So when I spent time in Alice Springs researching this week's SBS Insight, I was shocked.
Shocked because I spoke to dozens and dozens of kids and, without fail, they had a parent, a cousin, a relative in jail. Some had served time themselves. Jail time seemed standard, normal almost.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are overrepresented in jails across the country, making up more than a quarter of the prisoner population. The NT has the highest imprisonment rate in the country. Nationally, for every 100, 000 Australians, there is an average of 168 prisoners, according to the ABS. But in the Territory, that incarceration figure rockets up to a whopping 826 prisoners per 100, 000 adults.
Violence up here is common too. Many of the teens my colleague Hannah Meagher I spoke to fight 2, 3, 4 times a week. They're often scheduled events. Word spreads via text or Facebook and often ends in tears, and for some, police records.
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Like Noel. He was involved in an extremely serious brawl. So serious, a judge described his behaviour as - “utterly disgraceful. It displayed a complete lack of human decency. He behaved in a cowardly, thuggish and brutal manner.”
The others involved got jail time, he got home detention. But hang out with Noel for a while like we did and he'll knock your socks off. He's well spoken, intelligent, polite. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes on to be a leader within his community.
Then there's Trevor. He's a larrikin and extremely likeable. But he's at a cross roads. He admits he smokes too much dope, he's in and out of trouble at school and with the police. He knows he may be going down the wrong path.
We asked the young people we met why and how they got on the wrong path. They all told us they were bored. They said there are very few positive role models. And some told us no one believes in them. No one believes they can get on the right track, so they stick to what they know - the wrong one.
That's depressing and concerning. But, despite all the negativity, I was buoyed by the positivity we saw too. People inspiring the Alice youth, like Noel's teacher, Lucy. She went to every one of his court cases to support him. Beverley Angeles - a strong and passionate indigenous woman working with the girls at Centralian Senior College to make positive choices. The passionate Billie-Jo Wesley who's mentoring other young indigenous teens in Alice to become leaders, to push themselves and to graduate.
But importantly, I saw fortitude and hope (albeit sometimes only a glimmer) in the young people we spoke to. Rhiannon sheepishly admitting she'd love to go to University. Terazita speaking about her dream to join the Navy and sail on the HMAS Arunta - the ship named after her people – The Arrernte. Even Trevor reluctantly told us he'd like to be a mechanic and wants to leave Alice and go to a place where people are happy and there's less fighting.
Fights, drugs, jail.….we witnessed plenty of hurdles in Alice but also plenty of dedicated people willing to give a leg up along the way.
No studio. No audience. No adults.
Tonight's Insight was filmed in Alice Springs - It airs on SBS ONE tonight, at 830pm.
