Expressions of interest for Townsville boot camp

Published Tuesday, 14 May, 2013 at 10:15 AM

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
The Honourable Jarrod Bleijie

Applications are now open for organisations to pilot a youth boot camp trial in Townsville to help young offenders break the cycle of crime.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie today called for expressions of interest to deliver a sentenced youth boot camp program at a new trial location.

“The sentenced youth boot camp will see prolific young offenders take responsibility for their behaviour and participate in a program that addresses the causes of their offending,” Mr Bleijie said.  

“The program will cover the Townsville local government area, Palm Island, north to Ingham, south to Burdekin and west to Hughenden.

“Young offenders will be referred through a boot camp court order when they are being sentenced. Once the order is made, the young offender must participate in the program.

“This won’t be a holiday camp. The program will provide discipline, structure and physical training and a community focused component on family, education and social issues.”

Mr Bleijie said the Townsville boot camp should be ready to accept participants later this year.

“The two year trial will service 20 young people each year,” he said.

“By removing a young person from an offending environment, it can re-focus them, their family and support people on a plan to re-integrate them into the community.

“The boot camp will include a one-month residential phase and up to five months of community supervision and mentoring.”

Mr Bleijie said the Townsville program, and early intervention boot camps at Rockhampton and the Fraser would supplement existing trials of an early intervention youth boot camp at the Gold Coast and a Cairns sentenced youth boot camp.

“We’re serious about tackling the issue of juvenile crime and steering these young people away from a life of crime and towards employment and education opportunities,” he said.

Closing date for applications from organisations is 5pm on Friday, 21 June 2013.

Service providers interested in applying for funding to deliver the program can obtain more details at http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/youth-justice/youth-boot-camps-general-information

An information session for service providers which are considering submitting an expression of interest will be held in Townsville on Friday, 24 May 2013.

[ENDS]
14 May 2013

Media contact: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355 Katherine Hornbuckle 0432 535 893