General News
18 November, 2025
Youth programs promise new direction for Mount Isa
The state government is investing in three initiatives to help the region's youth crime crisis.
Mount Isa is set to benefit from a strengthened pipeline of youth support, with three state government programs rolling out across the region to divert young people from crime and help those leaving detention make a fresh start.
The first of the initiatives, the Kickstarter program, will be delivered locally by Brodie Germaine Fitness Aboriginal Corporation. The 18-month program will focus on early intervention through camping, mentoring, family engagement and cultural leadership for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
Youth Justice and Victim Support Minister Laura Gerber said the investment was vital.
“We are investing in early intervention because we know it’s a critical step to prevent young people from falling into a life of crime,” she said.
“For 10 years, Labor watched on as the number of youth offenders climbed, and youth detention became a revolving door.”
Mount Isa Mayor Peta MacRae welcomed the program’s local focus.
“It’s important we invest in early intervention programs that are tailored towards the young people in our community,” Cr MacRae said.
“Providing support and guidance to at-risk youth showing early signs of disengagement, anti-social or criminal behaviour is crucial to breaking the cycle of crime and ensuring they stay on the right track.”
The second initiative, Staying on Track, is a new post-detention support program delivered in Mount Isa by 54 Reasons. Young people will receive up to 12 months of targeted rehabilitation, including at least six months of intensive mentoring, education support, family engagement and employment pathways.
Ms Gerber said the program was an essential part of breaking the cycle.
“While we are delivering consequences for action under Adult Crime, Adult Time, we are also investing in effective rehabilitation programs to help break the cycle of crime and make Queensland safer,” she said.
“Our new Staying on Track program will provide intensive, tailored support to help youth offenders re-enter education, find employment, and build positive connections in their communities. Effective rehabilitation programs help break the cycle of crime and Staying on Track is designed to give youth leaving detention the support they need to make a fresh start.”
Rounding out the package is Regional Reset, delivered by Yabun Panjoo Aboriginal Corporation. The culturally led early-intervention initiative will support children aged 8–17 who are showing signs of disengagement or anti-social behaviour. It includes a week-long cultural camp guided by Elders, workshops on life and employment skills, anger management support and family-centred casework.
Ms Gerber said the program would give young people who are at risk an opportunity to change course.
“Regional Reset will give troubled youth the opportunity to hit the reset button on their lives and be placed into a disciplined environment that promotes positive behaviours and attitudes,” she said.
“By implementing effective early intervention programs, alongside our tough new laws, we will have less youth offenders, fewer victims of crime and safer communities.”
Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said he welcomed investment into fixing the region's youth crime problem, but questioned whether the government's models would be effective.
"Picking winners in this area becomes very difficult and it's absolutely essential that you're giving autonomy on the ground," he said of funding heading to some non-local groups.
"I'd be happy to lend the government help to deliver anything that was effective and we have had some positive interactions with the government when they've gone to market for proposals on bush sentencing.
"They've indicated that they're eager to progress that policy of the KAP (Katter's Australian Party).
"That's nice to hear, but words are cheap in politics."
Mr Katter said he was concerned that North Queensland communities were starting to be accustomed to the youth crime problem.
"There are probably less people talking about it, and although numbers have come down a little bit, they've come down from 'astronomical' to 'really bad'," he said.
"Really bad is not acceptable."
For Mount Isa, the government hopes the three programs together create a pathway from early intervention through to long-term rehabilitation – providing structured support before, during and after contact with the justice system.
Local leaders say that if delivered well, the programs could reduce reoffending, strengthen cultural ties and give young people in the city a chance to change direction before their lives become entrenched in crime.