Kokoda Youth Foundation tapped to host first of LNP’s Regional Reset programs

Making good on an election promise, the State Government estimates that 600 at-risk teens from across the Darling Downs, Lockyer and Ipswich will take part in these boot camps in the hope that they will be turned away from a live of crime.

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support, Laura Gerber announding that Kokoda Youth Foundation in the Lockyer Valley will deleiver the first Regional Reset Program for at-risk teens. Photo: Supplied

The Lockyer Valley will host the first of the Queensland Government’s highly anticipated Regional Reset Programs, putting distance between teens and the problematic social groups leading them into a life of crime.

Over the next 12 months the Kokoda Youth Foundation at Thornton will take in an estimated 600 teens from across the Darling Downs, Lockyer Valley and Ipswich.

The teens will stay at the centre over three camps where they will wake up early each morning, eat breakfast, go for a bushwalk before spending the day engaged in education and cognitive behavioural therapies.

They will also take part in outdoor, boot camp adventure challenges designed to build resilience.

In between the camps, the teens and their families will be supported at home with mentorship and case management.

All of this will be run by Kokoda Youth Foundation staff, who have for the past two decades supported at-risk teens.

Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber said the aim was to turn teens around before they enter the justice system.

“The youth will get referrals from police, from schools, from parents and even community-led organisations,” she said.

“That youth may have had contact with police already and that might mean that they are still appropriate for this Regional Reset course.

“We’re not talking about kids that should be in detention.”

The announcement makes good on one of the LNP’s core 2024 election promises, to roll out proven early intervention to divert children away from crime, substance abuse and anti-social behaviour.

Contract negotiations are under way to fund another eight organisations that will run Regional Reset programs across the state, at the cost of about $50m.

The State Government has a tough road ahead.

While the number of young people sentenced in our Queensland courts has been steadily declining after a spike of 3827 in 2021, there is still too many young people falling foul of the law.

A core cohort of repeat offenders, about 460, continue to commit the bulk of the offences.

While the Kokoda program is not designed to target that hardened group, it does take aim at the young people who hang on the periphery of it and might find themselves a passenger in a stolen car.

Ms Gerber said building resilience was the key to reducing the youth crime rate.

“This is Kokoda’s bread and butter,” she said

“They worked with these kids on the choices they might make to give up and they build resilience in young people so that when they get to that crossroad, they’re able to make better choices.

“If a child has just completed a 38 km hike, they are able to say no to their friendship circle when they’re asked to go steal a car.”

Originally published as Kokoda Youth Foundation tapped to host first of LNP’s Regional Reset programs