2 key Youth Engagement Education Reform package initiatives

• 2 key initiatives to flow from $288 million Youth Engagement Education Reform package.
• Recruitment of the first 40 of 78 positions to start for new $57 million intensive education case management service.
• Recruitment starts for 4 more Court Liaison Officers in high-priority Children's Court locations and 16 more Youth Transition Officers.

Recruitment has started for a new $57 million Intensive Education Case Management Service, more court liaison officers and more youth transition officers.

The initiatives flow from the Miles Government’s Youth Engagement Education Reform package, which backed by $288 million, will make sure all young people remain engaged with education.

The package is the missing link that will support education, intervention and prevention initiatives for students who are most at risk of being involved with the youth justice system.

It recognises that mainstream learning isn’t for everyone, particularly if they’ve got a range of other problems, which is why it’s important we create structured, safe environments for students to access education. In turn, we’re reducing the likelihood of anti-social or criminal behaviour.

Recruitment starts next month for the first 40 of 78 positions for the new Intensive Education Case Management service. The service works with state school students who have been excluded or suspended for extended periods to get back into learning. The first Intensive Education Case Managers are expected to be on deck by June working to reduce the amount of time young  people spend out of school.

At the same time support for young people before the Childrens Court is being expanded to help them get back to learning with four Court Liaison Officers and an additional 16 Youth Transition Officers, to be located across the state, now being recruited.

The four new Court Liaison Officers, will support courts in Far North Queensland (Mareeba, Innisfail and Aurukun), Central Queensland (Mackay), Wide Bay (Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Gympie) and the Darling Downs (Toowoomba).

The officers and Youth Transition Officers, have meetings with young people and their schools. Their goal is to find out what the school and the young person need for them to return to school, refer the young person to vocational training services or alternative learning programs and link them to community programs.

Quotes attributable to Education Minister Di Farmer:

“Not every child who’s disengaged from education ends up in the youth justice system.  However every child in the youth justice system is disengaged from education.

“The very complex needs of these students require educational and behaviour intervention more intensive than our schools have been equipped to deliver. Our comprehensive approach is targeting the most complex communities and students to keep them engaged in learning and get them back to learning quicker.

“The best thing we can do for every young Queenslander, their family and community is to keep students at school and engaged in learning. So we’re making sure that when a student has to be excluded or suspended they still have a program of learning, that they do their school work and we get them back to school or on an alternative learning program as soon as we can.

“Our investment in 78 specialist intensive education case managers will be responsible for making sure this happens and every student excluded from a state school will get this intensive support. “

Quotes attributable to Vice President Queensland Secondary Principals Association Sharon Barker :

“Principals always welcome any opportunity for support for students to remain engaged and finish their schooling successfully.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Teachers Union President Cresta Richardson:

“Queensland State schools are diverse with students from many backgrounds. Every student in Queensland has the right to a supportive education.

“Our teachers and school leaders manage a range of complex behaviours on a daily basis and the need for alternative learning is something we have long called for.

“The QTU welcomes this investment in our schools.”

Background

The $288m Youth Engagement Education Reform package aims to keep kids learning.

More than $120 million will be invested to expand the successful Queensland Pathways State Colleges model from six to 12 campuses.

New campuses will be established in Toowoomba and Deception Bay in 2024, followed by Mt Isa, Central Queensland, Logan and Cairns.

These facilities play an important role in supporting vulnerable students in years 10-to-12 to complete their year 12 education, and create pathways to tertiary education and training. 

An additional $45 million has been earmarked to create 50 new FlexiSpaces in high needs schools, on top of the existing 52 schools which already have one.

The new FlexiSpaces will have a dedicated teacher to provide extra support for students who need a break from the classroom, including due to mental health issues or disruptive behaviour.

$27 million will be invested in specialised alternative learning programs run by NGOs in priority locations Cairns, Townsville, Ipswich and Mt Isa.

A targeted curriculum aligned to the Australian Curriculum will be developed for use in all Queensland state school alternative learning programs, which will also be made available to special assistance schools in the non-state sector.

Media Contact: Gary Shipway 0458 090 906