Toowoomba young persons charity Emerge founder hits back at ‘terrifying’ youth crime discourse, argues for better support

With the State Government preparing to introducing even stricter measures in a bid to combat youth crime, a Toowoomba youth charity says the answer to the problem is not locking kids up.

Jen Shaw, Emerge cafe.

A leading Toowoomba charity that works with disadvantaged young people to give them skills and better outcomes has responded to calls for tougher laws against criminal youths, calling some of the public discourse “terrifying”.

Emerge founder Jen Shaw took to the social media to explain how her organisation had turned around the lives of hundreds of youths by simply giving them job opportunities, emotional support and a sense of belonging.

“It’s been hard to witness to some of the commentary about the young people we work with every day and what should happen to them,” Ms Shaw wrote in a Facebook post, which has now been viewed by thousands of people.

It comes after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the State Government would introduce even tougher measures for repeat youth offenders, following a series of high-profile cases that lead to the deaths of multiple people.

“Hard to understand that some adults have some pretty terrifying intentions for children.

“We don’t excuse bad behaviour but we know the kids we work with have often been let down, kicked out, told they aren’t good enough and after a long enough time naturally start believing it and react accordingly.”

Ms Shaw said she saw youth crime as a symptom of wider societal issues, and that teenagers could be turned around with the right support.

“It might interest you to know my vision for Emerge started about 13 years ago to create an alternative to youth detention and it’s a huge personal passion for me, to help create a new approach to crime diversion and rehabilitation,” she said.

“I see youth crime as a symptom of both trauma in some form for a child and an incredibly broken system that fails to support kids the in a way they need it.

“We’ve sat in watch houses, detention centres, parks, in gutters with kids who’ve all shared with us the same message in one way or another — they want a better life.

“We know that for the most part, what we do down there in Station St, the platform we give our kids, the empowerment to change it around, the patience we give for them works.”

Ms Shaw urged residents to get behind organisations who looked to turn around disadvantaged young people, including the Emerge Cafe on Station St in the CBD.

Originally published as Toowoomba young persons charity Emerge founder hits back at ‘terrifying’ youth crime discourse, argues for better support