Two of the Queensland Government’s youth crime fighting programs – Regional Reset and Staying on Track – have been discussed in the first of 12 stakeholder sessions.
The government will hold the sessions across the state to inform stakeholders as the first stage of the tender process for the early intervention and rehabilitation programs.
Both programs are key pillars of the government’s Making Our Community Safer Plan.
The Staying on Track program will deliver a 12-month rehabilitation program post-detention for youth, including at least six months’ intensive support to reintegrate them into the community and prevent them from falling into a cycle of repeat crime, driving down the state’s 91 per cent recidivism rate.
The Regional Reset program will deliver nine early intervention residential programs with a one to three week ‘reset’ for those demonstrating high-risk behaviours including substance abuse, aggression or truancy, providing youth with the skills to divert from crime before they become serious repeat offenders.
Queensland Premier, David Crisafulli, said that the Regional Reset and Staying on Track programs will help break the cycle of crime.
“These new programs are about pushing the reset button on young lives and providing them with the life skills, education and support to turn towards a brighter future,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“Early intervention isn’t a one size fits all, but Regional Reset will extend a helping hand to troubled kids and pull them off the trajectory they’re currently on.
“While it will take time to break the cycle of crime, Staying on Track will deliver critical rehabilitation after detention, turning kids away from crime and reverting to their old ways.
“After ten years of decline there is no overnight silver bullet, but we won’t stop until there are fewer victims in Queensland.
“With early intervention and rehabilitation, we can start to turn the tide on youth crime and start to make our community safer.”
Queensland Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support, Laura Gerber, said that the briefing sessions are an important step to inform stakeholders on the initiatives and to seek feedback on the programs.
“Queenslanders were promised action to address youth crime in the first 100-days in government, and we are delivering on that commitment,” Minister Gerber said.
“These programs are aimed at intervening in kids’ lives before they’re hardened criminals, to provide them with the support to get back on the right track.
“A youth crime sentence shouldn’t breed better criminals and Staying on Track will give kids leaving detention the support they need to divert them from crime and ensure they have the skills to build a positive future.
“The Regional Reset program is part of the State Government’s suite of early intervention measures to give at risk youths the best chance at a brighter future.”
