Street University: New program tackles youth car theft addiction head-on in Townsville

A bold new initiative is taking aim at one of Townsville’s most pressing issues — youth car theft — by treating it like an addiction. Find out more.

Officer in Charge of Kirwan Police Station Matty Lyons and Matt Noffs, CEO Ted Noffs Foundation at Street Universities where they are working together on a groundbreaking new program targeting kids who are 'addicted to the high' they get when stealing cars. Picture: Shae Beplate.

A bold new initiative is taking aim at one of Townsville’s most pressing issues — youth car theft — by treating it like an addiction.

Spearheaded by the Street University, the program applies principles from drug addiction treatment to help young offenders who are “hooked on the thrill” of stealing cars.

Since opening its Kirwan centre a year ago, the Street University has worked with more than 600 young people, including some of the city’s most troubled repeat offenders.

The centre offers mental health support, drug treatment programs, and now, a specialised approach to tackle the “addictive” behaviours linked to car theft.

Matt Noffs, CEO of the Ted Noffs Foundation, compares the adrenaline rush many kids get from stealing cars to the chemical reactions triggered by drug use.

He believes for many young repeat offenders, the combination of the thrill, the attention, and the notoriety online is what drives them to steal cars.

”They are chasing a buzz and recognising that is really important as a step towards figuring out how to reduce the problem,” Mr Noffs said.

“I think crime in Townsville has gotten to a point where we need innovative and different responses.”

The program builds on successful methods used in substance abuse treatment. Counsellors work closely with youth to identify and address the underlying factors driving their behaviour, such as trauma, mental health challenges, or social pressures.

“We need a focus similar to how we approach young people using drugs,” Mr Noffs said. “Counsellors don’t just say, ‘Don’t do drugs.’ Instead, they explore the underlying issues, help young people understand the consequences of their actions, and work towards reducing the harmful behaviour.”

Mr Noffs pointed to Street University’s success in reducing youth chroming in Southport as evidence of what can be achieved by understanding young people’s perspectives and addressing those underlying needs directly.

Officer in Charge of Kirwan Police Station Matty Lyons and Matt Noffs, CEO Ted Noffs Foundation. Street Universities is working together on a groundbreaking new program targeting kids who are 'addicted to the high' they get when stealing cars. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Officer in Charge of Kirwan Police Station, Matt Lyons, agreed that there seems to be a generation of kids in Townsville who seem “hooked on the thrill of the chase.”

He stresses the importance of balancing accountability with proactive intervention.

“We’ve seen the tragic consequences of stolen cars being involved in accidents,” Acting Inspector Lyons said.

“Every child who commits a serious crime needs to be held accountable. The community expects that standard, and it’s our duty to uphold it.”

However, he also acknowledges that enforcement alone is not enough.

“It’s also about working with other agencies and initiatives, like the Street University, to look at ways to make the community feel safer. That’s our primary driver,” he said.

“The secondary driver is to help these kids rehabilitate or divert them from criminal pathways and prevent them from entering the justice system altogether. Sure, there are some who have already entered, but there are ways we can bring them back.”

The new program builds on the Street University’s work addressing youth substance use, trauma, and mental health issues.

A recent survey of its young participants in Townsville underscores the depth of these challenges: 68 per cent of participants identify cannabis as their primary drug of use, while 36 per cent report a history of self-harm, and 27 per cent have attempted suicide.

Meanwhile, 75 per cent had experienced physical assault by someone they know, with Indigenous kids disproportionately represented, with 63 per cent identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Originally published as Street University: New program tackles youth car theft addiction head-on in Townsville