Boot camp no easy contract
A YOUTH services provider with more than 15 years’ experience say they are racing against the clock to submit an application for the State Government’s new boot camp contract, but admit the organisation’s reputation would be on the line if they got it.
Choice Australia Management was originally overlooked as the inaugural administrators earlier this year with the $2 million contract handed to Safe Pathways.
But that organisation was stripped of it last month after the first two youths who entered the program escaped the Kuranda facility and threatened a woman in a nearby property.
Choice chief executive Todd Hartley said they were working to submit their tender before today’s 5pm deadline and were preparing what he considered a ‘‘reasonably compelling tender’’.
Mr Hartley said the short 21-day re-tender process would sort out ‘‘who can and can’t deliver’’, but the stakes of submitting an application were high.
‘‘You’ve certainly got to weigh up the consequences of risk versus reward,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s a lot about reputation harm.
‘‘There’s some subtle differences (in the second tender process).
‘‘Obviously the fact that you’ve got to place a lot of emphasis on the duty of care. The difference is not necessarily what you put out, the difference is in consequences.’’
Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie has since changed the criteria for the submission so no element of the camp is based in a residential area and last week called on rural land owners to come forward if they were willing to provide land for the two-year trial.
A Department of Justice spokesperson was unable to confirm how many submissions had been received, although organisations have until close of business today to apply.
Yarrabah-based psychologist and youth worker Dr Tim White has previously described the reincarnated boot camp contract as a ‘‘poisoned chalice’’ and was concerned the ‘‘right people’’ would not bid for the job because of a lack of trust in State Government process.
Dr White suggested the indigenous community may be an ideal location.