Our aspiration is to see our Pasifika families flourish in Australia, through the delivery of holistic supported services.

What happens when a community of People come together and join up to form a Village of support for our young people?

KOKO VILLAGE

Youth Justice, Community, and Stake holders collaborating for change.

Overview

The partnership is with Children Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs (CYJMA) through the Community Partnership Innovation Grant 2022-2023 working with young people aged 10 to 17 to reduce reoffending. 

The project aims to:

  1. Intervene early. Children and young people in vulnerable families have their health, education, safety and wellbeing needs met.

  2.  Keep children out of Court. Children and young people with early or low-level offending are engaged in education and training and are supported to address their behaviours.

  3.  Keep children out of custody. Children and young people who have offended have a safe place to live are supervised and supported to repair harms, address behaviours, and reconnect with families and communities as an alternative to incarceration.

  4. Reduce offending. Children and young people who are repeat offenders get responses, punishments and support that work to stop re-offending and enable successful reintegration with their families, culture and communities.

Young people attend a 12-week program where they participate in workshops facilitated by Industry professionals and the KOKO Community Connectors, covering a range of topics of interest to the young people. This may include film, music videos, sports, small business, performing arts and a range of other areas depending on the interests and the goals of the young person.

Young people will also be supported through wrap around services at Village Connect.

Story Of Change

This young person attended the community Lalaga #1 program and proved very challenging as she would not engage. After a few weeks she left the program to return to school, and then returned when she no longer liked school. She then influenced the other Young People in the program in a negative way and ended up reoffending. Through the support of the KOKO team she was not charged and did not return to BYDC. She then asked to return to the Lalaga #2 program and since joining that program she has continued to engage and has brought her friends and family along to the program and has proved to be a influential leader and positive role model for her peers. She stood up on the day of the Lalaga #2 graduation and said thank you to the KOKO team for supporting her and for teaching her about her culture. She became a shinning star for all the other Young People and a real inspiration.