Esuarve founder Joseph Te Puni-Fromont appeals for help from community after being told lease will not be renewed

A charity achieving astonishing results steering troubled young people away from crime has been given devastating news that threatens to leave it without a base to operate from. Full details.

The founder of a charity with an extraordinary success rate turning troubled young people away from crime is appealing for help finding a new premises because their lease is not being renewed.

Joseph Te Puni-Fromont said Esuarve, run from a small warehouse in an Ormeau complex, has helped 142 young people aged 15 to 24 in three years. Of those, only two have reoffended, while 90 per cent have gained employment.

The program was last month named Community Training Initiative of the Year for the South East Region at the Queensland Training Awards.

But the charity faces being without a premises to operate from when their lease expires on October 1, with Mr Te Puni-Fromont saying they are being forced to move on due to objections from some nearby businesses which had been relayed to the complex’s body corporate.

“It’s up in just over a month. We’ve been here three years but they’re not allowing us to renew our lease.”

Esuarve founder Joseph Te Puni-Fromont with facilitators Steve Henry and Jeremy Rodgers at their Ormeau base. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Mr Te Puni-Fromont said the charity had faced similar problems when first established three years ago before a last-minute breakthrough secured its current home.

“When I first started the first program, there were five different warehouses that pulled out on me once they found out what we were doing,” he said.

“At 3.30 on a Friday afternoon, we had this final place pull out on us. And we had the program starting on Monday. I was in tears going, what the f*** else do we have to do?

“I got on Facebook, this ad popped up, rung this lady up and the lady said, ‘yes I’ve got a warehouse for you’. The next day I signed the lease and we started on (a) Monday here.

“Something always happens because of the good karma we put out there.”

Esuarve runs 10-week programs for young people referred to it by agencies including the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and residential care services.

The programs help the young people address mental health issues caused by trauma in their lives, understand consequences of poor choices, and learn skills which gain them employment.

Most recently, youths in the program working towards their Cert 1 in construction built a ‘tiny house’ – providing a building that could put a roof over a family’s head.

Esuarve founder Joseph Te Puni-Fromont at a meditation session for participants of the Esuarve program in Ormeau. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Mr Te Puni-Fromont said he now hoped to find some land where the charity could continue running its programs to help troubled young people in a safe environment which would not attract complaints.

“The ultimate vision with Esuarve is to have a retreat-style property,” he said.

“We’re trying to create a whole wraparound service here at Esuarve so any kid that comes into this program, we can help them get back on their feet.

“So we’re looking for a bit of land. We’re talking land away, sort of, not around other properties. We’re talking land maybe 20 minutes inland.

“(Because people) will absolutely complain. That’s why we’re getting moved out of here.”

Mr Te Puni-Fromont said Esuarve had received significant support from local businesses and politicians, including Mayor Tom Tate and Division 1 Councillor Mark Hammell, trying to find new premises.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Aubort, Officer in Charge of the Gold Coast District Child Protection and Investigation Unit. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Aubort, Officer in Charge of the Gold Coast District Child Protection and Investigation Unit, said the charity was achieving remarkable results, even with young people at the “high end” of the offending spectrum.

“Gold Coast Police have been working with the ‘Everything Suarve’ youth program since 2021, collaborating to engage youth within - or at risk of entering - the criminal justice system,” he said.

“We saw enormous potential with the program and its ethos around reconnecting youth from trauma-based backgrounds to a sense of purpose, belonging and community.

“The positive role modelling by the team coupled with training in the construction industry, team challenges and bonding exercises has seen an extraordinary rate of retention and engagement whilst also addressing other causal factors such as substance misuse and peer influence.

“To date, Gold Coast police have supported eight programs involving 69 participants sponsored by the Gold Coast Community Based Crime Action Committee (CBCAC).

“Esuarve data shows these referrals have seen a significantly high completion rate; as of July 2023, 86 per cent of participants completed the program and 95 per cent gained employment or returned to school.

“These results are beyond expectations given some of these kids were recidivist offenders. The

change in some is nothing short of extraordinary.”

>>> For more details about Esuarve, or to make a donation or offer help, please visit esuarve.com.au

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Originally published as Esuarve founder Joseph Te Puni-Fromont appeals for help from community after being told lease will not be renewed