Mural paints story of community's hope of turning tide on crime

Police and young people paint mural of hope in Port Augusta Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 6:56am In short: A colourful mural stands as a symbol of a unique community-driven alliance that is tackling crime and social disadvantage. About 30 teenagers were involved in various stages of the mural, titled This Place Is Us, Our Voice, Our Story, Our Way, which covers 200 square metres of the back wall of a business. What's next? The community alliance's programs include new youth clubs, elders supporting youth in court, and support for First Nations elderly. A masked police officer armed with a spray can aims the nozzle and squirts ochre-toned paint onto the shop wall; beside him, a teenage girl aims her can and sprays. It is a scene that community elders and leaders hope will help turn the tide on crime for the 13,500 residents of Port Augusta, about 300 kilometres north-west of Adelaide, at the top of Spencer Gulf in South Australia. Loading...The pair helped paint a 65-metre-long artwork which was the brainchild of three police officers wanting to reduce crime and improve relationships with Aboriginal youth. About 30 teenagers were involved over the stages of the mural, called This Place Is Us, Our Voice, Our Story, Our Way, covering 200 square metres of the back wall of a business. The project was funded by the Port Augusta and Davenport Community Alliance, which is a three-year, $12 million joint federal and state government initiative launched in late 2024 to create a community-led road map towards a safer and more connected community. The alliance includes traditional owners, elders, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, young people and community service agencies, police and business representatives. Social issues It was created to tackle social issues including a high crime rate compared to other regional centres. There were 336 criminal offences recorded by police in Port Augusta and Port Augusta West in May this year, including 104 assault or harm-related charges. OpenStats lists the 2022/2024 number of break-ins in Port Augusta at 709.8 per cent higher than the state average, and 552.4 per cent higher than the national average. Juvenile offending Far North Region Police Superintendent Paul Isherwood praised the community for the mural project and said juvenile offending was a major cause for concern in the town. "Any relationship we can build with young people is important and we work very hard on that engagement,"he said. "It's not just about police being law enforcers, it's about them being community members, and continually trying to improve outcomes for everyone, living, working or passing through Port Augusta." The seed for the mural was planted when Port Augusta Senior Community Constable Shirreen Jackson and a colleague, who has since died, noticed artist Scott Rathman painting another mural in the town. "We thought let's do something for our kids, something that they can call their own and create themselves and basically look after," Senior Constable Jackson said. Local SAPOL officers joined the teens on painting day in May. "It was great to be able to have [police officers] involved, and that was the initial plan at the beginning," Senior Constable Jackson said. Youth participant Ciara said the mural connected the knowledge of older generations to young people. "It's really good we got the opportunity to put our own little piece into the community and to show what the younger generations are capable of,"she said. Fellow participant Romin said: "You just have to feel proud about it, you helped paint it, and you're a part of it to help your community." Lead artist and Eastern Arrernte man Scott Rathman said the symbolism and story were developed in partnership with the teens and showed the importance of elders and the knowledge they passed down through the generations. "The main concept of the mural is this idea of the legacy cloak and that Aboriginal people carry their culture with them," Rathman said. The mural included the illustration of a smoke trail, symbolising the sharing of stories through generations, weaving across the artwork, and flowing between striking portraits of a child, a young woman and an elder. There were symbols about choices in life, guiding young people, and community connections, as well as place, including the Flinders Ranges and the iconic Port Augusta bridge. "There are many pathways we can take as individuals," Rathman said. "The bridge connects people and the outback to the sea; it's what brings people together. "If we nurture our young people through whatever challenges they have and we find a way that they don't end up dealing with SAPOL … or whatever, then they can become really powerful members of our community." Superintendent Isherwood said the mural showed Port Augusta people were linked through community, culture and country. "It's huge, and it's fabulous," he said. A spokesperson for the Department of Human Services said the alliance placed the community in the driver's seat and brought people and organisations together to support local priorities, in line with Closing the Gap. "Since forming in late 2024, the alliance has supported 14 community initiatives, including Mangrove Court, the Education and Wellbeing Hub, Operation Flinders on Adnyamathanha Country, and Return to Country, which has helped more than 545 people get home safely," they said. "Projects like this give young people pride and a real stake in their community, along with the chance to build confidence and skills working alongside artists, elders and local police." [Image text:] POLICE THISPLACEIS