Qld youth crime plan to send offenders to work: What you said

A new plan to halt youth crime across Queensland has been met with divided opinion. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Kids at risk of committing crimes will be trained in business, retail and hospitality in a bid to keep them from being lured into the criminal world.

The state government will hand over $40 million to provide skills and training with a key focus on youths at-risk of offending as a proposed solution to Queensland’s juvenile crime epidemic.

The plan immediately divided opinion for readers - vote below and join the conversation >>>

A number of Queenslanders will be given access to boost their employment prospects but the initiative specifically targets young people no longer enrolled in school, transitioning from out of home care or already engaged in youth justice services.

Employment Minister Di Farmer said the program would be available to 15,000 disadvantaged jobseekers in the coming year, offering qualifications in areas including business, retail, construction, hospitality.

Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer. Picture: Steve Pohlner

It will also help with basic education such as literacy, numeracy and digital skills.

“This is an example of early intervention that can help keep a young person on the path to holding down a job and contributing in a positive way to the community,” Ms Farmer said, who also serves as Youth Justice Minister.

“This jobs initiative funds skills development, training and job opportunities that help at-risk young people, the unemployed, disengaged, or disadvantaged Queenslanders.

“Giving young people access to important skills training like this helps ensure they can be productive members of communities.”

The program will also provide support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disability, mature-age job seekers, women re-entering the workforce, recently released prisoners, veterans and ex-service personnel.

It is a continuation of a government scheme, skilling Queenslanders for work, but Ms Farmer said this year’s edition focused on children engaged with youth justice services, corrective services, police or are deemed at-risk of committing crimes.

She said the program had so far helped more than 50,400 people find work.

“We know this initiative is helping Queenslanders as 76 per cent of participants are in work or further training 12 months after exiting a skilling Queenslanders for work program,” Ms Farmer said.

Training organisation, Career Employment Australia, is one of a number of organisations to be given funding to participate in the program, along with yourtown and Reclink Australia.

“Our partnership with the skilling Queenslanders for work program has enabled us to witness first-hand the life-changing impact of community-driven training initiatives,” he said.

“By equipping unemployed and disadvantaged individuals with valuable skills, we’re not only fostering economic growth but also empowering communities to thrive.”

WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE PLAN

Dave

Our education system has failed these kids, so what makes this idea think that these kids will be willing to try to change their ways? While there are no consequences, they won’t be taking the opportunities offered just like they didn’t and haven’t taken to wearing the tracking braclets. Another day, just another Labor CON that is destined to fail yet again because of their Soft on Crime Approach to Law and Order.

Z1R

If this is such an innovative idea why has it taken 8 years & several ministers in this portfolio to come up with?

Sophie

The best that can be said about this initiative is that at least it’s better than any solution Crisafulli has come up with. It would have to be as the best Crisafulli has had to offer is, “This can’t go on!”

Richardf

these kids from the courthouse should go straight to a boot camp or similar where they have to work for a month doing heavy work, not letting them sit in a prison cell or worse let out on bail. perhaps get the army to advise on how to set up these work programmes. Jail does not deter the kids but hard work may.

Virgil Trucks

There is a part of a sentence missing ...all behind prison walls. They are kidding themselves.

Lock them up

AM

What rot this is, kids of today don’t want to work as they have been handed everything on a plate with people getting certificates just for turning up. Time to stop this rubbish and get back to real discipline not this touch]y feely nonsense we have had to endure. Make people, both the young and their parents responsible for the damage they incur through their crime sprees with the costs passed onto both.

Originally published as Qld youth crime plan to send offenders to work: What you said