Cairns youth crime: Professor Frank Oberklaid’s solution to fixing stolen car problem with mental health

A child health expert said he knows the way out of the current youth crime wave with data revealing exactly where the Far North needs to start. How his strategy would work.

A CHILD health expert has called youth crime actions “almost predictable” and says an emphasis needs to be put on supporting families for Cairns’ skyrocketing rates to change.

On Thursday, Cairns hit a stolen car rate of 782 vehicles which equalled a previous annual record set in 2021.

Professor Frank Oberklaid, who will visit the region this week, has co-written the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy with an emphasis on the first three years of life.

He said children were already doomed if they didn’t have support from a young age.

“What we need to be doing is making sure the supports are put into place from the moment a child is born,” he said.

Professor Frank Oberklaid is group leader population health at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Picture: Supplied

“My message is that so many of these issues we see in young people is almost predictable.

“What I am saying is, the problems are identifiable way before. The risk factors can be identified early on even before they get to school and we should be interfering there

“Kids growing up in environments at home that’s not stimulating is a factor. When they don’t go to childcare, many of them start school already in trouble, falling behind quickly.”

Prof Oberklaid, who is based in Victoria. said where parents were supported to deal with the issues, children had a higher chance.

“Where there are stresses in the family, financial stresses or parents have a history of not being well parented, where there is child protection issues, family violence. It starts there,” he said.

“Every family wants to do the right thing for the kids, some families are challenged in doing that.

“We need to invest in supporting those families early on so kids grow up in a good environment.”

Prof Oberklaid said this was where we needed strong political leadership.

“To my mind, it’s untenable to continue business as usual to wait until these kids get in trouble with police,” he said.

On Thursday he has a meeting with council and police.

“I would like police to advocate for doing it differently, it’s so difficult for police,” he said.

“It’s an impossible, challenging task no matter how many police you’ve got on.

“We really do need communities and governments to come together to figure out solutions.”

Division 5 councillor Amy Eden said she agreed with the importance of working with kids in the early years.

“I would encourage anyone and everyone from teachers to mums and dads to childcare workers to get familiar with it and start asking questions,” she said.

“It’s a slow burn. It’s a generational intervention, we didn’t get here in the last week. This has also been a slow burn with our crime rate, stolen vehicles.”

Cr Eden said it might take some time.

“This intervention or this thinking is not a silver bullet, there is no silver bullet, there has to be a range of interventions,” she said.

“It’s about collaborating, co-ordinating and communicating.”

Cr Eden said it had already started but co-operation from all parties was integral.

“I see Cairns Regional Council with our community safety plan, I see that as collaborating with police, service providers and communities,” he said.

A free community event will be held at Cairns Regional Council chambers from 4.30pm-6.30pm on Thursday, August 11.

Originally published as Cairns youth crime: Professor Frank Oberklaid’s solution to fixing stolen car problem with mental health