- The Men of Business Academy's expansion to grades 7-10 has officially opened, as part of the Crisafulli Government's Crime Prevention School programme.
- The Academy on the Gold Coast is one of four new or expanded Crime Prevention Schools promised to help keep youth out of crime with intensive early intervention.
- Classes offer tailored support for youth who have disengaged from mainstream education, re-engaging them before they fall into a cycle of crime.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering stronger laws, more police, early intervention and rehabilitation to make Queensland safer after Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
The Crisafulli Government has delivered an expansion to the Gold Coast's Men of Business Academy, with grade 7 students already in class under a new programme designed to make Queensland safer.
The Men of Business Academy has been delivering early intervention through non-mainstream schooling for boys in grades 11 and 12, which under the Crime Prevention School programme has been expanded to grades 7 and above.
The school is helping turn the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis, stopping crime before it happens with wraparound early intervention support to re-engage youth in schooling.
Education disengagement is a key risk factor for youth falling into a cycle of crime and was a contributor to Labor's Youth Crime Crisis which sent victim numbers soaring.
The Gold Coast school is one of four new and expanded Crime Prevention Schools being delivered across Queensland, with schools in Ipswich, Townsville and Rockhampton also being delivered.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering stronger laws, including an expansion of Adult Crime, Adult Time to bail reform, as well as more police, early intervention and rehabilitation to restore safety where you live.
Premier David Crisafulli said Crime Prevention Schools would help make Queensland safer, stopping crime before it happened.
"We have delivered an expansion to the Men of Business Academy to prevent more youth from falling into crime and help make Queensland safer," Premier Crisafulli said.
"Crime Prevention Schools are about turning young lives around before they become entrenched in crime, stealing cars or breaking into homes.
"We know re-engaging kids in education is critical to preventing crime, and is just one of the ways we're restoring safety and reducing victim numbers.
"Together with stronger laws including expanding Adult Crime, Adult Time to bail reform, more police and rehabilitation – early intervention is part of how we're restoring safety where you live."
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said the expanded Men of Business Academy was just one example of practical early intervention to turn the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
"Crime Prevention Schools are part of our plan to make Queensland safer, and are about stopping crime before it happens," Minister Gerber said.
"We know disengagement from education is a significant risk factor for youth, which is why getting them back into a supportive learning environment is so important.
"We remain committed to restoring safety, which is why we're rolling out early intervention before youth are in the cycle of crime, and we're rolling out Breach Bail, Go to Jail for those repeat criminals who thumb their nose at the law."
Member for Southport Rob Molhoek said Men of Business' success with grades 11 and 12 would be expanded to younger youth in need of support.
"Labor's weak-on-crime approach created a generation of repeat offenders," Mr Molhoek said.
"Restoring consequences for actions is an important start, but intervening early to keep our local kids away from a life of crime is critical to our community's safety."
Men of Business (MOB) Academy founder Marco Renai said the completed facilities would allow the Academy to support more young men earlier in their education.
"We've spent years working with boys in Years 11 and 12, and we've seen how much can happen between finishing primary school and finding their way to MOB," Mr Renai said.
"Year 7 gives us the chance to support them earlier, to understand their story, get to know their families and work out what's getting in the way of their learning.
"This new facility means we can give more boys that opportunity. A place to build confidence, take ownership of their choices and work towards a future they're proud of.
"We're grateful to the Queensland Government and our incredible MOB community. So many people have put their time, energy and heart into this vision, and it's a special feeling seeing our boys here."
