The Queensland Government has pledged $7 million dollars in funding over the next five years to focus on tackling the complex causes of youth crime and support community safety.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says a wide range of diversionary programs will help tackle youth offending, including a new Youth Co-Responder Team in Mount Isa, enhanced bail monitoring, and a Safer Homes trial to help seniors upgrade the security of their homes.
“While we’ve seen a fall in youth crime in Mount Isa, we continue to see a small group of serious repeat offenders who continue to offend,” said Ms Palaszczuk.
“These young people have a range of complex issues such as drug and alcohol use, poor mental health, disability, and childhood trauma.
“We know that intervening early to break the cycle of disadvantage and youth offending is critical, and our investment in early intervention programs are important in doing that.”
Mount Isa is adopting the Stronger Communities Early Action Group model, a whole-of-community approach that the Premier says has shown promising results in addressing youth crime in Townsville.
Local leader, Alan Baillie has been appointed as Community Coordinator to drive coordinated service delivery and planning within the Mount Isa community.
Mr Baillie has worked extensively in the education and community sectors in regional areas of Queensland and the Northern Territory, delivering for rural and remote communities.
This revamped project will ensure that services and initiatives in Mount Isa address the complex issues behind young offending.
“Mr Baillie has a deep appreciation and understanding of the unique strengths and challenges of communities such as Mount Isa when it comes to service delivery,” said Minister for Youth Justice, Di Farmer.
“The work Mr Baillie will be leading in Mount Isa will help to break the cycle for young repeat offenders, as well as increasing community safety and wellbeing for the broader community.”
