Community Partnership Innovation Grants

Program details

Applications for the Youth Justice Community Partnership Innovation Grants 2022-23 - Round 2 are now closed.

Up to $3 million was available across Queensland. Grants of up to $300,000 are now being assessed for short-term or one-off projects that support young people – who are or could become offenders – to change their behaviours and improve community connection.

The grant program is designed to support local communities, businesses, and organisations in the trial of new ideas and projects that address youth offending and related issues in Queensland.

Key dates

Applications are now closed

Previous grant recipients

View an overview of the successful projects from the Community Partnership Innovation Grants Round 1 (2021-22).

The 2021-22 Community Partnership Innovation Grant successful projects were:

Community Helping Adolescents with New Growth and Endeavours (CHANGE)

CatholicCare Social Service in partnership with Emerge, Good Samaritan College, Bunya Peoples Aboriginal Corporation and Raw Impact

This project brings together the capabilities of five experienced local organisations to deliver wrap-around interventions to support 12 to 17-year-olds who are at risk of becoming entrenched in the justice system. Young people will be assisted with housing, mentoring, education, skill-development, employment, sporting and cultural activities.

Location: Toowoomba

Deterring Drivers program

Dr Shannon Dodd, Australian Catholic University (in partnership)

This project aims to prevent young people stealing cars for joyriding. It will be designed and implemented by researchers and local businesses with expertise in criminology, policing, health and road safety. It will address the dangers of joyriding, while giving participants skills and introducing other activities as an alternative to driving.

Location: Townsville

Disrupting the School to Prison Pipeline

Dr Grace O 'Brien, Queensland University of Technology in partnership with Mindle Bygul Aboriginal Corporation

This project will provide young First Nations people who have been released from youth detention or are a high risk of reoffending with culturally responsive and culturally safe support, education and training opportunities to positively re-engage them with community and reduce recidivism.

Location: Moreton Bay

Elders Cautioning Program pilot

Dr Paul Harnett, Griffith University in partnership with the Inala Elders Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation

This pilot project will divert young people at high risk of offending away from statutory youth justice involvement. Elders, or respected community members, will conduct cautions based on police referrals and will work closely with mental health practitioners to provide support for young people and their families.

Location: Brisbane

KOKO Pasifika Youth Holistic Hub

Village Connect LTD

This project will be the first culturally safe integrated services response for Pasifika young people in Queensland. It will establish wrap-around supports for young people who are offending and their families.

Location: Logan

Overnight On Country Healing Camps

Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation

This project uses interventions that can happen at very short notice to provide cultural and one-on-one support needed to prevent young people from reoffending when they are most vulnerable, that is in the 72 hours after exiting detention.

Location: Cairns

Transition to Community

Fearless Towards Success

This project is an intensive six-month support and training program for young people leaving youth detention. Young people will gain indepdendent living and employability skills to help them successfully join community. The program can integrate with 72-hours post-release plans for young people.

Location: Ipswich

Youth Advocate Program

Life Without Barriers

This project, the Youth Advocate Program, is an evidence-informed intervention that has demonstrated successful outcomes overseas with young people at high risk of reoffending. This is the first trial of the program in Queensland. Young people will be supported by a youth advocate 15 hours per week for up to nine months to learn the skills to change behaviours, learn independence and restore positive relationships.

Location: Gold Coast

Contact information

For further information please email the Youth Justice Grants team.