Community Partnership Innovation Grants

Program details

Applications for Community Partnership Innovation Grants are now closed. 

Please continue to check this webpage for news about future rounds planned in 2022-23.

Up to $1.4 million in funds was available across Queensland in 2021-2022 for short-term or one-off projects that support young people who are or could become high- risk offenders, to change their behaviours and form connection with community.

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.  

Applicants were encouraged to consider proposals that:

• could complement existing local responses
• were designed using community and industry knowledge and evidence
• could be delivered to meet the needs of the young people their families, and the broader community.

Successful grant applications

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

• 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 vulnderable, 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

Unsuccessful grant applications

If your application was unsuccessful, you can request feedback between 4 and 29 July by contacting YJCommissioning@youthjustice.qld.gov.au. Please ensure you provide your SmartyGrants application number in your request.

Further information

For further information please contact the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs  at YJCommissioning@youthjustice.qld.gov.au