Street University co-founder Matt Noffs explains what the program will bring to Townsville

It’s one of the proposals at the heart of the state government’s response to youth crime in Townsville, but how will it work, and how soon will we see it in action? Get the answers here.

Matt Noffs, CEO of Ted Noffs Foundation and Co-Founder Street University, speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, on 'Our drug laws are hurting people and our leaders know it'.

The co-founder of an adolescent counselling service announced for Townsville in the state government’s recent youth justice reform package has said the program will deliver results within a year and a half of being established.

The Street University, an extensive program that has found success providing both drug and alcohol diversion and programs targeting at-risk youths, has found success in areas such as Southport, Logan and Sydney.

Co-founder Matt Noffs said he wasn’t made aware of the government’s plan to go ahead with bringing the program to Townsville until after media reports, but the timing wouldn’t impact the program’s efficacy.

“We don’t know enough details yet. I think you probably found out before I did,” Mr Noffs said.

“For some time the government has been trying to work out how to get a Street University up there.”

Matt Noffs, CEO of the Ted Noffs Foundation, in Sydney. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Mr Noffs said that discussion had been going on for ‘six or seven’ years before the announcement on Thursday, and that their services could be up and running by mid next year.

“The next stage is negotiating the what when and where it will be placed,” Mr Noffs said.

“Once those things are established, it doesn’t take us very long to get it up and running. If I was going to give an approximate time, I’d be hoping that we’d be open and ready to rock and roll by July at the latest.

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper at the Willows Sports Complex. Picture: Evan Morgan

“There is no silver bullet and it’s not something where we’re going to click our fingers and fix it tomorrow, but we’re absolutely going to reduce it and I believe within the next year and a half.”

Mr Noffs said the program would be proactive in reaching out to the youths most in need of counselling and rehabilitation.

“If you only have a set of counsellors kind of sitting behind a desk waiting for the kids who are offending the most to walk in, just forget it, they’re not going to do it,” Mr Noffs said.

“The only way you’re going to get them to come in is when the police pick them up and by then it’s too late.

“If we provide them with things that they want be doing, we can then get them into those traditional diversion programs before they get picked up.”

The program provides a number of outlets, including musical, dance and live performance production classes as well as skills training and other creative outlets.

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said the program would function as an ‘early intervention’ to prevent young offenders.

“I’m not saying it’s a panacea, or it’s the one thing that will fix it. It’s another string in the bow of early intervention programs to stop people ending up in jail all of their young or adult lives,” Mr Harper said.

Originally published as Street University co-founder Matt Noffs explains what the program will bring to Townsville