Young offenders are to be matched with community groups, local organisations and the elderly to work on local projects in a new program to be rolled out across Queensland.
The Restorative Community Service Order (CSO) program follows successful trials in Townsville, Inala and Mackay.
Minister for Youth Justice, Di Farmer said the program gave local communities a say in how they wanted young offenders to “repair the damage they had done”.
“The program will be officially launched in Mount Isa following positive feedback from organisations and individuals involved in the trials,” Ms Farmer said.
“Over the past three months, we’ve had young people working in the gardens of elderly residents, in not-for-profit organisations and community gardens.”
She said there was a big difference between being ordered to pick up rubbish and working closely with locals and community groups to ‘give back’ in a meaningful way.
“We also see this program as a pathway to work experience with local organisations and an opportunity to gain new skills and eventually a job,” the Minister said.
Ms Farmer said youth justice workers in Mount Isa had already successfully matched three girls with the Salvation Army to sew toiletry bags for a local domestic violence shelter.
Youth Justice Manager at Mount Isa, Elva Metcalf said that in learning to sew, the girls had made important connections with local volunteers.
Restorative CSO pilots began in October 2019 in response to a report recommending the identification of work programs for young people that emphasised giving back to the community in meaningful and visible ways.
