Community Partnership Innovation Grants

Program details

Applications for round two of the Community Partnership Innovation Grants (2022-23) are now open, with up to $3 million in funds available for communities across Queensland.

One-off grants of up to $300,000 are available for local projects that support young people, who are or could become offenders, to change their behaviours and improve community connection.

The grants support new ideas and projects that target the unique issues being experienced by local communities, and that are designed in partnership with the local community.

How to prepare and engage your community

Tips for partnering with your local community:

  • raise awareness among your community and stakeholders about the Community Partnership Innovation Grants and your plans to be involved
  • talk to your community and stakeholders about their youth justice concerns
  • identify your community's aspirations for young people
  • identify new partnerships and key organisations in your local area who can help deliver positive outcomes for young people
  • involve and work with your community and stakeholders, including young people, on an innovative proposal that addresses the community-agreed issues and meets the needs of young people.

What we are looking for

An ideal community Round 2 proposal will include:

  • A new idea or concept that has not already been tried or is available in your community. It should have measurable impact against the four pillars of Working Together Changing the Story: Youth Justice Strategy 2019-23:
    1. Keeping young people connected – Intervene early
    2. Strengthening young people's connections – Keep children out of court
    3. Reconnecting young people – Keep children out of custody
    4. Healing young people's connections – Reduce re-offending.
  • A response to local youth crime matters in your community including:
    1. Who did you meet with?
    2. How did you engage with your community to understand what their concerns are?
    3. What are the specific local concerns that were raised?
    4. What did the community agree would be a great way forward?
    5. How will your proposal address the concerns identified by the community?
    6. Who else will be involved in the delivery of your response and can you provide evidence of their commitment?
  • Demonstration of culturally safe and local partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
  • Demonstration of how your model/program addresses the causes of youth crime and delivers positive outcomes for young people who are, or who are at risk of, committing crime.
  • Performance and outcomes measures that reflect the needs and aspirations of young people in the community.

Key dates

  • Applications for round 2 opened Wednesday, 2 November 2022
  • Applications close: midnight, Monday, 30 January 2023
  • Successful projects to commence from Friday, 31 March 2023

Resources

Apply

Visit SmartyGrants to apply.

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.