Premier Chris Minns today announced new funding to extend BackTrack’s Night Shift program, a successful community-led initiative that supports young people and addresses youth crime on the ground in Armidale.
The NSW Government is providing BackTrack Youth Works with $120,000 from the Premier’s Discretionary Fund (PDF). Part of the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing work to build a safer New South Wales, the one-off grant will cover staffing and operational costs to continue delivery of the Night Shift program.
BackTrack provides wraparound support and early intervention to help disengaged young people get back on track – building literacy, numeracy, life skills and employability, while supporting them to plan for their future.
The Night Shift program targets night-time youth crime in Armidale by engaging, supporting, and diverting at-risk youth away from the streets between 8pm and 7am. By offering practical help and positive alternatives, the program is reducing crime and keeping the local community safe.
Developed with young emerging leaders, Armidale Neighbourhood Watch, local police and NSW Police, Night Shift has already shown strong results, with its 12-week pilot leading to a significant drop in stolen vehicles, break-ins and related offences.
This additional funding will allow BackTrack to extend the program and continue addressing the immediate needs of at-risk young people – including providing meals, clothing, transport and pathways away from crime – while strengthening community safety in regional NSW.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing work to address regional youth crime, which has included:
•Amending the Bail Act to include an additional bail test for young people between 14 and 18 charged with committing a ‘serious break and enter offence’ or motor vehicle offence while on bail for a similar offence.
•Creating a new ‘post and boast’ offence under the Crimes Act, criminalising the filming and disseminating of footage of certain serious offences to publicise or advertise the commission of that offence.
•A review of doli incapax, the legal presumption of incapacity to understand wrongdoing for children aged under 14, currently underway.
While there is much more to be done, the September Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research Report suggests there has been some progress.
In the two years to July 2025 property-related offences in regional NSW have dropped 8.9 per cent.
Further, crimes like break and enters, robbery, stealing from cars and malicious damage have all decreased by at least 7 per cent.
More information on the Premier’s Discretionary Fund, including its eligibility and assessment criteria, is available online at http://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/premiers-discretionary-funding
NSW Premier Chris Minns said:
“The team at BackTrack work tirelessly with regional communities and are focused on implementing practical responses to supporting local young people in need.
“Programs like Night Shift show the difference early intervention and local leadership can make in reducing youth crime and giving young people a real chance at a better future.”
Acting Minister for Police Ryan Park said:
“Programs like BackTrack’s Night Shift show how powerful community-driven solutions can be in guiding young people in our regions. We’re proud to stand behind initiatives that make a real and lasting difference on the ground.
“Every day, police are working to build stronger relationships with communities, but we recognise that trust doesn’t always begin with a uniform. Sometimes it starts with local people who understand, connect and care in ways police cannot.
“That’s why we back this work wholeheartedly – work that isn’t just responding after something has gone wrong but also preventing it before it happens.”
Acting Minister for Youth Justice Anoulack Chanthivong said:
“Young people in NSW deserve opportunities to contribute to their community, and through initiatives like BackTrack, we are working to reduce youth crime and make regional areas safer.”
“Our government will continue to support proven programs and community-led initiatives, like Night Shift, which help to divert young people onto a more positive pathway.”
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