A new bail support service for young offenders on the Fraser Coast is set to be established following calls from the local Member for Hervey Bay, Adrian Tantari. The service is part of the Queensland Government's ongoing commitment to tackling youth offending in the region.
The service will focus on greater supervision for young people on youth justice orders to ensure they meet their bail requirements.
Minister for Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs Leanne Linard said a provider will be chosen through an open tender process to deliver the service, with funding of $1 million.
"This is all about tackling the underlying issues that can cause some young people to commit crimes, and to stop an escalation in their offending," Ms. Linard said.
"The service which will commence in early December, will deliver a mix of individual case management and outreach activities for young people on bail.
"The support will be different for every young person and every family. It can include getting them back into education or training or connecting them to services to address the underlying issues that contribute to offending such as housing, health, drug and substance misuse.
"To enhance community safety, we need to meet the individual needs of young people and families, and this is what this service will do."
Adrian Tantari MP, Member for Hervey Bay said a call for tenders from non-government organisations in the Fraser region is currently open and closes 10am, 4 October 2022.
"The introduction of the bail support service is in line with the government's overall Youth Justice Strategy, which recognises the importance of breaking the cycle of crime for young people," he said.
"Young people who offend must be held accountable for their actions, and where necessary this includes being detained. There also needs to be support in place to break the cycle of offending.
"Bail support services are just one element of our strategy, which includes tough bail laws, early intervention services to prevent criminal behaviour, and a range of programs and support to help young people address their offending."
Minister Linard said all Queenslanders deserve to feel safe.
"We are continuing to take whatever steps are necessary to reduce youth crime and break the cycle of offending. We know the community wants us to do more and we are answering that call," she said.
The tender process closes on Friday 14 October. To apply or to find out more go here: https://bit.ly/3xlbWTs
