerry Georgatos said expectations are too high for Target 120, which “isn’t the solution” and won’t fix the overrepresentation of Aboriginal youth in detention.

“It’ll help some, but it’s not going to change the disparate numbers,” he said.

“The investment is too small and the expectations are too great for Target 120, in terms of the investment and the remit that it has.”

Listen to an interview with Mr Georgatos about Target 120 and the current crisis at Banksia Hill Youth Detention Centre: