The NSW Government and the Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) are investing $15.6 million to deliver life-changing opportunities for young people living in regional and remote NSW.

This funding commitment will provide young people experiencing the pressures of societal challenges and disadvantage access to PCYC’s youth programs.

PCYC currently delivers different programs in 22 locations, including Walgett, Kempsey, Bourke, Broken Hill, Moree and Lismore, based on community need, BOSCAR data, local police information, and experience from PCYC’s Youth Programs team.

Over the four-year partnership, PCYC NSW will deliver 278 life-changing programs across regional NSW.

The state government is contributing $10 million to the partnership, while PCYC will co-contribute $5.66 million.

Flexibility will be built into this model, allowing PCYC’s Youth Programs to transition to alternative locations as circumstances change and needs are evaluated.

The PCYC Youth Programs to be delivered under the partnership are:

• Employability
  • Fit for Work, Stepping Up and Job Ready – to prepare young people experiencing disadvantage or disengagement, capacity building for long-term, meaningful employment.
• Wellbeing & Leadership
  • Growth-mindset Resilience Intervention for Teenagers (GRIT) – designed to build in young people resilience, independent decision making, and confidence.
• Culture & Community
  • U-Nites, Fit for Life, Nations of Origin, and Indigenous All-Stars Sporting Pathways – focused on bringing young people together and encouraging them to understand and embrace culture and community, and connect them with their community with a sense of belonging.

The Government support ensures PCYC programs in regional areas can move from uncertain and short-term funding to continuous program engagement, providing consistent care, connection and guidance for young people across multiple years.

This new funding builds on the $271,950 announced in February 2025 for the National Rugby League and PCYC partnership, which is already delivering a Youth Empowerment Program in regional NSW, building resilience, self-confidence and encouraging community engagement. 

Established in 1937, PCYC NSW is a trusted youth charity delivering life-changing youth programs to more than 13,000 young people each year, as well as providing community sports and recreation, outside-of-school-hours care (OOSH), and driver education programs.  

Further announcements about the new youth program locations will be made soon.

Today’s announcement builds on work already underway, including:

• $12 million to continue place-based responses in Moree and expand responses in Tamworth and Kempsey. This will fund community-driven prevent and diversion programs that work for specific communities – not a one-size-fits-all approach.
• $6.3 million to provide intensive bail supervision and support for young people – also adding five extra caseworkers in Moree, Tamworth and Kempsey to support young people on bail.
• $5 million for a new Community Safety Investment Fund to back tailored, community-led programs to give kids a positive alternative to crime.

The NSW Police Force is working around the clock to tackle youth crime and keep communities safe.

Since March, over 300 individuals have been charged with over 1800 offences under Operation Soteria – an ongoing policing operation that focuses on repeat offenders and targets offences such as aggravated break, enter and steal, stealing motor vehicles and post and boast offences across regional hotspots.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley, said, “Regional youth crime is something we are determined to tackle head-on, and we’re in it for the long haul, which is why we’re giving communities the tools they need to make real and lasting change.

“PCYCs provide positive spaces where police and young people can build trust and respect, adding to the tireless work our officers already do to keep communities safe. These are the kinds of relationships that can change a young person’s future.

“I want to thank every police officer for their ongoing work with young people. No one understands better than our police how challenging this job can be. Their commitment makes our communities safer every single day.”

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, said, “This multi-year funding commitment will be a game changer for young people across regional NSW.

“This exciting partnership means we aren’t just investing in a single program in a single town, we are delivering benefits right across the state to support the health and well-being of our young people.

“The NSW Government is giving the PCYC a solid foundation to work from in planning programs that will run across multiple years with momentum and make a real difference in young people’s lives.

“By facilitating pathways to education, training, and employment through the PCYC’s programs, we are helping to break cycles of disadvantage and contributing to safer, more cohesive communities.

PCYC NSW CEO, Ben Hobby, said, “We know young people across NSW face increasing social challenges relating to educational disengagement, unemployment, community connection and poor mental health. These issues are often interconnected and can, in some cases, contribute to anti-social behaviour. 

“These challenges are particularly acute in regional and remote NSW, where data shows youth unemployment remains significantly above the national average, and school attendance and retention rates continue to decline for young people experiencing vulnerability or at-risk situations.

“Increasing access to PCYC Youth Programs in regional NSW is an essential frontline resource for early intervention that fosters positive relationships with Police, strengthens skills and creates pathways to employment for the rising generation. 

“Without targeted support, many young people risk falling into cycles of disadvantage, causing long-term social and economic consequences to the individual and their broader community. PCYC is uniquely positioned to break this cycle by cultivating capability, advancing agency, and ultimately revitalising regions through youth empowerment.”