‘Save Our Shed’: Far North youth service faces critical funding cliff

The LNP will hit the brakes on funding for a one-of-a-kind Cairns service which has engaged more than 1,000 wayward youths since opening its doors almost two years ago.

Member for Cairns, Michael Healy, Cairns BikeShed's Paul Liddiard and Selectability Cairns general manager Gwione Cain are calling for $2.25m in funding from the state government to keep a youth outreach service in Earlville open. Picture: Samuel Davis

Tears welled in Paul Liddiard’s dark brown eyes when asked about the impact Cairns BikeShed has had on vulnerable kids’ lives.

“Once they let their guard down, they are absolutely amazing kids to work with,” the heavily-tattooed outreach coordinator says.

“It’s going to be devastating if this thing closes. I’ll be gutted.”

This September, the LNP will hit the brakes on funding for the one-of-a-kind Cairns service which teaches youths of all ages how to build a bike from scratch.

Paul Liddiard says the bike shed program has helped disadvantaged young people deal with and overcome difficult issues. Picture: Brian Cassey

The program has engaged more than 1000 wayward youths since opening its doors in Earlville almost two years ago.

Mr Liddiard said the shed had provided disadvantaged young people with a safe space with warm meals provided day and night.

“It’s building their resilience, their fine motor skills,” he said. “Even playing chess. We’re just trying to get them to think.

“They know they can come and just have a yarn and we’re not going to judge them.

“Young people are choosing to come here.”

The shed’s operators, Selectability, are calling for $2.25m in funding over three years to keep the service running.

“We engage with children as young as five years old in our outreach program,” Selectability’s Cairns general manager Gwion Cain said.

“We’re the net that prevents these kids from moving on to the justice system.

“Often we find out what the barriers are, engage with the schools and the guidance counsellors to find out how we can get them back into the mainstream school system.”

Member for Cairns, Michael Healy, said programs like the bike shed played a critical role in curbing youth crime.

“The LNP got in on a slogan of locking children up and giving them adult time for adult crime,” Mr Healy said.

“It is so important that we continue to fund these key initiatives … which are charged with the responsibility of assisting the government in putting downward pressure on juvenile crime.

“To not fund this initiative is enormously concerning.”

Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber says it’s not too late for Queensland welfare services to apply for funding. Picture: Brendan Radke

Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber said service providers were eligible to apply for funding through its Kickstarter grants program and “gold-standard early intervention” schemes.

“The Member for Cairns failed to fund this organisation beyond June 30,” Ms Gerber said.

“Now he’s trying to hoodwink them into thinking that he’s fighting for funding.

“I welcome organisations to be able to tender for our programs.”

Mr Liddiard said he feared kids from broken homes would have nowhere to go once the shed closed.

“Don’t cut the funding,” he said. “These kids need it.”

Originally published as ‘Save Our Shed’: Far North youth service faces critical funding cliff