Queenslanders called on to be part of youth crime solution

• The Palaszczuk Government is creating more than 80 new frontline jobs in early intervention, diversion and intensive case management programs in youth justice.
• The new recruits will join the hundreds of staff already working to turn young people’s lives around and away from crime.
• New positions for programs being expanded to new sites across the state including Intensive Case Management and Youth Co-responder Teams.
• Transition 2 Success has launched the start of its 2023 programs with up to 200 young people enrolled in 20 locations around the state.

The Palaszczuk Government is creating more than 80 new jobs in early intervention, diversion and intensive case management programs across the state to help turn around the lives of at-risk young people and keep the community safe.

Intensive Case Management will be expanded to Brisbane, Logan, Toowoomba, Moreton, Gold Coast, Rockhampton and Ipswich – with jobs going in all seven locations.

This service works with serious young offenders aged 13 to 17 years, and their families, to help break the cycle of crime.

Intensive Case Managers work intensively with a smaller number of young people and their families, ensuring they can tackle the complex issues in these young people’s lives.

Youth Co-responder Teams (YCRT) already operate in eight locations across the state and the program is being expanded to five new sites – Toowoomba, Hervey Bay, Mount Isa, Ipswich and South Brisbane, with recruitment to start soon to fill new positions in each location.

These teams see police and youth justice staff work hand-in-hand to engage with at-risk youth and young people on court orders at all hours.

The teams help de-escalate situations and connect young people and families with the right support at the right time.

The recruitment drive comes as more than 200 young people embark on or continue their journey with Transition 2 Success (T2S), which has kicked off its 2023 program in 20 locations around the state.

Since it began in 2015, more than 480 young people have graduated with a range of certificates including in construction, engineering, hospitality and business, and some have continued with further education and training or found work.

T2S partners with businesses, councils, schools and community and training groups to support young people to break the cycle of youth crime.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Children and Youth Justice Leanne Linard:

“Community safety is our government’s top priority and at the core of that is helping divert young people from a life of crime.

“That is why the Palaszczuk Government is investing more than $100 million in additional funding into programs that we know work.

“These programs are regularly reviewed and evaluated and the evidence clearly shows that they are helping turn young people away from crime.”

“For Queenslanders wanting to be part of the solution and help get these kids back on track, there are jobs available in a range of programs that have proven effective, including Intensive Case Management, Youth Co-Responder Teams and Transition 2 Success.”

“These early intervention and diversionary programs are an opportunity to build relationships with at-risk young people and support them and their families.

“Stopping crime before it occurs is the most effective way to break the cycle of youth offending, and it’s why these programs and teams are so important.”

Quotes attributed to Logan Youth Co-Responder Bec Jarman

“The Youth Co-responder program enables unique collaboration between police and youth justice.

“It means we can identify young people at risk of offending and implement interventions earlier in their offending trajectory, diverting them away from crime.

“We’re able to use the expertise of both agencies and enhance partnerships with government and non-government agencies to collectively respond to youth crime.

“I would encourage people who want to make a difference to consider a role like mine.”

Explainer/fast fact and or further information:

For more information about some of the youth justice roles on offer, please visit: https://www.cyjma.qld.gov.au/about-us/careers

ENDS

Media contact: Scott Chandler (07) 3719 7339