- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a new early intervention program for Gympie to restore safety where you live.
- Program combines mentoring and wraparound support with hands-on blacksmithing training to divert at-risk youth away from crime.
- The Crisafulli Government has delivered 52 Kickstarter early intervention programs to stop crime before it starts and make Queensland safer.
- The Crisafulli Government's stronger laws, more police, early intervention and rehabilitation are starting to turn the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis, delivering a 7.2 per cent drop in the number of victims of crime in 2025.
The Crisafulli Government is breaking the cycle of crime and restoring safety where you live with a new Kickstarter early intervention program for Gympie.
It is just one way the Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer after crime skyrocketed during Labor's decade of decline.
The Chatsworth Park Ranch ForgeAhead Youth Program is a 10-week early intervention program supporting at-risk youth (aged 12-17) to stop crime before it starts with hands-on blacksmithing training.
The program teaches youth practical skills and uses mentoring to strengthen community and family connections to help youth re-engage with education, training or a job so they can build positive futures.
The Crisafulli Government promised to invest in early intervention, with 52 Kickstarter programs already delivered across Queensland, after a decade of underinvestment by the former Labor Government.
Labor's weak laws, fewer police and failure to invest in effective early intervention created a generation of serious repeat youth offenders and Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
The Crisafulli Government is restoring safety where you live with stronger laws, more police, and the biggest investment in rehabilitation and early intervention in Queensland history, unlike Labor who plan to raise the age of criminal responsibility and wind back Adult Crime, Adult Time.
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said early intervention was vital to making Queensland safer and reducing victims of crime.
"The Crisafulli Government promised Queenslanders we would invest in programs to break the cycle of crime before youth become serious offenders, and that's exactly what we're doing," Minister Gerber said.
"Addressing the early signs of disengagement, anti-social or criminal behaviour is critical to getting at-risk youth back on the right track.
"We've delivered 52 Kickstarter early intervention programs right across the state to fight Labor's Youth Crime Crisis, and we've got more to come."
Member for Gympie Tony Perrett said the investment in the region was a critical step in getting ahead of youth crime locally after years of underinvestment from the former Labor Government.
"The Crisafulli Government is investing a record $560 million in early intervention and rehabilitation programs across Queensland, including backing local initiatives like ForgeAhead here in the Gympie region," Mr Perrett said.
"We've delivered strong laws and more police, while also investing in programs that work on the ground to steer young people away from crime, help them get back on track, and reduce offending to build safer communities across our region."
ForgeAhead founder Gina Scott said the program intervened early to help young people build positive futures.
"Government investment in ForgeAhead delivers measurable social and economic return by diverting young people from the youth justice system and into education and employment pathways," Ms Scott said.
"Our outcomes consistently show increased school attendance, improved self-esteem and stronger relationships with families and schools."
