Men of Business Academy expands with government crime prevention funding

The Queensland government has announced $50m worth of finding for crime prevention schools across Queensland, and the Gold Coast is leading the charge.

Member for Currumbin, Laura Gerber and Men of Business founder, Marco Renai. The Gold Coast's Men of Business Academy will receive $10m over the next five years as part of the LNP's promise of Crime Prevention Schools. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

In an early budget announcement, the Queensland LNP government has revealed it will invest $50m over five years in “crime prevention schools” across the state.

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said the government had budgeted the money to be shared between four education facilities specifically for disengaged or high-risk youths.

“We’ve done tough new laws … but they have to come hand-in-hand with early intervention and crime prevention,” Ms Gerber said.

“We know that a third of youths aged 14 and under who have committed proven offences over the last five years, they fell through the cracks from primary school to high school.”

Men of Business Academy students Jye Prendergast, Cooper Hutton, Raureti Morrell, and Jye Prendergast, with MOB founder Marco Renai and Member for Currumbin, Laura Gerber. The Gold Coast's Men of Business Academy will receive $10m over the next five years as part of the LNP's promise of Crime Prevention Schools. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

The Men of Business (MOB) Academy on the Gold Coast will receive $10m of the $50m package over the next five years, which will allow it to expand its program from year 11 and 12 to year 7 through to year 12.

“This funding will allow these schools to re-engage kids from a much earlier age from grade seven onwards,” Ms Gerber said.

“We know that those 12-year-olds sometimes really struggle in mainstream schooling, we know that mainstream schooling isn’t for every kid.

“Schools like MOB provide some hope, they prove some pathway out of a life of crime.

“The whole idea of these schools is that they re-engage kids into education and that they help kids along that pathway of hope so that they can graduate, either have a job, or go onto tertiary education.”

Marco Renai founded MOB on the Gold Coast 15 years ago and since that time the program has grown from eight students to hundreds of alumni.

“Our mission has always been to guide young men towards a path of purpose and success,” Mr Renai said.

Left to right: Member for Currumbin, Laura Gerber, Logan Te Paa, Copper Hutton, Raureti Morrel, Jye Prendergast. The Gold Coast's Men of Business Academy will receive $10m over the next five years as part of the LNP's promise of Crime Prevention Schools. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

“With this new funding, we can expand our programs to reach students at an even earlier age, providing them with the tools, mentorship, and support they need to build strong foundations for the future.

“Early intervention changes lives – with the right tools and support, we can help them step confidently into a brighter future.”

The three other crime prevention schools to share in the remaining $40m will be in Ipswich, Townsville and Rockhampton, though unlike MOB, they do not exist yet.

Ms Gerber said the funding would be used to establish the schools in those areas.

“The Gold Coast is vastly different to Townsville and Ipswich again is different to Rockhampton, so going to market is really important, seeing what those providers in that local market can provide in those areas is really important,” Ms Gerber said.

Originally published as Men of Business Academy expands with government crime prevention funding