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Let’s not play the “blame game” at Newman forum

Danielle RaffaeleNorth West Telegraph
PAMS CEO Robby Chibawe.
Camera IconPAMS CEO Robby Chibawe. Credit: Robert Frith/Acorn Photo

The head of Newman’s leading health body says playing the “blame game” will not work at tonight's community forum to address youth crime and his organisation will be supporting holistic solutions.

Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service chief executive Robby Chibawe said community stakeholders needed to work collectively to address rising concerns about youth crime rates.

He said said while much of the messaging had surrounded children’s “problem”, such as stealing and breaking property, more time needed to be spent addressing the root of the problem.

“I’m really hoping that people are not going there simply to just dump their problems without analysing it, the issue,” he said.

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“The whole idea for this meeting is for people to put their heads together and trying to address this issue. I’m hoping it will not be pointing fingers otherwise it will loose the momentum.

PAMS is an Aboriginal controlled service proving care and advice for people in the East Pilbara region including the Great Sandy, Little Sandy and Gibson Deserts.

The health leader said the meeting was a step in the right direction and an opportunity for community stakeholders to make positive change.

“To me it is a good initiative because people can understand where the problems are and will hopefully come in with the mentality of suggesting solutions not blame or playing the race card.

“This is a social issue it has nothing to do with the Aboriginal kids, it is the underlying social issues we need to sort out.”

Despite PAMS working in the clinical space, Mr Chibawe said his organisation would do everything they could to support the community and work with families to create safer spaces for everyone in the mining town.

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