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IT’S GOODBYE FROM CHAPLAINCY AT MALMSBURY YOUTH JUSTICE CENTRE

Towards the end of 2021 we were advised that our contract with the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety to provide Chaplaincy services at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre would not be renewed as at end 2021. Given previous discussions with the Department and the pause of the program for some time due to the pandemic, this did not come as a shock.

Our priority continues to focus on providing services and programs that best support at-risk and disadvantaged young people and children, and to communicate changes in a timely manner with key supporters, donors and the wider community.

We continue to work with the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) to partner with young people across existing and new programs with a focus on preventing involvement with the justice system. Our recent funding success of $300,000 with the DJCS to support a Youth Crime Prevention project/program reflects our ongoing commitment to working with the Department to drive better outcomes for at-risk young people. CEO Michelle Crawford shared:

The end of this season does not mean the end of impact, and we commit to ensuring that the wellbeing of young people continues to be a priority through our work offered in partnership with the Department of Justice and Community Safety.

We are grateful that our close connection to GSCMC has enabled the offering of Chaplaincy and an annual Bike Show at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre since the 90’s and celebrate the influence of those involved.

Please know that as an organisation we will continue to strive for positive impact, and we commit to ensuring that the wellbeing of young people continues to be a priority through our work.

If you have any questions regarding the closure of the Chaplaincy program, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our CEO Michelle Crawford for more information.

15th Annual Malmsbury Bike Show

The 15th Annual Malmsbury Bike Show was held on a cool spring September morning for young people living in the residential units at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.  Our chaplains, Andrew Blankley and Peter Whitefield, collaborated with God’s Squad CMC members who brought 15 of their most fine motorbikes to exhibit at the Centre. 

Around 24 young people joined the event spending hours mingling and chatting with staff and God’s Squad members about the bikes and their history, watching in admiration and perhaps dreaming of the adrenaline additions to Harley Davidson’s and Triumph’s that were there. As the sun was out, it was a perfect opportunity for young people and Squad members in particular, to sit on the grass and share pieces of each other’s personal stories and get to know one another on another level.

With the support from Malmsbury staff, we cooked up a sizzling BBQ of hamburgers, sausages, steak and chicken with accompanying salads from their kitchen. Towards the end of the show, each young person voted for their favourite motorbike and five motorbike owners were presented with a medal for “People’s Choice Award.” One young man spoke up in front of the crowd and thanked everyone for visiting and how much it was appreciated by all that we spent time with them, listened, and were present with them for the morning. We had a record number of young people in attendance!