Representatives from government departments, businesses, the local police, and schools were heard at the Breakfast of Champions meeting on Tuesday. Their recommendations would be compiled into a report by the PCYC.

Mount Isa PCYC safe community coordinator Leanne Joseph said the report would be released within months with further challenges identified. Some issues included lack of after hour services in the community, especially for those under the ages of 12, and identifying what programs in the community were working. 

Mount Isa’s acting Superintendent Chris Hodgman said it was refreshing to hear the thoughts of youth leaders that attended the meeting. He said some of the concerns involved parental skills and support for families with children up to seven years old. 

He agreed youth disengagement was an issue. “There’s a clear distinction from youth that aren’t going to school, and youth crime. 

“If children aren’t engaged in school they will lack the requisite skills to carry into the workforce.

“The community needs to do as much as they can to make sure these disengaged youth have the best opportunity for employment when in the later teens.” 

Mount Isa mayor Joyce McCulloch said the community needed to be united in its focus to provide a safe and positive environment for youth. Some issues identified included having services for children between eight years and the early teen years.

“It’s at this age that children are becoming integrated into the community and relying on the services and activities that are provided.

“And if there is a lack of these, they have nowhere else to turn to and this can create huge social problems.”

Christian Outreach Centre pastor Keith Christie said suggested solutions included offering further mines apprentice training to those on the work for the dole program. “And another is to fund youth training in cattle properties around Mount Isa.”

“This way we provide employment in our city and make our youth valued.” 

Mount Isa Lions Club president Liza Dowler said that there were many youth not feeling safe in their homes, so were frequenting the streets. 

“The substance abuse is another thing that we need to tackle. The lack of respect for our police, our elders and other people’s property.”

She agreed with a church representative’s opinion that the heart of the issue was in individual homes. 

“The home is where they don’t feel safe or loved. They are not taught respect or how to love or that they are worth loving and caring for. 

“We need to come up with a way to get to the home.”