University of Newcastle initiative receives half a million in federal funding for youth violence prevention

Name.Narrate.Navigate (NNN) was developed in 2018 as a form of preventative intervention addressing "youth-perpetuated family, domestic and intimate partner violence".

"The program really works with young people to recognise that when they are using harm they have often experienced harm themselves," project lead Dr Tamara Blakemore said.

"To get by and get along in life we really need to able to Name how we are feeling, Narrate or talk about our experience and Navigate our relationships in healthy and productive ways.

"When we have experienced trauma, those things are often quite impaired and can be a challenge."

Dr Blakemore said that in 2020, the Hunter recorded the third-highest number of youth-perpetrated domestic violence incidents in NSW

She said that by working with Aboriginal elders and practitioners, the NNN program employs "culturally safe and trauma informed" ways to provide a better understanding of emotional literacy and communication in young people impacted by trauma.

Since its introduction, the six-week program has worked with over 100 people aged 17 and under to reduce offending and get participants re-engaged with education, employment and the community.

According to Dr Blakemore, the $599,000 will "see the continued roll-out and delivery of the NNN program up until 2024".

Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews was at NUspace on Wednesday afternoon to make the funding announcement.

Minister Andrews said the money is part of the federal government's Safer Communities program which, she said, is funded largely by "assets confiscated from criminals".

"We know that in this area (the Hunter) crime is a significant issue," Minister Andrews said.

"The Morrison government is doing everything we can to make sure that we can stamp out crime.

"This funding will go toward making sure young people who have offended in the past are involved in programs to stop that pathway."

University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky, said the funding is an important way to make research outcomes a reality.

"Just last week we had the Prime Minister opening one of our facilities on the Central Coast," Professor Zelinksy said.

"He talked about what universities need to be doing and how it's very important to connect universities to outcomes. Not just doing research for research sake.

"I think Dr Blakemore absolutely epitomises that and shows it's not just the science and technology outcomes but also social policy that can be directed to make a real-world difference."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: