CSWP began in 2009 as a grassroots partnership between Tribal Warrior and South Sydney Police Area Command. Local Elder Uncle Shane Phillips, local men’s group Chairman Mark Spinks, and some mentors came together with Detective Superintendent Luke Freudenstein to create this youth outreach program for Redfern, the Inner West, and Eastern Suburbs.

Right from the start, the program structure was designed by community for community.

CSWP started small, with ten young men being mentored in the initial program. Some of those young men have gone on to become mentors themselves and continue to work with the program to this day. The program was broadened to include female youth and now has an even gender split in participants.

When CSWP began, both the community leaders and the police saw the need to work together to reduce the cycle of crime among Aboriginal youth. Boxing was seen as the solution, as the regular training provides young people with discipline, routine, and the ability to use up their energy.

Through regular training, CSWP has broken down barriers and fostered a more positive relationship between the local Aboriginal community and South Sydney Police Area Command. The program remains focused on tackling the drivers of crime by encouraging participants to make positive choices.

Since the start of CSWP, Redfern has seen a drop in Aboriginal youth being arrested from 3,000 in 2009 to 1,800 in 2019. There is also more trust on both sides, with positive interactions on the street and channels for dialogue between police and community when issues arise.

School attendance levels also increased on average among participants thanks in large part to the drop-off service following training.

Having regular interactions at the gym has also opened opportunities to talk to young people about drug addiction and other challenges that deny young people self-respect and do a great deal of damage.

If extra support is needed, the Tribal Warrior team act as a connection point between a mentee and culturally safe services, including for mental health. The approach taken is to walk alongside a mentee, helping to build trust with service providers and navigate their own healing journeys. This work happens as part of their participation in the overall program.

Eastern Suburbs and Inner West

• Alexandria
  
• Annandale
  
• Banksmeadow
  
• Beaconsfield
  
• Botany
  
• Camperdown
  
• Chifley
  
• Coogee
  
• Daceyville
  
• Darlington
  
• Dulwich Hill
  
• Eastlakes
  
• Enmore
  
• Erskinville
  
• Eveleigh 
  
• Forrest Lodge
  
• Glebe
  
• Hillsdale
  
• Kensington
  
• Kingsford

Make a referral today to our CSWP Program Today! 

Self Referals are welcome