A free community bus service that helps drop at-risk kids to and from school has been commended by Wheatbelt Police, who say the initiative has helped reduce crime and increase attendance rates.
Avon Community Services, previously known as Avon Youth, started the bus program at the beginning of the 2019 school year after a concerned parent raised the issue of poor attendance and seeing kids hanging around town.
Avon Community Services social worker Tricia Chrimes said the response has been overwhelming.
"We have our own bus that can get 11 kids on there and we have to do three rounds each morning and afternoon," she said.
"I've asked the schools and attendance has actually increased. The kids are going to school and staying.
"They are building their own little relationships and independence on the bus; a lot safer independence than walking to school."
Avon Community Services operations manager Darren Warland said the benefits of the service go further than just improved school attendance.
"The improved engagement in education is the main reason we started this but without education there is increased crime, mental health issues and homelessness," he said.
"It's trying to break that cycle of where they are at and getting them back into education."
Wheatbelt District Police superintendent Martin Cope said police, along with government and non-government partners, have a focus on education in the region
"There is clear research that shows that education participation and finishing school is a known factor in contributing to improved outcomes for young people," he said.
"One of the issues that was identified when the agencies were discussing ways we could help was transport.
"Avon Community Services accepted the challenge of providing an alternative transport option for students to assist in getting them to school in Northam to begin with.
"The bus service is one of the early success stories in the joint school participation initiative and is continuing to expand.
"From a policing perspective, whilst there are many contributing factors, youth offending has reduced significantly and we are continually looking for ways to keep this positive trend going."
