Programs to fight radicalisation and extremist views are a “public health issue”, says one expert.
Deradicalisation programs came to the forefront of the national conversation after authorities confirmed a 16-year-old boy, who was shot dead by police after stabbing a man in Perth, had been enrolled in the program for the past two years.
But the high school student was just one of 141 participants across the country currently participating in the intervention program. 
The Countering Violent Extremism Program, which was adopted from the Netherlands, relies on community and police referrals to intervene with those who express extremist ideologies and may not have committed a crime.
The individuals are then case-managed and referred to specialists. They receive support from psychologists and faith and community leaders. 
Perth Extremists Research Network director Ben Rich said the programs were “tailor made” for each person and sometimes it just requires helping someone with their day-to-day issues. 
“They are trying to navigate their way through the world, often times they are running into problems,” he said.
“They are not seeing the outcomes promised by society.”
Rich said trends of alienation, mental health issues, economic insecurity and technology were leaving a growing number of people disengaged from society.
And controversial social media influencers, like Andrew Tate, had also encouraged divisiveness by commodifying extremist views and creating echo chambers.
But education, providing support to vulnerable members of the community and destigmatisation was “really, really critical” in helping fight radicalisation, Rich said.
“This is whole of society issue, this is a public health issue,” he said.
“People need to be aware these resources are actually out there.”
Rich said years of support had proven to successfully re-engage some radicalised people back into society.
“Part of the problem is responding to it when it gets to the bad outcome, bad end of things,” he said.
“This can be intervened with much earlier.”
A spokesperson for Western Australian Police Minister Paul Papalia said the state’s program had provided support to 14 participants to date.
”The program currently has nine active participants, made up of five juveniles and four adults,” the spokesperson said.
Last week, Papalia said the task to deradicalise someone was extremely challenging.
“Individuals acting alone in isolation from other people can easily be influenced online and we would not necessarily know about it. And they could act with little warning,” he said.
And sometimes the program fails. 
“They are often successful but no program can guarantee success,” Federal Youth Minister Anne Aly said in a statement to 9News.
“It’s the sensitive nature of these programs that we often only hear about them when they don’t succeed.”
