Two new youth crime initiatives to target Gold Coast

The Queensland Government has announced two new early intervention programs for the Gold Coast in a bid to divert young people from crime by empowering them to stay engaged in education and develop life skills.

The programs will be delivered with Kickstarter funding as part of the CGovernment’s $115 million investment in Gold Standard Early Intervention.

The two new programs for the Gold Coast are: 

• Fight 4 Youth will deliver an early intervention program for youth aged 8-17, teaching emotional regulation, decision-making skills and resilience, addressing peer pressure, substance use and fostering positive community engagement. 

• The Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast will deliver an updated Holding Hope, Creating Change program targeting young people aged 8-12 years displaying antisocial behaviour. The program uses a whole-of-family approach, with specialised practitioners providing case management, safety planning, and domestic violence education. 

“Early intervention can help make the Gold Coast safer by diverting youth away from crime and we are delivering new programs to help end Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis,” said Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support, Laura Gerber.

“It’s through Adult Crime, Adult Time, more police, better rehabilitation and Gold Standard Early Intervention we can turn the tide on Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis and the former Government’s decade of decline.

“There’s plenty of work to do, and while we’re seeing crime and victim numbers down, the Crisafulli Government will leave no stone unturned to make Queensland safer and deliver the fresh start we promised.”

Member for Southport, Rob Molhoek welcomed the funding for the Gold Coast.   

“By addressing antisocial behaviours early and supporting families at risk, we can change the trajectory of our young people before they reach a crisis point,” he said.