On Country program for young criminals in Far North Queensland

Young Indigenous offenders entangled in the youth justice system will soon be sent on-country under a new $24m youth intervention and rehabilitation trials. How it will work.

The state government is investing $24m to trial intensive on-country programs as part of the Community Safety Plan for Queensland. Picture: QPS

Young Indigenous offenders entangled in the youth justice system will soon be sent on-country under a new series of $24m youth intervention and rehabilitation trials.

Following a similar program for young offenders in Mount Isa, a second intensive trial for Far North Queensland children has been funded through the state government’s Community Safety Plan.

The program contract was awarded to Mossman-based Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and programs will be delivered through the organisation’s Manunda office in Cairns.

A mandatory requirement of the procurement process was the service be delivered by, or in partnership with, an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation.

The new program from Cairns will run for six to eight weeks. Picture: Supplied

Teen car thieves could soon be diverted into new On Country programs run from Cairns.

The site of the new trial has not been revealed but the new program cannot be too remote due to the need to recruit staff and ensure access to hospitals.

The programs will run for six to eight weeks and will offer intensive cultural and residential experiences, family support, education and training opportunities and connections into jobs at the completion of the course.

Life skills like cooking, cleaning and budgeting would also be taught in efforts to boost kids out of a vicious crime cycle and keep communities safer.

According to an Queensland Council of Social Service evaluation of the program released last year, 52 per cent of Cairns participants reoffended after six months and after a year 76 per cent had lapsed back into crime based on a survey of 25 young people.

Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer is expected to reveal the new Far North program in Cairns on Thursday.

“The new ... program trial is another step toward reducing offending in our state, leading to fewer victims of crime,” she said.

The program will also deliver a wider range of “wraparound” supports to young people and their families, to deal with issues including mental and physical health, substance abuse, and unhealthy social media use.

The Intensive On Country Program will build on the learnings and successes of the existing program run by Jabalbina. Picture: Queensland Police

Cook MP Cynthia Lui said it was “essential” Indigenous Queenslanders receive the rehabilitation and support they need.

“The elders tell us they can deliver better programs to help our young by connecting to country and deliver practical life skills, support and mentors to deal with mental and physical health, and substance abuse,” she said.

Cairns MP Michael Healy said the new on-country programs would continue to put pressure on juvenile crime.

“Data on the existing ... programs shows young people who participated were less likely to reoffend, while noting significant improvement in behaviour, emotional regulation, and managing conflict,” he said.

The program is expected to start “within weeks” and the Department of Youth Justice alongside courts can refer young offenders into the program.

The government said it was not considered an alternative to detention – those children who are found too dangerous to take part will be locked up in conventional youth detention centres.

Jabalbina chief executive Joshua Paterson said previous success pioneering on-country programs had been achieved by promoting self-determination and cultural reconnection by providing a culturally-safe healing journey that assists participants to live a law-abiding life.

“We will deliver life skills, certified agricultural training and real jobs that provide rehabilitation and a pathway to ongoing employment,” he said.

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Originally published as On Country program for young criminals in Far North Queensland