New funding from the Palaszczuk Government is helping Mount Isa young people in contact with the Youth Justice system as part of the Transition 2 Success (T2S) program.
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Minister for Youth Di Farmer announced more than $414,000 in funding to establish the program, in Mount Isa and the Gold Coast which reduces reoffending by re-engaging young people with education and training.
"T2S is a home grown program that has shown real success in reducing the offending of young people," Minister Farmer said.
"So far, more than 400 young people have graduated through T2S and more than 95 per cent of them have gone on to achieve employment or further education.
"Importantly, almost six out of every 10 participants who have offended before doing a T2S program don't reoffend within six months of participating in a program.
"T2S is a program which works, which is why we are investing more than $207,000 a year on both the Gold Coast and Mount Isa to establish local T2S programs, to give young people in those locations the opportunity to experience that success."
Ms Farmer said she had seen first-hand the impact T2S was having on young lives as she attended local graduations around the state.
"I've met young people who have said that until they started T2S, they hadn't ever felt like they were good at anything or could ever achieve a Certificate qualification - let alone a job," Ms Farmer said.
"Some found the experience so life changing they've returned to T2S to mentor the next group of young people coming through the program, so they can give back.
"One young man I met told me he had completely turned his life around with the help of T2S.
"He went through a T2S program in 2016, and he's now completed a number of Certificates which led to a traineeship and eventually a full-time job.
"I'm really pleased to say that he now plans to study to become a youth justice case worker."
Ms Farmer said many of the young people participating in T2S had experienced social disadvantage, exposure to domestic violence, drug abuse and unstable parenting as well as intergenerational unemployment.
"These young people weren't born bad. Some of them have experienced significant barriers to success in their lives, and although the community expects young offenders to be accountable the community also doesn't want to see these young people reoffending," she said.
"T2S helps break that cycle by giving participants opportunities to succeed and the support they need to achieve, which in turn gives them the skills and confidence they need to help them find secure long-term employment."
Ms Farmer said there would be two to three programs per year in each location, with places for up to 12 young people per program.
This announcement comes after Di Farmer made several trips to Mount Isa in the last 12 months.
For more information on the program visit https://www.csyw.qld.gov.au/youth-justice/transition-2-success-program
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Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
