Blue Light has provided a valuable service for the young people in our Western Australia community since its inception in Albany in 1984. The Blue Light program is early intervention through social crime prevention and has assisted in developing our young people into responsible community citizens. The program provides an opportunity for Police, adult community members and young people to meet together regularly. Blue Light encourages communication and the development of meaningful relationships built on trust and mutual respect.

Over 60 000 young people attended Blue Light events held by over 70 Branches throughout Western Australia during 1999/2000. The events were coordinated and appropriately supervised by police and community volunteers in an effort to meet the following objectives:

  • To provide safe, healthy, supervised activities for young people in an environment, which excludes drugs, alcohol consumption, and anti social behaviour.

  • To develop and encourage better communication and relationships between young people, police and community members.

  • To prevent the incidence of crime involving young people and encourage responsible citizenship.

  • To ensure funds raised are used by persons or organisations within the Western Australian community for the benefit of young people.

    • Blue Light is renowned for providing 'discos' but is now offering our young people a variety of activities. Blue Light branches have identified gaps that exist in youth services in their local areas and have responded by organising activities that address these needs. A national Blue Light website (www.bluelight.com.au) has been developed to provide information on local Blue Light activities with links to the Kids Helpline and other sites of interest.

    Goomalling Blue Light Branch established a trailer equipped with sound and lighting equipment that now travels to surrounding country towns and provides healthy, fun activities/entertainment for young people.

    The young people in Shark Bay had no organised after school sporting activities. The local Blue Light branch recognised this and now coordinates a weekly tee ball and soccer competition.

    The Kwinana Blue Light Branch organised an Extreme Air Event that included the setting up of ramps for skateboards, roller blades and bicycles in the local


    shopping centre car park. Over 250 young people attended to either participate or spectate. That afternoon the local Police were pleased to report no crime or incidents of significance.

    The Blue Light Association was able to assist the Kosovar refugees by arranging a dance event for their young children. It was a very rewarding experience for the volunteers that attended to see these children enjoying themselves after the horrific experiences they had endured.

    These are only a few examples of the many activities that are being organised by the dedicated members of the Blue Light Association.

    The success of Blue Light is not only measured by the numbers of young people who attend events but also by the number of volunteers who offer their assistance from within their local community. Without this support and that of the Western Australia Police Service, Blue Light would not be able to continue achieving its objectives.