Bid on for Brat Camp

A politician wants a ``brat camp'' set up in the Territory to tame troubled teens.

Opposition youth affairs spokesman Terry Mills said he got the idea from an ABC television program.

``The series was good entertainment - but, more importantly, provided valuable lessons in dealing with adolescents,'' he said.

In Brat Camp, a group of wayward British teenagers were sent - by their desperate parents - to a wilderness camp in Utah in America.

The program exposed them for the first time - to strict rules and a harsh - wilderness.

The teenagers were released from the program only when their supervisor deemed them ready to go home.

``They were anti-social teenagers, in conflict with their parents, failing at school and chronic substance abusers of alcohol and marijuana,'' Mr Mills said.

``Each fit the typical `youth at risk profile' - if in the Northern Territory, a few steps away from the Don Dale Centre.''

Mr Mills said a similar camp should be established in the Territory.

He said it could replace the now closed Wildman River juvenile detention centre near Adelaide River.

``We need to provide gutsy programs to reach young people at risk - those perhaps preoccupied with gang activity, substance abuse and with little likelihood of meaningful employment,'' he said.

``We need a program that removes the youth from a familiar environment, gives them an opportunity to struggle, learn new skills and hopefully survive.

``Outback camps that challenge young people and develop resilience have an important place in putting young people on the right track.

``And the Territory has some great resources - a harsh and beautiful outback, a culture of bush survival both indigenous and European, and a number of urbanised young people that need a confronting program aimed to give them skills to gain control of their lives.''

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Tue, 29 Mar 2005
Source: Northern Territory News
Author: Paul Dyer
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au