Group straightens out offenders Helping turn lives around

SOME of Townsville’s worst child offenders have managed to turn their lives around with help from the Stronger Communities Action Group – an intensive initiative the State Government introduced to address youth crime.

The multi-agency response has worked with 252 families of young people in the past three years, offering support with everything from legal advice and counselling to basic household maintenance and education.

For legal reasons, many of these children cannot be identified.

One youth first went to the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre when he was just 12 years old and spent years in the justice system, even turning 18 when he was jailed with adults in the Townsville Correctional Centre.

He worked closely with the Stronger Communities Action Group since late 2017 and began to turn his life around.

Last year that young man told the Bulletin he sincerely regretted his former life and he now had goals. With a new lease on life he has since resisted the urge to return to crime, has secured employment, restarted education and has his heart set on a career in the Australian Defence Force.

A spokesman for the Premier’s office said other success stories included a 16-year-old homeless girl who dropped out of school at 13, and who had a history of shoplifting and drug use. She had an undiagnosed mental health disorder before engaging with the action group.

“The Stronger Communities Action Group organised for a health assessment which led to appropriate medical support. She was also connected to youth workers and alternative education,” the spokesman said. “She is now in stable accommodation, has graduated from Year 12 and is studying at TAFE.”

While many youth the action group works with have extensive criminal histories, they also help children at risk of falling into a life of crime.

One such child was a 14-year-old girl who had just committed her first offence and showed signs of anti-social behaviour.

“Complex family issues meant they required multiple layers of support,” the spokesman said.

“The action group reconnected the child to school, found appropriate medical assistance for multiple health problems, and helped resolve significant financial and housing problems.

“The group also worked with the family to support the young person not to reoffend and to continue going to school.”