Published Yesterday at 12:12 PM

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services
The Honourable Laura Gerber

New intensive early intervention program to help restore safety to Wide Bay-Burnett region

  • Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer with a new intensive early intervention program for the Wide Bay-Burnett region.
  • ‘Bridges’ will deliver the Regional Reset program for at-risk youths aged 8-17.
  • The program will include a short-stay ‘reset’, alongside cultural mentoring, family engagement sessions, education, and life and employment skills workshops. 
  • The Crisafulli Government is delivering new early intervention and rehabilitation programs to make Queensland safer. 

The Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer with a new intensive early intervention program for the Wide Bay and Burnett region, to help restore safety where you live. 

The new Regional Reset program, delivered by Bridges Health and Community Care, will provide up to 18 weeks of intensive support for at-risk youth showing early signs of disengagement, antisocial or criminal behaviour to help make Queensland safer. 

During the program, youths will participate in a short-stay, intensive ‘reset’ at a live-in facility away from their home environment, where they will receive 24/7 support and supervision.  

Youths will participate in activities to develop their emotional, social, and physical wellbeing including; cultural mentoring and learning, education, life and employment skills workshops and personal development challenges. 

The program will also include family therapy sessions, counselling and referrals to drug and alcohol support services to help re-engage youth back into their community and divert them from crime. 

The $50 million Regional Reset program will be delivered in nine locations across the state and is one of several new early intervention programs funded in the Budget, to help restore safety where you live.  

During a decade of Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis, there was inadequate investment in early intervention measures, which created a generation of serious repeat offenders.   

The Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer with stronger laws, more police, early intervention and rehabilitation.  

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said the Regional Reset program would help restore safety where you live after Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis.  

“This program is designed to give at-risk youth an opportunity to hit the reset button and be put into a positive, disciplined environment that gives them the tools they need to make better choices,” Minister Gerber said. 

“Regional Reset is an important part of our plan to prevent the next generation of repeat youth offenders and restore safety to communities.”  

Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said early intervention will help to restore safety to Burnett.  

“By intervening early, we are giving our young people the best opportunity to make better choices and steering them towards education, vocation or getting a job, rather than going down a path leading to crime,” Mr Bennett said.  

Member for Gympie Tony Perrett said Regional Reset would help make Gympie safer. 

“Regional Reset will turn young lives away from crime by delivering intensive support through targeted early intervention to divert them back into education and employment,” Mr Perrett said. 

Member for Hervey Bay David Lee welcomed the funding for the region. 

“This program will transform young lives by giving them the skills, education and support they need to make positive choices, so they don’t end up becoming career criminals,” Mr Lee said. 

Member for Maryborough John Barounis said the program will turn the tide of Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis. 

“I’ve watched our community suffer under Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis, and this program will be crucial to tackling youth crime before it begins and restoring safety to Maryborough,” Mr Barounis said.   

Member for Callide Bryson Head said the Regional Reset program would help break the cycle of youth crime in his community. 

“By implementing effective early intervention programs, alongside our tough new laws, we will have less youth offenders, fewer victims of crime and a safer community,” Mr Head said. 

Bridges Chief Executive Officer Sharon Sarah said the Regional Reset program will fill a vital gap in early intervention for young people at risk of getting involved in the justice system.   

“Local schools and police have told us there is a significant gap in services for the region and it’s essential that we offer intensive support for young people to stay out of trouble and help families when needed 

“We will work with a range of stakeholders, including Traditional Owners to help our youth develop skills and knowledge, through positive role models such as our youth and cultural mentors and evidence-based cultural programs.” 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Phoebe Powell, 0412 084 743