Wednesday, 9 March 2022

Ministers statements: Hand Brake Turn

Ms HUTCHINS (Sydenham—Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (14:25): I rise to update the house on a really fantastic project under the crime prevention portfolio, which is looking at finding vulnerable young people work opportunities, addressing the root causes of crime and avoiding these young people from coming into contact with the justice system. We are helping teens change gears into careers in the auto industry by giving them the opportunity to follow their dreams to become mechanics. Through a $300 000 grant to Concern Australia we have expanded the Hand Brake Turn training program to young Victorians. It combines mentoring and training and builds programs of confidence and self-belief. These young people, who are sometimes on some pretty negative pathways, have an opportunity through this program to turn their lives around.

I was really pleased recently to visit the program and meet the managers, Michelle, Jon, Michael and the team, whose passion and expertise were absolutely on display. I met Kevin and AJ, two young teenagers who had both been in contact with the justice system, had dropped out of school and had been having a rough time. Thankfully the Hand Brake Turn project has helped them to turn their lives around. Both AJ and Kevin told me that they wanted to return to school after completing this program, both wanting to become mechanics, an industry where we have huge amounts of shortages across the country. By giving young people an interest in cars in a positive way to channel their passion the project helps reduce vehicle-related crime. This government knows that by giving young people somewhere to turn we can help them make right choices and keep our whole community safe at the same time. This is part of a $1.2 million investment in partnership with Neighbourhood Watch and Crime Stoppers where we are taking steps to avoid more victims of vehicle crime across the state.