Everything Suarve in Ormeau offers program to help address youth crime issues plaguing the Gold Coast and smash stigmas

He was living rough on Gold Coast streets at just 11, stealing cars and taking drugs, now he's 18 and back on track. FIND OUT WHO SAVED HIM FROM JAIL

AT just 11 years of age Kaiden Martin-Fierro was living rough on the streets, doing what he had to to survive.

“I was involved with a lot of crime and bad people, I was stealing cars and getting into drugs and involved in the court system,” said the now 18-year-old Southport youth.

“Most of society doesn’t think we can change our ways or even care about us, well except for the guys at Esuarve (Everything Suarve).

“Before I started their program I only saw drugs and jail but after the court referred me to the guys I can see a different future.

“I can go somewhere, I can get a job, I now have people that care about me. Every day I wake up with a smile on my face.”

Joseph Te Puni-Fromont, left, with student Kaiden Martin-Fierro and Steve Henry, right, at their premises in Ormeau. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Kaiden is one of 10 graduates of an ambitious new program being offered in Ormeau to help address youth crime issues plaguing the Gold Coast and smash stigmas often placed on First Nations Peoples, reformed prisoners and troubled youths.

With a focus on mental health and wellbeing, hands-on learning and a focus on language, literacy and numeracy, the 80-hour program gets graduates to an entry-level for construction jobs.

Participants must do 280 practical hours, making cubby homes for women’s shelters and refurbished shipping containers for emergency housing and the homeless.

But what lies at the heart of the successful program is the passion and belief system of directors Joe Te Puni-Fromont and Daniel Grace and youth worker Steve Henry.

All of whom have lived experience growing up disadvantaged or having drug or alcohol abuse struggles.

“We want the people that are put into the too hard basket,” said Mr Te Puni-Fromont.

Kaiden, who has never dared to dream of a future outside of jail, now dreams of becoming a plant biologist after he’s finished his construction course and worked as a landscaper for a few years. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“What makes us very unique is that we have lived their lives, their stories while unique are not strange to us. So we know exactly where they have been and what they need.”

Start-up funding came from Todd Pepper, of Alceon Qld, but the non-profit business is struggling financially because it’s not entitled to government funding until it has been registered for two years. Money to feed and clothe the kids and get them public transport comes from the directors’ pockets.

“I grew up disadvantaged, have been through a lot of what these kids have, particularly in regards to drug and alcohol abuse,” said Mr Te Puni-Fromont.

“I lost six mates between the ages of 14 and 18 and I do a lot of this for them.

“If we had this sort of support back when we were younger I know things would have been different. We’re essentially giving kids a chance to break the cycle, just by showing up and listening to them. These kids fill my life every single day.”

Joseph Te Puni-Fromont, left, and Steve Henry, right, at their premises in Ormeau. Picture: Tertius Pickard

After completion of the Big Brother Program, offered through registered training organisation BSI Learning, Esuarve Contractors takes on the youths as trainees or apprentices that aren’t chosen by other construction companies.

Other partners include Pipe & Civil, Asset Builders and Bunnings, with Mr Te Puni-Fromont keen for other Gold Coast companies to partner with Everything Suarve.

“We help these kids turn a corner in their lives and we’re hoping there’s people like us out there who know the importance of giving troubled youths a hand up and the opportunity to become all they want to be,” he said.

Kaiden, who has never dared to dream of a future outside of jail, now dreams of becoming a plant biologist after he’s finished his construction course and worked as a landscaper for a few years.

“That’s what the boys have shown me, that you can do what you want to do in life, even if you’re not smart enough at this point in time, one day you can be,” he said.

“I truly believe this course will stop kids like me from reoffending.”

Joseph Te Puni-Fromont, left, with student Kaiden Martin-Fierro and Steve Henry, right, at their premises in Ormeau. Picture: Tertius Pickard

On Saturday December 11 a fundraiser and graduation ceremony is being held at 27/27 Motorway Circuit, Ormeay from 4-7pm with raffles tickets, barbecue, live music, auctions and giveaways.

Money raised will go towards buying a transportation van, food, go cards, PPE equipment and ongoing running costs. To find out more on how you can help, visit esuarve.com.au or call 0424 384 677.

PROJECT BOOYAH  DOING "EXCELLENT WORK" IN HELPING AT-RISK YOUTH

June 6, 2020 - written by Chris McMahon

TEENAGE criminals are swarming like “locusts on a field” breaking into homes and stealing cars in one suburb, before moving on to the next, according to the Coast’s police union rep.

Several Gold Coast police sources have backed up South East Police Region Union rep Andy Williams, saying they are dealing with the same group of teens time and time again.

The strict coronavirus restrictions don’t appear to have stopped criminals wreaking havoc across the Coast, with break and enters and cars being stolen at alarming rates.

Police data shows there has been 599 reported car stealing offences across the Coast since March 2. That is more than six offences every day.

There were 1153 charges relating to home break-ins for the corresponding period.

Police say they’re dealing with the same group of teens over and over.

An officer told the Bulletin they could chalk up a number of those offences to the same core group of teens, who appear to have a get-out-of-jail-free card at Southport Magistrate Court.

“I’m not sure what it’s going to take, do we need a police officer getting seriously hurt by one of these idiots before action is taken in the courts?” they said.

“If it was an adult doing these offences, they would be locked up. Not these kids, they get the get out of jail free card. It’s a joke.

“They’re getting younger and younger. A 12-year-old is part of this group and he laughs in our face when we arrest him.

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“He knows he’ll walk, or if he does time in juvie, it’s easy and he’ll be back out in a few months, doing the same thing again.”

South East Police Region Union rep Andy Williams wrote in the January/February Union Journal of a growing chorus of frustration from officers over juvenile crime.

“As I visit stations in the southeast I find I am regularly talking to members who are frustrated by juveniles, be it the frontline police who have to deal with the crime, the people in watch houses who have to provide a safe place for guests who are far more demanding than their adult peers, or the members in scenes of crime who have a massive backlog of located stolen vehicles and other scenes requiring examination (on top of the calls to wounding and other serious crimes that require immediate attention),” he wrote.

Criminals across the Coast are stealing cars and breaking into homes.

“There are very few members who are not impacted by the impost of out of control juveniles. “Project Booyah is doing excellent work in helping at-risk youth, but we can’t keep transferring frontline police positions to do the work of other Government departments.”

He said more needed to be done by the Government to focus on the 15 per cent of young offenders committing 90 per cent of the crime.

“My last article attracted comment in the media, and I noted with interest that the QPS put out a statement stating that 85 per cent of offenders cautioned never reoffend. I am not talking about the kid caught taking a Mars Bar who is reduced to tears in a caution.

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“What about the other 15 per cent? As I go about the region I see the same names, the same photos. I would say these 15 per cent are responsible for 90 per cent of youth crime.

“These are the young people who get into a group and swarm on an area like locusts on a field. They cause a massive spike in crime, then move up or down the Brisbane to Broadbeach line to do it all again. Where are the Government projects for these kids?”