Indigenous leaders in Townsville launch H.O.M.E with plans to rehabilitate troubled youth out bush

Passionate Indigenous advocates say they are ready to step up and help save their communities by taking troubled young offenders out to the bush, offering them a fresh start away from negative influences. Here’s how.

H.O.M.E (Helping Our Mob Everywhere). Alfred Smallwood Jnr, Vicky-Anne Blackman, Alfred Smallwood Snr, Lee-Toya Sirrus and Scott O'Brien-Burles. Picture: Evan Morgan

Passionate Indigenous advocates in Townsville say they are ready to step up and help save their communities by taking troubled young offenders out to the bush for rehabilitation, offering them a fresh start away from negative influences.

A dedicated team of locals have recently established a new Aboriginal-owned organisation called H.O.M.E (Helping Our Mob Everywhere), united in their mission to tackle the town’s youth crime crisis and support families and kids in getting back on track.

General Manager Irene Leard said H.O.M.E had been in discussions with the state government about developing an ‘on country’ program aimed at removing repeat young offenders from Townsville and taking them to a remote station located about seven hours out of town for rehabilitation.

The program, a long-held vision of respected Bindal Elder Uncle Alfred Smallwood, is finally gaining the grassroots support needed to become a reality.

“Townsville’s in a lot of pain — we need to try and ease that pain together,” Ms Leard said.

She highlighted their proposed program’s intensity, noting that participants will not have access to phones and will undergo structured training in 12-week increments.

“The first 12 weeks will be about identifying who they are, why they committed the crimes, and what led them there,” she explained.

H.O.M.E (Helping Our Mob Everywhere). (front) Scott O'Brien-Burles with Inaiyah-Rose O'Brien-Burles, 4 months, Alfred Smallwood Jnr, and Ina Tukia with Niu, 2, and (back) Vicky-Anne Blackman, Alfred Smallwood Snr, Jason O'Brien, Irene Leard, Foster Johnson, Lee-Toya Sirrus and Tam Smith. Picture: Evan Morgan

“The next 12 weeks will focus on cultural activities with our elders, and the following 12 weeks will cover different aspects because you can’t fix somebody in just three months.

“By the end of the year, our goal is for these kids to have new skills and start aiming towards a career.”

To share more about their proposal, H.O.M.E will host an open town hall event at the Wanderers Cricket Club on Thursday from 4-6pm.

This event will give locals a chance to ask questions, share their experiences, and voice their concerns and ideas.

Uncle Alfred’s son, Alfred Smallwood Junior, stressed the importance of community support. “It’s time for my generation to stand up and do something about this,” he said.

Having seen both sides of the crisis — from working with children in detention to being a victim of crime himself after his car was stolen — he emphasised, “We’re at a point where the community has to stand up and support this program to help our young people change for the better”.

“It’s now or never,” he said.

“I believe we’re losing the fight right now in this community, but we haven’t lost the war.

“If we, together as a community, get on top of it, we will win this war and get our young people in better shape for their future.”

Mr Smallwood Junior underscored the importance of routine, discipline and respect, especially for young men transitioning into adulthood.

“In the past, children were disciplined by any elder, reinforcing communal values,” he said.

“Today, we need to restore this sense of community discipline. Our elders fought for civil rights, and now it’s our turn to continue their legacy.”

Originally published as Indigenous leaders in Townsville launch H.O.M.E with plans to rehabilitate troubled youth out bush