A NEW bail support service for youth offenders on the Fraser Coast will focus on greater supervision for young people on youth justice orders to ensure they meet their bail requirements.
The service will be established in the region following calls from Hervey Bay MP Adrian Tantari.
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The Queensland Government it would form part of efforts to crack down on youth offending.
Minister for Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs Leanne Linard said a provider would be chosen through an open tender process.
“This is all about tackling the underlying issues that can cause some young people to commit crimes, and to stop an escalation in their offending,” Ms Linard said.
Service
Commencing in early December, Ms Linard said the service would deliver a mix of individual case management and outreach activities for young people on bail.
“The support will be different for every young person and every family. It can include getting them back into education or training or connecting them to services to address the underlying issues that contribute to offending such as housing, health, drug and substance misuse.
“To enhance community safety, we need to meet the individual needs of young people and families, and this is what this service will do,” she said.
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Mr Tantari said a call for tenders from non-government organisations in the Fraser Coast region was currently open and closes at 10am on 4 October 2022.
Strategy
He said the bail support service was in line with the government’s overall Youth Justice Strategy, “which recognises the importance of breaking the cycle of crime for young people.”
“Young people who offend must be held accountable for their actions, and where necessary this includes being detained. There also needs to be support in place to break the cycle of offending.
“Bail support services are just one element of our strategy, which includes tough bail laws, early intervention services to prevent criminal behaviour, and a range of programs and support to help young people address their offending,” Mr Tantari said.
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Minister Linard said all Queenslanders deserve to feel safe.
“We are continuing to take whatever steps are necessary to reduce youth crime and break the cycle of offending. We know the community wants us to do more and we are answering that call,” she said. For more information on the call for tenders, click here.
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