Media | State News

LNP announces four crime early intervention Schools

23rd September 2024
  • Gold Coast based Men of Business to be first of four new government-funded crime early intervention schools to help prevent youth crime at its genesis, under the Special Assistance School model.
  • $40 million youth re-engagement ‘Right Track’ program a key Early Intervention commitment in the LNP’s Making our Community Safer plan.
  • Focus on community connection and mentoring to re-engage at-risk youth and prevent crime before it starts.

The LNP has today announced four new or expanded crime early intervention schools, as part of its Making Our Community Safer Plan.

The $40 million Right Track policy will re-engage youth who have fallen-out of mainstream schooling and are assessed as at-risk of falling into crime, with capacity for up to 900 students.

Gold Coast based Men of Business will be the first of four schools funded in the policy under the Special Assistance School model, with the program to allow the existing academy to expand to grades 7-12.

The Right Track policy follows the LNP’s announced Making Queensland Safer Laws, Adult Crime Adult Time, and two new youth justice schools for teens on youth justice orders.

LNP Leader David Crisafulli said restoring safety where you live started with prevention, by re-engaging youth at risk of falling into crime.

“The LNP’s Right Track policy will help prevent the next generation of youth offenders by re-engaging young people most at risk of falling into crime,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Education, mentoring, life skills and community connection will put these kids back on the right track.

“Our crime prevention focused special assistance schools will work directly with youth who have fallen out of mainstream schooling and plug them back into the community.

“Often young people turn to crime because they don’t see a better choice, Right Track will provide the choice and the way to stay on the straight and narrow.”

Shadow Minister for Youth Justice Laura Gerber said the LNP would amplify the proven success of programs like Men of Business, helping up to 900 kids at a time.

“Young people need hope, help and a community, which is exactly what Men of Business and the Right Track program will deliver,” Ms Gerber said.

“On top of literacy and numeracy to prepare young people for fruitful working lives, these special assistance schools will deliver the structure and support to meet individual learning needs.

“Young people without hope and without help are at most risk of falling into crime, if we can help these young men and women get back into education and provide them with the schools to get into the workforce, we are giving them the chance to be on the Right Track.

“Labor’s failure in education, weakening of youth justice laws and failure to deliver gold standard early intervention has left Queensland with a generation of hardcore repeat youth offenders.

“Only by preventing, intervening, diverting, rehabilitating and protecting can we end Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis and restore safety where you live.

“Only the LNP has the Right Plan for Queensland’s Future, including the Making our Community Safer plan.”