Cairns youth crime: Justice Stanley Jones’ mental health plan with research by Professor Frank Oberklaid

A retired Cairns judge is railing against the ‘lock ‘em up’ attitude to the juvenile crime wave, saying the battle can only be won in the first few years of life. SEE WHAT HIS ACTION PLAN IS

A RETIRED Cairns judge has called on the state government to implement a program which focuses on mental health from a young age to combat youth crime, a strategy the Victorian government has already poured $200m into.

Justice Stanley Jones AO said the lack of awareness over mental health from a young age was a factor driving youth crime in the Far North which is set to break an all-time stolen car record by the end of the week. The previous record was 782 in 2021 but as of Monday 773 had been stolen already this year.

“My view is there should be public awareness of the importance of the first three years of a child’s life,” he said.

“People don’t understand what is happening in the baby’s head in that time and they should because that’s when the vital connections are being made.

“The brain does the most growing in the first three years.”

Justice Jones said the strategy highlights how important it is to promote mental health and wellbeing in routine parenting because the earlier the child is influenced the easier it is to help.

“The main issue is what happens in the early years of the child’s life. So you get some kids if they are badly treated, they suffer adverse childhood experiences and can end up on the lower trajectory,” he said.

“You can deal with this by spending money in the later years but that is very expensive and not likely to be successful.

“If you spend money in the earlier days there is a high success rate.”

Justice Jones has organised Professor Frank Oberklaid to discuss the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy in Cairns next week.

The report shows an estimated 50 per cent of adult mental illness begins before someone is 14-year-old.

The strategy goes through four focus areas – the family and community, the service system, education settings, evidence and evaluation.

Professor Frank Oberklaid has started research to focus on four key areas.

The Victorian government has already invested in $200m which will expand mental health services at 1800 government and low-fee-non government schools.

The funding will also be used for a pilot program which will have a mental health and wellbeing leader at 100 Victorian schools.

Justice Jones said the recommendations surround what could be done to incorporate wellbeing and mental health programs.

“The teachers are really in the best position to know whether a child is struggling or coping, we need to empower the teachers but they are overworked already and there are less people going into the profession,” he said.

“Teachers need to be supported by psychologists, occupational therapists and they’re nowhere to be seen.”

Prof Oberklaid will discuss the issue with police and Cairns councillors on Thursday morning before holding a free community event on the same day.

It will be held at Cairns Regional Council chambers from 4.30pm-6.30pm on Thursday, August 11.

Originally published as Cairns youth crime: Justice Stanley Jones’ mental health plan with research by Professor Frank Oberklaid