Mixed reaction to Queensland’s teen ‘boot camp’ plan

LETTERS: Queensland’s new youth boot camp program has drawn mixed reactions, with supporters praising its vision while some experts warn true intervention must start much earlier.

Generic exercise pic for Body & Soul feature

The Crisafulli government is to be commended for introducing the Regional Reset program (C-M, 28/7).

While the usual critics may criticise the program, thankfully at last the government is attacking the root cause of the crime wave attributed to dysfunctional and disengaged youth before they present to the courts.

While the “adult crime, adult time” approach to juvenile justice is yet to prove its ultimate worth, too often society’s response to crime has been more centred on punishment than addressing the underlying issues in the first place.

At least this program offers some hope.

While the program cannot hope to address or solve all the issues in these young people’s lives it will at least give them an experience of the vision of a possible better life rather than criminal recidivism.

The end result of the program is ultimately up to the individual, but with the right kind of programs and experiences, success with just a few individuals will be a resounding success for the program.

This initiative therefore deserves the public’s support and the usual critics should hold their criticism and at least give the program a fair go.

Geoff Roberts, Bethania

No one wants to see our young people go off the rails for whatever reason, be it mental health issues, drugs, involvement in crime or family issues.

So it is good to see the state government has a plan via the proposed Regional Reset program (boot camps).

As Premier David Crisafulli said: “The plan would give young people hope, structure, discipline and a sense of belonging to help turn their lives around.”

No doubt this proposal will be swamped by negative comments from the “do gooders”, and those who just have negative mindsets.

At least the government is having a go, and that’s to its credit

John Wilmot, Sherwood

Premier David Crisafulli says that new boot camp-style programs are an investment in early intervention.

They will target children at risk of offending, those disengaging from school or showing signs of aggression or substance abuse.

Apart from the problem of ensuring these children, who have not yet offended, attend the program, I would point out that this is not early intervention.

If the child is aggressive, disengaging from school, and starting to use drugs, they have probably been struggling with learning and behaviour for many years.

I have been working in the area of forensic psychology since 1991 and I have been seeing young offenders for more than 30 years.

They tend to have a common history and background of developmental trauma and learning difficulties, often associated with prenatal exposure to alcohol and other drugs.

Studies in the US, focused on young people exposed to alcohol in utero, have found that an early diagnosis and early support keep children with learning difficulties and traumatic backgrounds engaged in school.

Without that support they struggle to learn and struggle with social skills.

It is essential that these children are supported from Year 1 so that they can remain engaged with school rather than dropping out in Year 7 or 8 to “do crime”.

If they do not get the support from Year 1 they experience repeated failure and rejection.

Aggressive behaviour is a symptom of childhood depression and using alcohol and other drugs is strongly associated with depression.

Ongoing failure and rejection may well lead to anxiety and depression.

If Queensland is going to spend $560m on early intervention and rehabilitation one would hope that it will fund assessments for the six-year-olds who are showing signs of learning difficulties and behaviour problems.

They might need therapy for trauma or treatment for ADHD, speech and language therapy, or occupational therapy, or both.

By the time these children are 12 or 13 they have been struggling with their difficulties for so long that the secondary effects, such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse and aggressive behaviour, are now the presenting problem.

The mental health issues must be treated and the programs may not include the speech therapy, social skills training, or occupational therapy needed to address the original problems.

We need early intervention to address offending behaviour, but we must not see boot camp-type programs for those on the brink of offending as early intervention.

Dr Meg Perkins, Hastings Point, NSW

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WE ARE ALL AUSTRALIAN

Columnist Joe Hildebrand (C-M, 28/7) thinks it “passing strange” that elements of the Liberal Party appear keen to see an end to the now ubiquitous Welcome to Country ceremony.

On the contrary, I regard this willingness to preserve at least part of Peter Dutton’s legacy as a most encouraging development, and if, as Hildebrand suggests, the majority of Australians simply don’t care about this issue, then more fool them.

The subtext of this invented ritual (and the corollary of solemn acknowledgment of elders “past, present, and emerging”) now mandatory at all events larger than a backyard barbecue, is insidious.

It serves the primary purpose of reminding those unable to claim even some tenuous degree of Indigenous descent, of their permanent guest status in what they thought was their native land.

Whatever the past has been, we are all simply Australians now.

Terry Birchley, Bundaberg

Joe Hildebrand suggests our approach to the two controversial issues of Welcome to Country and net zero should be to just ignore them, and like an annoying itch they’ll somehow go away.

No, these are important issues.

Welcome to Country is arguably divisive, does nothing for social cohesion, has crept into schools, and is now all pervasive.

Net zero is inarguably economically damaging to our country for no climate gain, and thus a classic example of stupidity.

Unlike Hildebrand, if more people, especially politicians, took a stand on important issues such as these, Australia would be in a better place.

Garth Crichton, Chelmer

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Cocktails by the beach. Picture: istock

BEACHES BEST BAR NONE

Premier David Crisafulli has to be kidding (“Beach clubs a swell idea”, C-M, 26/7).

I do not agree with his contention that we are poorer for not having beach-based hospitality tents serving overpriced beers for the benefit of both the rich and famous as well as the average beachgoer.

Our pristine, natural beach environments are open spaces owned and treasured by us all.

They should not be made available to fee-paying hospitality companies intent on making an exaggerated income at the expense of free access to our business-free beaches.

I care not whether Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate supports the idea.

I care not that Tourism and Events Queensland supports the idea.

Our beaches have free, open access and should remain so.

You want a European-style beach experience then go to the Riviera.

This proposal is simply unAustralian and not acceptable.

Guy Jackson, Dugandan

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BEEF ON IMPORTED MEAT

It was a shock decision that American beef, some possibly sourced from Mexico and Canada, will soon be imported into Australia (C-M, 26/7).

Our effort to please US President Donald Trump and to gain some sort of concession over tariffs is cringeworthy and craven.

Surely we who produce some of the best beef in the entire world shouldn’t be forced into a position where we are compelled to buy foreign beef to maintain our independence and our sovereignty.

Merv C. Bartlett, Pallara

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Originally published as Mixed reaction to Queensland’s teen ‘boot camp’ plan