Miles Doing What Matters: New funding for GC early intervention

• Miles Government funds four youth early intervention projects on Gold Coast
• Adds to successful initiatives like city’s Youth Co-Responder Team
• Part of Miles Government’s Community Safety Plan, they are among 39 projects statewide in the latest $2.6 million round of Community-based Crime Action Grants
• Contrasts to LNP cuts to police and youth justice resources

The Miles Government continues to do what matters for Queenslanders, investing another four local Gold Coast early youth intervention initiatives.

Unlike the LNP which has announced it will spend $50m on a taxpayer funded world tour to come up with early intervention ideas, the Miles Government is doing what matters and investing in local early intervention programs with evidence based solutions.

Building on our $1.28 billion Community Safety Plan and initiatives like the city’s Youth Co-Responder Team, four community organisations will receive funding for projects that reduce youth crime and re-offending.

Gold Coast Youth Service will deliver its Care Coordination program which provides early intervention by assisting young people and their families in navigating agency referrals and engaging in pro-social activities.

Lives Lived Well Limited will deliver its Street CRED which  is an assertive outreach initiative operating Thursday evenings across the Gold Coast. It involves youth workers, police, and child safety officers collaborating to connect with vulnerable or at-risk young people, providing immediate support and referrals to prevent antisocial behaviour, aiming to guide them towards positive life choices.

Murra Pathways will deliver its Nurturing Career Aspirations of Indigenous Youth program which provides specialised workshops for Indigenous students in Years 10 to 12 on the Gold Coast. The program connects students with work experience, school-based traineeships and apprenticeships, and employment opportunities to enhance qualifications and career readiness

The Happy Mindful Souls program runs over 8-weeks and is for 12 young people aged 12-17. Its focus is on goal setting, mental health, and wellbeing. It runs alongside the Upskill work-readiness program for ages 14+ and the HMS Touch Football team, providing workshops and mentoring to support mental health and development.

Earlier this year, Minister Scanlon visited recipients of another round of Community-based Crime Action Grants, Gold Coast Youth Service’s Court Up | Play Ball project and Fight 4 Youth’s Inside Out Program.

Quotes attributable to the Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon:

“Our community safety plan is clear on tackling youth crime clear: prevention, intervention and detention.

“We are focused on addressing the underlying issues that fuel youth crime.

“Programs like this are at risk under the LNP who cut police and youth justice resources when they were in government.”

Quotes attributable to Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer:

“Community safety is our absolute priority, that’s why we are investing in programs that are proven to increase community safety and reduce youth offending, leading to fewer victims of crime.

“No single program will be the total solution to youth crime. That’s why evidence-based programs like this one are needed to complement the Miles Government’s Community Safety Plan and the Putting Queensland Kids First strategy.

“It means doing all we can to break the cycle of offending, because when a young person comes into the system, we want to make sure we’re doing our very best to stop them returning.”

Further information:

For more information on the Community-based Crime Action grants visit: https://desbt.qld.gov.au/youth-justice/partnerships/grants/community-crime-action

ENDS

Media contact: Gary Shipway - 0458 090 906