- New community-led Gold Standard Early Intervention program on the Sunshine Coast.
- Lookout 07's new program will help at-risk youth showing early signs of disengagement, anti-social or criminal behaviour.
- Program provides mentoring, mindset coaching and job skills training to re-engage at risk youth back into education and the community.
- Funding is part of a $100 million investment to deliver Gold Standard Early Intervention through community-led early intervention programs to restore safety where you live.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its commitment to provide innovative early intervention programs to break the cycle of crime, with funding from the Gold Standard Early Intervention Kickstarter grants for a new program on the Sunshine Coast.
Lookout 07 will receive funding under the first round of the Kickstarter Grants program with a $131,503 grant for their new early intervention model for at-risk youth.
The Youth Leadership Program will support young people aged 12-17 in the Sunshine Coast region over 12 months with participants receiving mentoring, mindset coaching and job-readiness training over a 10-week period.
The Kickstarter program is part of the Crisafulli Government's four-year $100 million Gold Standard Early Intervention program, with half to be set aside to kickstart new programs and the remaining funds to provide ongoing funding for programs with proven results.
The Crisafulli Government's Gold Standard Early Intervention program will deliver best in class early intervention for at-risk youth showing early signs of criminal behaviour with the education, life skills and support to divert from a life of crime.
Each program will be regionally focused and tailored to meet the needs of local communities, with nearly $10 million to be awarded in the first round of Kickstarter grants to organisations across the State.
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said early intervention programs were crucial to preventing the next generation of youth offenders by breaking the cycle of crime.
"Effective early intervention is one of the best ways we can divert at-risk youth from crime, resulting in fewer victims of crime in this State," Minister Gerber said.
"For a decade, the former Labor government failed to properly invest in early intervention and that has led to a generation of untouchables on a merry-go-round of repeat offending.
"By investing in early intervention programs that engage these kids, we can prevent the cycle of crime and help give youth the best chance at a brighter future."
Deputy Premier and Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie said the announcement of the first successful Kickstarter grant recipients marked an important milestone in the Crisafulli Government's plan to prevent youth crime and reduce the number of victims, in combination with our tough new Adult Crime, Adult laws.
"Kickstarter grants are an investment in crime prevention – offering young people an alternative to a life of crime, while also restoring safety where Queenslanders work and live," Deputy Premier Bleijie said.
"By intervening early, we are ensuring the next generation don't end up repeat youth offenders, and they are given the support they need to become productive, engaged members of the community."
