‘Perseverance’: New initiative to help tackle Toowoomba youth crime

As police continue to search for the offenders who allegedly attacked a 68-year-old man in his Rockville home, the state government has launched a new initiative in Toowoomba with the aim to reduce reoffending.

Days after a 68-year-old Rockville man was violently attacked by two offenders in his home, the Queensland Government has announced it will deliver almost $2 million in a bid to keep the community safe.

CatholicCare Toowoomba will receive $1.94 million over the course of two years to run the Intensive Bail Initiative, designed to address the complexities of youth crime.

The service will help support young offenders to comply with their bail conditions, case work for families and follow-up referrals from the youth justice co-responder team.

Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer announces $2 million in funding for CatholicCare to continue intensive programs for youth offenders on bail. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Minister for Youth Justice Di Farmer said the initiative, which has already been running in Townsville, Caboolture, North Brisbane, Logan and the Gold Coast, has been successful.

“This is for serious repeat offenders who are on bail – we know the young people in this category have been exposed to a range of complex issues such as mental health, poverty, homelessness, domestic violence and substance abuse,” she said.

“If you have committed a serious offence then you will be detained, but we want to see these young people not coming back into the system.”

Since the initiative was first established, it has already provided services to 19 young people and their families.

The announcement comes just days after a 68-year-old man was left seriously injured after he was attacked in his Rockville home in the early hours of Wednesday.

It is understood the man was in the process of preparing breakfast just after 6am, when he was alerted to a disturbance in another part of the house.

The man sustained deep lacerations to both of his arms and chest after he was attacked with a long-bladed weapon and required surgery for his injuries.

Detectives established a crime scene at a Rockville home after offenders attacked a man at his home with a tomahawk on Wednesday.

Darling Downs Police have since launched a manhunt for the two alleged male offenders and were aware of their identities.

Acting Superintendent Scott Stahlhut described the offending as “abhorrent” and said police were doing everything in their power to find the offenders.

“Ultimately, we want these people to change their views and change their attitudes (and) if that influence can be provided through these wraparound, collaborative programs, we might have some success,” he said.

“Hopefully these people may change their ways, end up being role models and talk about the errors of their ways, but that doesn’t excuse what’s happened.

“I can reassure the public we will continue to do everything we can to ensure these offenders are brought to justice.”

The Acting Superintendent said while the nature of the attack was particularly concerning, there had otherwise been a reduction of crimes in the area in the past two months.

“It’s a slow burn (as) some of the people we are working with here have some significant challenges in their lives,” he said.

“It won’t happen overnight, but perseverance is showing results.”

Talking youth crime issues are (from left) CatholicCare youth and counselling team leader Leah Millward, Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer and Acting Superintendent Scott Stahlhut after the Queensland government announce $2 million in funding for CatholicCare to continue intensive programs for youth offenders on bail. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Ms Farmer said the incident was “absolutely horrific” and she understood why the community was upset.

“Those sorts of stories just make me even more determined as a minister to be sure we’re doing the things that actually work,” she said.

“We know youth crime has been a really big concern for the community here, which is why we’ve put in the programs that we know work.

“That’s my commitment and the commitment of my department to communities like Toowoomba, but also across Queensland – that we’re going to do the things that work and that’s why we’re evaluating every program.”

The new initiative will be used in conjunction with the Youth Co-responder program which launched in Toowoomba in May, to prevent high-risk reoffending.

It includes the incorporation of five co-responder teams of police officers and youth justice case workers, who are patrolling the streets 24/7 and have since engaged with more than 1200 young people.

Meanwhile the Intensive Case Management program which was introduced to the Darling Downs in June, has resulted in more than a 50 per cent reduction in the frequency of reoffending.

Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer listens as Acting Superintendent Scott Stahlhut addresses media after the Queensland government announce $2 million in funding for CatholicCare to continue intensive programs for youth offenders on bail. Picture: Kevin Farmer

CatholicCare Toowoomba executive director Kate Venables said the additional funding would provide further opportunities to support and create positive changes in the lives of young people.

“Over the past four and half years, we have operated bail support services in Toowoomba and the remote south west,” she said.

“I’m pleased to say 95 per cent of the young people we have worked with over time have demonstrated a positive change in education, employment, cultural connectivity, general health and substance use.

“By continuing our collaborative relationships, we are ensuring the needs of families and young people remain central to everything we do.”

CatholicCare youth and counselling team leader Leah Millward said since launching the program in July, the organisation had doubled staff working on the ground.

She said in addition to the youth justice and co-responder teams, the organisation had also been able to work closely with local organisations including Adapt Mentorship, RAWR Support Services, YellowBridge and the Toowoomba Youth Justice Centre.