Community & Business
16 March, 2022
New officers to work with Mareeba youth
UP to eight youth justice and child safety officers will be based at a new office in Mareeba that should be operational in the next few months.
The announcement was made by Minister for Youth Justice Leanne Linard when she visited Mareeba last week, along with Member for Cook Cynthia Lui.
During the flying visit, the pair met with Mareeba Shire Council Mayor Angela Toppin, PCYC’s Sergeant Mary-Anne West, local stakeholders, and Youth Justice and Child Safety staff.
“I promised the Member for Cook I would visit Mareeba as soon as possible this year to meet with Mayor Toppin and talk to people delivering services on the ground,” Ms Linard said.
“We also discussed options for a new office for youth justice and child safety operations, which will bring up to eight youth justice and child safety workers directly into Mareeba.
“These staff will work with young people either in the youth justice system or at risk of coming into contact with the system, and in the child safety system.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring all Queenslanders are safe in their homes and their communities. That’s why I’m here today to listen to the concerns of the community at the request of the local member.”
The Minister also visited the new drop-in service, Pulse Cafe at the PCYC which provides out-of-hours diversionary services funded by the department for young people aged 8 to 21.
“The cafe is a fantastic initiative for young people in the region to learn the skills they need to work in the hospitality industry,” Ms Linard said.
“The Government funds the PCYC and the cafe to the tune of almost $135,000 a year because we recognise the need to find creative, community-led solutions that tackle the complex issues of youth crime.”
Ms Lui said the meetings were an opportunity to learn about programs being implemented that engage vulnerable young people.
“The cafe was established in response to the community’s growing concerns about safety in Mareeba,” she said.
“Indigenous Community, Sport and Recreation staff as well as a team of volunteers, are providing food and activities into the evening for young people who are at risk of disengaging from their communities.
“It is encouraging to see initiatives developed from the ground up and the difference the program is making.
“The young people are learning important social skills and are motivated to participate in productive activities and I would welcome the opportunity to meet with other groups who are developing programs that will engage our young people.”
In addition to the program running out of the PCYC there is a range of other youth justice programs operating in Mareeba to prevent and reduce reoffending.
This includes cultural mentoring, behaviour management programs and Transition to Success, which provides alternative education and vocational training.
There is also a multi-agency panel that works to respond to the complex needs of some individual young people, such as substance misuse, disability, education, child safety, wellbeing, or mental health and health issues.
