Thrive and Connect awarded funding for early intervention under Kickstarter grant

A Far North adventure-based service has been tasked with mentoring the region’s at-risk kids under the state government’s early intervention schemes. How they’ll do it.

A Far North adventure-based youth service has been tasked with mentoring and rehabilitating the region’s at-risk kids under the state government’s early intervention schemes.

Thrive and Connect has received $290,000 from the LNP’s Kickstarter Grants program – a fund aimed at helping launch new intervention models.

The Thrive Guiding program will support youth aged 14-16 in the Cairns region over 13 months, with four 10-week intensive sessions featuring activities including cooking, sport, cultural engagement, one-on-one mentoring and team building exercises.

The program will use the state government’s purpose built, 80ha outdoor adventure property called The Northern Outlook to deliver the programs at Redlynch.

Cairns youth service organisation Thrive and Connect will receive $290,000 from the LNP Government's Kickstarter program to deliver early intervention for at-risk youths. Program facilitators Thomas Churchwood and Thuralea Sammons with Barron River MP Bree James and Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber at the department's Northern Outlook facility at Redlynch.

Thrive and Connect Co-Founder Jason Tom said the organisation had been working with volunteer mentors through community organisations such as sporting clubs to identify and help regulate at-risk youths.

But the funding would help Thrive and Connect enlist more mentors and deliver a more “streamlined” program.

“Moving forward with this announcement, we get to really strengthen those referral partnerships with education and early action groups,” MrTom said.

Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber said the KPIs for recipients of the Kickstarter grant to earn ongoing funding included needing to prove the kids were 100 per cent engaged in their program, attending school and not committing crime.

Barron River MP Bree James said she was expecting positive impacts from the program.

“Giving our youth the opportunity to engage in programs that provide structure, discipline and foster a sense of community, particularly through sport, is a great way to help them make positive choices,” Ms James said.

Originally published as Thrive and Connect awarded funding for early intervention under Kickstarter grant