P: 08 8951 4236 F: 08 8952 8521 PO Box 8070, Alice Springs, NT 0871 www.caylus.org.au The Executive Director Australian Law Reform Commission GPO Box 3708 SYDNEY NSW 2001 31 August 2017 Re: Submission to The Inquiry into Incarceration rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples To the Executive Director, We are writing to bring some recently completed research to the attention of your inquiry. The attached report: Investing in the future; the impact of youth programs in remote central Australia: a Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis was facilitated by CAYLUS and conducted by the Nous Group as a part of their community benefit work. This research comprehensively examines three youth programs in three remote communities in the NT. These programs range from a relatively new program that runs on very minimal funding through to program that has operated for 25 years, that has grown in complexity and which has attracted a greater level of funding. As shown in the research these types of programs primary value is that they keep young people busy and prevent risky behaviours by young people before they happen. As such we draw this research to your attention in relation to the Inquiries terms of reference 2 e iii the availability and effectiveness of culturally appropriate programs that intend to reduce Aboriginal; and Torres Strait Islander offending and incarceration. The research also shows that these programs play a role in Decreasing Detention through Use of Community Supervision and Decreasing Contact with Police both of which arguably relate to a range of other terms of reference. An electronic copy of the research is available from https://www.nousgroup.com/forecasting-return- investment-youth-programs/ Although the focus of the Inquiry is the law, we hope that you address Prevention as part of a holistic strategy to reduce imprisonment. CAYLUS has had excellent results from our evidence based focus on Prevention with a 94% reduction in volatile substance abuse in our region. We have also attached further information about CAYLUS and our work in the region Yours Sincerely, Tristan Ray Blair McFarland Policy and Project Manager Operations Manager Investing in the future The impact of youth programs in remote central Australia: a Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis Bold ideas | Engaging people | Influential, enduring solutions This page is intentionally blank. © Nous Group nousgroup.com.au | i | Contents Executive summary .................................................................................................................................................................................................1 Project overview ......................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Overview and context for programs ................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Utopia region ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................13 Hermannsburg (Ntaria) ......................................................................................................................................................................................28 Yuendumu ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................44 Insights ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................60 Appendix A Investment ...................................................................................................................................................................................63 Appendix B Indicators ......................................................................................................................................................................................67 Appendix C Financial proxies .........................................................................................................................................................................79 Appendix D Filters ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 88 Appendix E Sensitivity analysis ...................................................................................................................................................................107 nousgroup.com.au | ii | Thank you for reading this report – CAYLUS’s first project evaluation using the Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology. I hope that you enjoy reading about the impact that youth programs are having in Central Australia. Since our inception in 2002, CAYLUS has been working to address petrol snifng and other forms of youth substance misuse in remote communities in our region. Supply reduction measures such as Low Aromatic Fuel and harm reduction measures such as casework play an important role. Equally, demand reduction measures in the form of local youth programs are crucial to provide remote youth with positive alternatives to substance misuse. Youth programs in our region come in a range of shapes and sizes. Some have operated reliably for years, while others operate sporadically due to a lack of funding and / or essential infrastructure. This range is partially a product of mixed government objectives in funding youth programs. Some are funded primarily as substance misuse prevention measures, some as employment and training initiatives, some specifically aim to reduce youth crime and incarceration rates. Notably, there is currently no government policy or program that exists with the aim to ensure youth programs are provided in every remote community. This results in patchy funding against what are at times confused and competing priorities. However stakeholders in remote communities across our region consistently state that youth programs are essential to give kids good things to do, keeping them busy and away from trouble. Despite the difcult funding environment, youth programs are thriving in many ways in our region. Over the last two decades numerous studies and reports have afrmed a range of positive outcomes and social benefits of these programs. CAYLUS were keen to further understand and demonstrate the economic impact of these programs and thus their value to government as well as community. In recent years there has been increased awareness of the lack of meaningful monitoring and evaluation of the programs governments fund in remote Indigenous communities. In developing this evaluation, CAYLUS and youth service providers have taken a proactive approach to evaluating our work and supporting the work of the government. SROI analysis seemed a good tool to investigate and demonstrate these outcomes, and this has proven true with the exciting results that you can see in this report. Nous Group (Nous) saw the potential value in this work and generously co-funded the costs of the project through their Community Contribution Fund. Many thanks to Nous for this strategic support. It will make a big diference to young people in remote communities over the coming years. This project has benefitted from the expertise of a reference group including representatives from service providers, the Northern Territory and Commonwealth Governments and experts in the field. Thanks to all members of this group for your eforts and contributions. Tristan Ray and Blair McFarland CAYLUS Managers nousgroup.com.au | iii | Bold ideas | Engaging people | Influential, enduring solutions Nous Group (Nous) is a leading Australian owned management consulting firm with over 220 staf across Australia and the UK. Our solutions Our work addresses the big, complex challenges facing business and government. We partner with clients to develop strategies, solutions and capabilities that improve business results and outcomes for them, their customers and the communities in which they operate. We are values-driven and strive to deliver positive influence in everything we do. Our Community Partnership Scheme Nous actively contributes to the work of charitable and community organisations through our Community Contribution Fund (CCF). Through the CCF, Nous partners with not-for-profit organisations to deliver discounted consulting projects that they may not otherwise be able to aford. In 2016, Nous introduced the Nous Community Partnership Scheme, a grants process which has so far awarded $275,000 of consulting services in a single round to a number of organisations. The Scheme represents the same principles of positive influence and co-contribution as the broader CCF. CAYLUS is one of eight organisations we are partnering with through the Nous Community Partnership Scheme. Get in touch www.nousgroup.com | [email protected] | (03) 8602 6200 nousgroup.com.au | iv | 1 Executive summary Youth programs support young people in remote communities in Central Australia to develop and live healthy and productive lives Youth programs are provided