- The Crisafulli Government is delivering two new early intervention programs for the Wide Bay to restore safety where you live.
- Programs provide tailored mentoring and outdoor activity training to teach resilience and divert at-risk youth away from crime.
- The Crisafulli Government has delivered 49 new 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 is 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 two new Kickstarter early intervention programs for the Wide Bay.
It is just one way the Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer after crime skyrocketed during Labor's decade of decline.
The Smithery Next Man Up program is a 10-week mentoring program working with local schools to support at-risk boys (aged 15-17) across the Maryborough region to help them re-engage with education, training or a job so they can build positive futures.
Operation Hard Yakka for Girls is a brand new outdoor activity training program for at-risk girls (aged 8-17) that builds discipline and resilience while fostering teamwork and positive decision making to break the cycle of crime.
The Crisafulli Government promised to invest in early intervention, with 49 new 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.
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 prevent crime before it starts and stop at-risk youth turning to crime, 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 breaking the cycle of crime to put youth back on the right track.
"We've delivered 49 new Kickstarter early intervention programs right across the state to fight Labor's Youth Crime Crisis, and we've got more to come."
Member for Maryborough John Barounis said the funding came after a decade of underinvestment from the former Labor Government.
"The Crisafulli Government is investing a record $560 million in early intervention and rehabilitation programs across Queensland to help turn young lives away from crime and restore safety to communities," Mr Barounis said.
Member for Hervey Bay David Lee said early intervention was crucial to breaking the cycle of crime and restoring safety to the region.
"By supporting young people to make positive choices and steer away from crime, we will reduce youth offending, have fewer victims of crime and safer communities, Mr Lee said.
The Smithery founder Dan Smith said the Crisafulli Government's investment in Next Man Up would guide young men to step into a safer, stronger future.
"Backed by the Queensland Government's Kickstarter funding, Next Man Up will partner with local schools and services to improve community safety through supporting the next generation of Maryborough men become the best version of themselves," he said.
Hard Yakka Chief Training Officer Bob Davis said the program's achallenges helped youth become respectful and productive citizens.
"We look forward to helping more families having issues with their children and appreciate the Queensland Government being so proactive in this space," Mr Davies said.
