Logan will be home to Queensland’s first youth justice school – a new style of education the state government hopes will help drive a stake through the heart of youth crime.
The school will open to 50 students for enrolment next year, but we still don’t know where or when it will be built.
First, the school needs to be nationally accredited.
Over the weekend, premier David Crisafulli announced the Logan school would be followed by another at Cairns, with the government allocating $40 million towards setting them up.
Mr Crisafulli said this was a major step to “turning the tide” on youth crime.
“These youth justice schools will help divert young people away from taking a wrong path, before they become hardened criminals,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“They will teach young people that every action has a consequence, while providing guidance, support and discipline to get them back on the right path.
“Early intervention programs are critical to breaking the cycle of crime, and we won’t stop until there are fewer victims in Queensland.”
The school will open to “high-risk” teenagers aged 12-17 years old who are on bail, diversion, police cautions or community service orders.
It will be led by Ohana for Youth, an organisation that already runs a school for disengaged youth at Meadowbrook, called Ohana College.
Students of the future school will be subjected to “intensive supervision”, five days a week, the government says.
Education will follow a “project-based” version of the national curriculum, with a range of specialist teachers that includes psychologists and speech therapists.
Ohana for Youth founder Aaron Devine said he looked forward to getting the schools up-and-running.
“Ohana for Youth is committed to empowering young people with the skills to achieve success so they can become productive, compassionate and engaged participants in their communities,” Mr Devine said.
“With this funding we can deliver two new schools that will allow us to help more young people and set them on a better path.”
The local school will also provide “highly specialised” behavioural reform with individual case management, mentoring, family support and parental coaching to help re-engage youth with education, employment and the community.
Youth justice minister Laura Gerber said investing in youth justice schools would turn youth away from a life of crime and “restore safety where you live”.
“The youth justice schools will help turn the tide… and prevent the next generation of repeat youth offenders,” Minister Gerber said.
“These schools will provide high-risk youth with the discipline, support, education and structure to get them on a path towards a brighter future.”
