River Connections - Subiaco & Scarborough PCYC

In November 2010, the Minister for Environment launched a partnership between Native Animal Rescue (NAR) and PCYC to deliver crime reducing programs. One of these programs is called River Connections focussing on at-risk youth and young offenders, based at NAR’s premises in Malaga.  

The majority of adults under the corrective services umbrella are young offenders who have graduated to adult crime.  Animal abuse can be the starting point for young offenders and there is an alarming connection between cruelty to animals as a child and violent crimes towards people later in life.

River Connections has been developed to engage young offenders in meaningful activities based around the protection and conservation of native animals, with the aim of steering these young people away from a life of crime.  It focuses on environmental activities such as river conservation and revegetation projects, rescue of distressed native wildlife and removal of refuse likely to cause harm to wildlife.

Other activities undertaking at NAR include animal care, as well as construction and maintenance, gardening, land-care and basic life skills.  All time spent working with animals at NAR can be used as credit towards TAFE’s Certificate II in Animal Care.

PCYC Youth Liaison Officers supervise these young people while at NAR. The Officers act as mentors with the aim of addressing and reducing offending behaviour, thereby having a positive impact within the community.