$130k boost to warrior program

Townsville and Mount Isa will receive almost $130,000 for a “Proud Warrior” program to help tackle youth offending.

Mundingburra MP Les Walker said the Palaszczuk Government was listening to the community and acting in response to youth crime but warned “there is no quick fix, no silver bullet.”

Minister for Youth Justice Leanne Linard said Queensland Youth Services would receive almost $130,000 to deliver the program.

It will provide intervention for primarily Indigenous young people who are at risk of disengaging from school, young people from low socioeconomic households, and cases where young people are known, or their family is known, to police.

She said that in addition, Save the Children (trading as 54 Reasons) would receive $300,000 to deliver a separate Back to Community program in Mount Isa.

The program will provide culturally responsive support for young people whose home country is Mount Isa, Doomadgee or Mornington Island when leaving the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville.

Ms Linard said local communities were often first to see when youth disconnected from family, stopped attending school or displayed antisocial behaviour, “all of which may contribute to a young person offending”.

“When I meet with local community groups, they tell me they want to work with the Palaszczuk Government and put their local experience and knowledge to good use to help divert young people from crime,” she said.

In total, a dozen projects will share in more than $3 million in funding in the second round of the Community Partnership Innovation Grants.