Our Team Leader of Youth Services, Selu Ah Hong, recently spoke with ABC News about the rise in youth crime and violence across Melbourne’s west, particularly in Melton, one of the city’s fastest-growing suburbs.
Selu has been working on the ground with young people and families in the western suburbs for many years. In the ABC interview, he shared an honest perspective on the root causes behind the violence, pointing to a deep sense of disconnection, lack of belonging, and limited support networks.
“Pretty much 99 per cent of our kids, there is a disconnection from parents and the home environment,” Selu told ABC. “If the kid doesn’t have that at home, they’re going to go out and find it. For some, that means turning to groups or influences that make them feel seen, even when it leads them down the wrong path.”
Selu explained that many of the young people coming through our programs have experienced difficult home lives or a breakdown in communication with parents. “A lot of the time, it’s not about bad kids, it’s about young people who are hurting, who don’t feel heard, or who are growing up without strong role models. When we listen and support them early, they start to rebuild trust and see a future for themselves.”
He emphasised that belonging is at the heart of prevention. “We need to give them a place to go, somewhere they feel safe, respected and part of something positive. That’s what we try to do every day at the Foundation.”
This insight echoes the lifelong work of our Founder Les Twentyman OAM, whose mission was to stand beside young people society too often overlooks. Les understood that behind every act of violence or defiance is a story, one that can be rewritten with compassion, support, structure and opportunity, paving a way to a brighter future.
As Selu noted, the community has a shared role to play:
“We can’t just wait until something goes wrong. The earlier we show up for our young people, at school, in the community, at home, the greater the chance they’ll make choices that lead to something better.”
To watch the full ABC News story, click below:
You can also read the full article on ABC News: here