Media Releases

Saturday, 21 January 2012

YOUTH INSEARCH MEDIA STATEMENT

Youth Insearch can confirm that one former male participant in Youth Insearch programs has made an allegation against Mr. Ron Barr, the Founding Director of Youth Insearch, of inappropriate sexual conduct  The conduct is alleged to have occurred more than 15 years ago.

As soon as the allegation was raised with Youth Insearch, inquiries were made and the allegation was put to Mr. Barr, who has strongly denied it.

After the allegation was made, and in light of the seriousness of the complaint, Mr. Barr was suspended by Youth Insearch. The NSW Commission for Children and Young People has been notified. The matter has also been referred to the police.

Youth Insearch takes this matter extremely seriously, and is cooperating fully with the police and the Commission.

We have offered counseling support both to the complainant and to Mr. Barr.

On  a  separate issue, in December 2011, the Youth Insearch Board of Directors made the difficult decision to wind back the operations of the Foundation and hold no programs for a period of six months. This decision had to be made due to the financial situation we  are  facing, which has been  developing for  some  months.

This decision to temporarily wind back the operations of the Foundation was in no way due to the allegations against Mr Barr. Sadly, and as a result of the  financial difficulties, it was necessary to make all staff, including Mr Barr, redundant. The Board has asked the CEO to stay on to administer the organisation while the financial  situation is resolved.

A Report was commissioned last year by the Board into the financial arrangements of Youth Insearch. The Report highlighted systemic management issues and a lack of financial controls. A significant constraint in the implementation of these controls has been, as for all charities, a lack of internal resources and finances.

However, it  found there was not financial mismanagement on the part of any employee, other than one  junior employee who had issues with his vehicle use and  credit  card, nor was  there fraud or misuse of funds  by any director.

The current Board has accepted the recommendations  in  the Report and implemented  significant  changes in accordance with the Report to  remedy  the  deficiencies.

Similarly, the Board commissioned a Report  into  allegations  of  workplace bullying. The Report stated that Judith Barr had engaged in inappropriate workplace behavior in some cases and in only one case bullying behavior, but certainly “not of the worst kind” and dismissed all the other allegations made. Judith Barr was given a formal warning and  redeployed so  as  to  have  no  direct management of staff.

Youth Insearch has grown quickly and  widely and has undergone significant change during  this period. This has  brought  about necessary changes  in leadership and staff to  bring  a  more  professional  approach  to  its  activities.

Over the years Youth Insearch has  done remarkable and  positive work  with some of Australia’s most troubled youth. We  hope that will also  be taken into  account in judging the  situation we  now  face.

We ask that the community and our supporters appreciate the difficult situation we are now in, and continue to support us.

The current Board and CEO accept that improvements need to be made and that is why we took on our positions in November of last year, and are taking the steps to address these issues,  rather  than deserting the  organisation in its time of need.

We  are  determined  to  do  everything we  can possibly  do to  ensure Youth Insearch’s continuing necessary work.

Heath Ducker

CEO   Youth Insearch

MEDIA CONTACT

Anthony McClellan             Mob: 0433 122 360

AMC Media                          This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Heath Ducker will not be available for  interview.

Background to Youth Insearch

Youth Insearch is a community organisation that coordinates weekend programs focused on resolving adolescent issues at a peer level for young people aged between 12-17 years.

It is a grass roots, early-intervention program, which works alongside welfare agencies, schools and local police to identify ‘at-risk’ youth that will benefit from the program. We aim to reduce crime, substance abuse, binge drinking and prevent suicide in young people, as well as enhance self-esteem and productivity through empowering youth.

A key to the success of the program is its peer to peer focus where youth who have graduated from the program return to assist and mentor the other young participants through their issues.

On the weekend programs the young people are encouraged to explore the challenges they face while meeting and discussing problems with young people who have found solutions to their issues.