Two local service providers will start rolling out a key initiative of the Palaszczuk Government’s Youth Justice Reforms aimed at preventing at risk young people from offending and reoffending in Logan from next week.
Minister for Youth, Di Farmer visited the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) in Logan last week ahead of the commencement of the Community Youth Response and Diversion (CYRD) in Logan.
Member for Woodridge Cameron Dick said the Logan CYRD would run in partnership between ATSICHS and YFS based in Logan, in collaboration with the newly formed Department of Youth Justice and the Queensland Police Service.
“The Logan Community Youth Response is modelled on the successful Townsville CYR and is one of five new CYRs to be delivered which includes Cairns, Ipswich, the broader Brisbane area and the Gold Coast,” he said.
“We know that the best results often come when the community takes ownership and leads solutions that respond to local needs, so I’m delighted our government is providing funding support to two local organisations who are already doing some fantastic work in Logan.”
Member for Waterford Shannon Fentiman said the Logan service would provide a combination of diversionary activities and intensive case management to support at-risk young people, divert them from offending and re-engage them in education, training and employment.
“We know that education and training is key to breaking the cycle,” she said.
“And providing these pathways to get into work will have life changing benefits.”
Minister Farmer said the government’s approach to Youth Justice initiatives was to use locally-based organisations and local solutions to engage with young people.
“For example we have identified the need in Logan to support young people at any time of the day so the CYR in Logan will include an out-of-hours mobile outreach service,” she said.
“The CYR is part of the historic $332.5 million investment in Youth Justice initiatives in Queensland which I announced recently.
“We want to change the story for our young people, which is why we are investing $1.26 million over the next four years for the Logan CYR.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service CEO Jody Currie said her organisation was looking forward to working with the young people in Logan.
“ATSICHS has a long record of supporting vulnerable youth and believes the new service will make a real difference in the lives of young people and their families, to be strong and proud,” Ms Currie said.
“I’m also looking forward to our partnership with the Logan Youth and Family Services where we will be able to bring our combined expertise in delivering the best possible outcomes.”
Logan CEO Cath Bartolo also welcomed the partnership with ATSICHS.
“Having two organisations collaborating to provide these services helps strengthens opportunities and results for the young people of Logan,” Ms Bartolo said.
“We will be able to provide a responsive service with intensive case management where we can work both directly with young people and their families to support individual needs.”
While in Logan, Ms Farmer also visited the Logan Supervised Community Accommodation service along with the Director-General of the new Department of Youth Justice Bob Gee.
