YOUTH VIOLENCE TASKFORCE MEMBERS ANNOUNCED

Police Minister Judy Spence has announced the members of Queensland’s new Youth Violence Taskforce, which is being set up by the Beattie Government to help reduce the level of violence that is ruining young Queenslanders’ lives.

Ms Spence, who will chair the Taskforce, said the members would be invited to attend their first meeting next month.

“We see this taskforce as providing a new way to tap into what’s going on in society – and how to deal with it,” Ms Spence said.

“We have selected members as those who will make valuable contributions due to their contact with young people on a variety of different levels – and who we hope will shed new light on this very concerning issue.

“We expect members of the Youth Violence Taskforce will help find ways to stop this behaviour and attitude among what seems to be a growing number of young people.”

Ms Spence, and deputy Chair, Minister for Communities Warren Pitt, today announced the Taskforce membership and terms of reference.

The taskforce will be made up of community representatives and key stakeholders, including:

• Paul Stanley, whose son Matthew was killed three weeks ago outside a teenage birthday party;
• Dr Paul Mazerolle, Professor of Criminology, GriffithUniversity and Director of the GriffithUniversity Violence Research Program;
• Dr William Bor, Director, Kids in Mind Research: Mater Centre for Service Research in Mental Health;
• Neville Coventry, CEO, Queensland Homicide Victims’ Support Group;
• Mark Gladman, Chaplain at the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre;
• Pastor Andrew Oyet, Baptist Pastor and President of seven African churches, who works closely with Sudanese youth:
• Brett Devenish, President, Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens Association;
• Matthew Swift, Operations Manager, YMCA Brisbane;
• Rebecca Smith, a Department of Child Safety employee whose brother died as a result of a violent assault in Mackay in 2004;
• Faiza El-Higzi, President of the Al-Nisa' Youth Group Inc;
• Herman Hunt, a QueenslandRedsAcademy player who also works for Lifeline Community Care Queensland agency, RAPT, that delivers services to the families of children and young people in foster care;
• Ethnic community representatives;
• A Brisbane Broncos player.

A number of key government agency representatives will also be on the taskforce, including:

• Queensland Police Service – Commissioner Bob Atkinson APM;
• Department of Premier and Cabinet/Coordinator General – Project Manager Mike Spencer;
• Department of Communities – Director of the Office for Youth, Michael Tansky;
• Queensland Health –Child Safety Director, Queensland Health, Correlle Davies;
• Justice – Director of Strategic Policy, Terry Ryan;
• Education Queensland – Deputy Director General, Jenny Cranston;
• Education Queensland - Executive Director - Schools, South East Brisbane District, Patrea Waltom;
• Multicultural Affairs – Executive Director, Steve Maguire;
• Liquor Licensing – Executive Director, Chris Watters.

The terms of reference for the Taskforce will be:

• To examine the incidents and any trends of violence among young people in Queensland and Australia;
• To examine the factors that lead a young person towards violence such as:
• Anger management;
• Domestic and family influences;
• Peer influences;
• School – including any link to scholastic ability, failure and behaviour;
• Community influences, such as role models;
• Alcohol and drugs.

Ms Spence said Taskforce members will be asked to meet once a month, and members would be asked to canvas a range of issues over the next 12 months.

“Taskforce members will be required to recommend proven, evidence-based youth violence prevention strategies, and ways to help educate young people how to avoid the potential for violence, how to prevent it and what the consequences are,” Ms Spence said.

“This government is serious about tackling this issue.”

Mr Pitt thanked Taskforce members for their participation in the important initiative.

“Too many young people have died or been injured as a result of senseless violence,” Mr Pitt said.

“We need fresh ideas on ways to make our young people safer.

“This will be a big ask for the Taskforce members, but we have put in place a dynamic mix of people and we are looking forward to the recommendations they put forward.”

Media contact: Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287