Townsville Crime Prevention School to Target At-Risk Youth

A new crime prevention school is set to open in Townsville as part of Queensland's broader push to break the cycle of youth offending, with the state government announcing the Silver Lining Foundation as the program's delivery partner.

The school will operate under a specialist model, offering a tailored curriculum for young people in grades 7 through 12 who have disengaged from mainstream education. Vocational training in automotive, engineering, construction, and rural operations will sit at the centre of the program, giving students a direct pathway into employment.

Minister for Youth Justice, Victim Support, and Corrections Laura Gerber said the Townsville announcement is part of a commitment to fund four crime prevention schools across the state. The first opened in Southport through a partnership with Men of Business, with further schools confirmed for Ipswich and Rockhampton.

"What we know is that a key driver of youth going down a path of crime is not being engaged in school," Ms Gerber said. "These schools try to provide that pathway for young people who are perhaps already on a trajectory of antisocial behaviour."

The minister acknowledged that many of the students entering these programs come from difficult home environments and may have fallen behind long before reaching high school. To address this, each school will embed caseworkers and psychologists on site, providing therapeutic support not just to students but to their families — with the aim of reinforcing positive behaviours beyond the classroom.

Ms Gerber said the Silver Lining Foundation brings extensive experience delivering specialist schools for young people with complex needs, and that staff recruitment is a deliberate process. Teachers are specifically selected for their ability to mentor and connect with students who have had fractured educational histories.

When pressed on the safety of staff working in these environments, the minister pointed to the organisations' track records. "They target specific skill sets in their education providers. They're all in it for the right reasons — they genuinely want to see these young people engaged and on a path of hope," she said.

Queensland has faced sustained political pressure over youth crime, particularly in regional cities like Townsville where juvenile offending rates have drawn significant public concern. The government's crime prevention school model is positioned as a long-term intervention, targeting the educational disengagement that authorities say drives many young people toward criminal behaviour in the first place.

Enrolments for the Townsville school are expected to be referred through community organisations and education networks already working with at-risk families.