- Two projects aimed at addressing youth offending in Cairns will share in more than $550,000 in funding under the Palaszczuk Government’s Community Partnership Innovation Grants.
- Selectability will deliver an after-hours outreach and mentoring program while Australian Training Works Group will provide work readiness courses.
- In total, 12 projects in communities across Queensland will share in more than $3 million in funding in the second round of the grants program.
- The local projects complement the wide range of government programs and initiatives aimed at tackling the complex causes of youth crime.
Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard today announced that two Cairns projects are among 12 new projects to receive a Palaszczuk Government Community Partnership Innovation Grant to tackle youth offending.
Selectability will receive almost $260,000 to deliver an after-hours outreach and mentoring program in Earlville and Edmonton. It includes transportation to return young people home, and referrals for young people to connect them with existing cultural programs and support services.
Indigenous group training organisation Australian Training Works Group will receive almost $300,000 to provide work readiness courses and build young people’s skills for the workplace, including communication, teamwork and other interpersonal skills.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Youth Justice Leanne Linard:
“Local communities are often the first to see indicators that young people are disengaging and are at risk of engaging in anti-social behaviour or offending.
“When I have met with local community groups, they have told me that they want to work with the government and put their local experience and knowledge to good use to help divert young people from crime.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s Community Partnership Innovation Grants provides funding to enable them to do just that.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Cairns Michael Healy:
“I welcome the funding being provided to local Cairns organisations Selectability and Australian Training Works Group.
“Selectability’s project will build on the success of the highly successful Fire Project, which operated in Cairns last year and did a fantastic job diverting young people off the streets and away from crime. It will provide weekly after-hours diversionary activities around Earlville and Edmonton.
“ATWG will provide skilling and work readiness courses to help young people transition into work. We know that one of the best ways to help divert young people from crime is to give them the skills they need to get and keep a job.
“There is no quick fix, no silver bullet to addressing youth crime and it’s essential that government and non-government agencies are working together to get the best possible outcome.
“The Premier recently announced a comprehensive suite of measures, including an additional $100 million in funding for programs proven to make a difference in diverting young people from crime.
“In Cairns, this additional funding will be used to expand intensive case management and the Transition to Success program and provide new services such as early action groups and intensive bail support.”
