Wyndham South Sudanese Patrol Group volunteers say they believe that the issue of community safety should not be used as a “political tool” after an MP expressed concerns in Parliament about youth gangs.
Last month, Western metropolitan MP Bernie Finn said he was concerned “about youth gangs in the western suburbs, particularly in the Tarneit-Werribee area” who were “predominantly men of Sudanese background”.
During the same parliamentary speech, Mr Finn said he had met some of the South Sudanese Patrol Group’s volunteers and that the state government should provide funding for the group’s activities.
Most nights, the group’s volunteers visit streets, parks, train stations and libraries across Wyndham to engage with young people of all backgrounds, link them with employment programs and encourage them to steer clear of committing crimes.
Two volunteers from the patrol group, Richard Deng and Emily Yuille, said they had not received any government funding for their activities because they had not asked for any.
Mr Deng said the state government was actually “very supportive” of the South Sudanese community and other migrant communities through funding cultural projects and events.
“Community safety should not be used as a political tool,” he said.
At a community meeting about safety in Truganina last Monday, Mr Deng and another volunteer from the patrol group, Kot Monoah, spoke about their work.
“The South Sudanese community do not support or condone criminals, no matter what colour they are,” Mr Deng said. “We are Australian, we are one community.”
Ms Yuille said that in addition, volunteers from the patrol group had met government MPs in the west to discuss their activities.
“We’re happy to work with anyone,” she said.
A spokesman for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Robin Scott, said the government had invested in programs to empower Sudanese community leaders and organisations.
