- The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its election commitment to establish a new Crime Prevention School in Rockhampton.
- Y-Schools will deliver the new school to re-engage at-risk youth in grades 7-12 who have fallen out of mainstream schooling.
- Schools will provide tailored learning and life skills to help youth reconnect with education, the community and to prevent them from a life of crime.
- It is one of four new Crime Prevention Schools delivered by the Crisafulli Government to fight Labor's Youth Crime Crisis and make Queensland safer.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on a key election commitment, announcing Y-Schools will deliver a new Crime Prevention School in Rockhampton to make Queensland safer.
The new school is just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is turning the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis, with Queensland Police data showing Adult Crime, Adult Time laws have delivered a 9.6% reduction in the number of victims statewide.
The school will support at-risk youth in grades 7-12 with specialised education, mentoring, and family support to help re-engage them with education, the community, and future employment and training pathways.
Y-Schools was selected to deliver the program following an extensive procurement process and is expected to commence in the first half of 2027, subject to national accreditation approvals.
The Crisafulli Government is continuing to deliver early intervention programs across Queensland to restore community safety, including a $50 million investment over five years to deliver four new or expanded Crime Prevention Schools to stop crime before it starts.
Unlike Labor who plan to raise the age of criminal responsibility and wind back Adult Crime, Adult Time, every decision the Crisafulli Government makes is about delivering stronger laws and programs that reduce crime.
The Crisafulli Government has announced it will strengthen Labor's weak bail laws, announcing it will expand Adult Crime, Adult Time by the end of the year to include automatic jail for offenders who commit serious offences while out on bail.
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said the Rockhampton school would play an important role in preventing the next generation of youth offenders.
"Rockhampton families deserve to feel safe in their community, and the Crisafulli Government is backing targeted early intervention that helps restore safety where you live," Minister Gerber said.
"One of the best ways to turn the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis is to intervene early, before young people become entrenched in a life of crime and that's exactly what this school will do."
"This new school will provide at-risk young people in Rockhampton with structured learning, practical life skills, mentoring and support to help them re-engage with education and build a better future."
"After a decade of decline under Labor, the Crisafulli Government is investing in practical programs that stop crime before it starts and help reduce the number of victims across the State."
Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland said the school would give Rockhampton's at-risk youth a pathway out of crime and towards a brighter future.
"This new Crime Prevention school will be a game changer for Rockhampton and will give at-risk youth in our area the education, mentoring, and practical skills they need in a structured, supportive environment so they can succeed in life," Mrs Kirkland said.
Member for Keppel Nigel Hutton said the Rockhampton Crime Prevention School was part of the Crisafulli Government's plan to make Central Queensland safer.
"Our government promised to deliver strong laws like Breach Bail, Go To Jail to restore consequences for actions, and we are doing this in conjunction with more early intervention to turn young lives away from crime and that's exactly what this school will do," Mr Hutton said.
Member for Mirani Glen Kelly said early intervention was essential to turning the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
"While the former Labor Government created a youth crime crisis with no investment in intervention, the Crisafulli Government is delivering real solutions to stop crime before it starts and this new school delivers that for Central Queensland." Mr Kelly said.
Y Schools Chief Executive Officer Damien Foley welcomed the opportunity to deliver the new Crime Prevention School in Rockhampton.
"With the funding support of the Queensland Government, Y Schools will deliver a tailored education model for young people who need a different kind of school environment to be successful," Mr Foley said.
"The Futures Academy, by Y Schools Queensland, is about early intervention, creating the right conditions for young people to re-engage with education and offers a high-support model, that works collaboratively with family and community to create sustainable change.
"The Y Futures Academy will combine learning, well-being, family support, cultural understanding, youth work, counselling and case management, with the identification of an individual post school pathway into training, employment or further education."
