Boot camps ready to roll out

The expansion of the Newman Government’s boot camp trial has taken a major step forward with the announcement of the operators for the new sites.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said, as promised, new camps would be rolled out to cover youth in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and the Fraser/Sunshine Coast.

“These boot camps are an important part of our overhaul of youth justice,” Mr Bleijie said.

“We are trying something different in Queensland because the old slap on the wrist system simply isn’t working.

“Camps in Rockhampton and the Fraser/Sunshine Coast will focus on early intervention, while courts will sentence young offenders to the Cairns/Townsville camp, to divert them from detention and give them a chance to change their offending pattern.”

The operators for the new sites are:

• Cairns and Townsville - Beyond Billabong, which has helped troubled young people turn their lives around for more than a decade.
• Rockhampton - the Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association (QPCYWA) has delivered targeted programs for young people for 65 years through mentoring and working with kids’ families and schools.
• Fraser and Sunshine Coast - Operation Hard Yakka. Bob Davis, a former Special Forces instructor and his team have run the specialised program since 2008 and have successfully helped at-risk youth gain life and work skills.

Mr Bleijie said the Newman Government has already achieved great success with the first early intervention camp on the Gold Coast with 15 young people completing the course so far.

“All the selected organisations have proven experience in running camp style programs for young people and that was an important factor in the decision making process,” he said.

“These won’t be holiday camps. They will be tough but strike the right balance between teaching young offenders discipline and self-worth.”

[ENDS] 21 August 2013

Media Contact: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355 or Katherine Hornbuckle 0402 862 351