- Crisafulli Government is delivering on a critical pillar of its Making Our Community Safer Plan, with the first Staying on Track program to start operations within months.
- Life Without Barriers will deliver an intensive 12-month post-detention rehabilitation program for youth offenders in the Gold Coast region to reintegrate them back into the community.
- $225 million program is part of a $560 million investment in new early intervention and rehabilitation programs funded in the Budget to restore safety where you live.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on a critical pillar of its Making Our Community Safer Plan, with the first Staying on Track program announced today.
The new program, to be delivered by Life Without Barriers, will offer 12 months of rehabilitation for youth offenders exiting detention, including at least six months' intensive support to reintegrate them into the community and prevent them falling back into a cycle of repeat crime.
Youth offenders will be partnered with a personal mentor and receive tailored, high-intensity support to assist the transition back into the community and reduce the risk of re-offending.
The rehabilitation model will focus on creating a stable, positive environment, strengthening family connections, and address the systemic behaviours that are driving offending behaviour to create a pathway to education and employment over the year after release.
Under the chaos and crisis of the former Labor Government, the State's reoffending rate for youths leaving detention climbed to 94 per cent and youth offenders walked away at the end of their sentence with no support.
Staying on Track will work hand-in-hand with the Government's Detention with Purpose program in youth detention centres, which starts the rehabilitation process during detention with a focus on education and compulsory schooling, and a return of consequences for actions with a zero-tolerance approach to violence.
The Crisafulli Government's Staying on Track program is one of several new early intervention and rehabilitation programs funded in the Budget, to help restore safety where you live.
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said the Crisafulli Government's Staying on Track program would be a critical step in breaking the cycle of repeat youth offending in Queensland.
"The best way to stop youth offenders from continuing to offend is to invest in effective rehabilitation and Staying on Track is designed to give youth leaving detention the support they need to make a fresh start," Minister Gerber said.
"Staying on Track will provide intensive, tailored support to help youth offenders re-enter education, find employment, and build positive connections in their communities.
"The former Labor Government failed to invest in effective early intervention and rehabilitation, which created a generation of untouchables.
"With 94% of young people committing more crime within a year of leaving detention, the need for rehabilitation to help kids stay on track is clear and critical."
Life Without Barriers' Deputy Chief Executive Child, Youth and Family, Carly Jacobitz welcomed the Crisafulli Government's investment through Staying on Track.
"We know that many young people who have experienced adverse childhood experiences – such as abuse, neglect, or family violence – can face other challenges that make them vulnerable to the youth justice system," Ms Jacobitz said.
"Intervention is crucial, and our evidence-based Staying on Track program provides important, tailored support that will help young people in the Gold Coast region build on their strengths, form connections, engage in education and strengthen their family relationships.
"We look forward to partnering with the Crisafulli government and bringing our knowledge and experience to family-focused support that can help young people stay on track and reduce the risk of them reoffending."
