The future of the award-winning Project Booyah is secure for Ipswich thanks to a substantial investment from the Palaszczuk Government.

More than $4.13 million over four years and $1.29 million ongoing will be provided for the Framing the Future component of Project Booyah. 

This means the post-program support for graduates will now be a permanent fixture of Project Booyah.

A new school-based adaption of Project Booyah – called RESPECT – will also be funded permanently and delivered in locations right across Queensland. 

Member for Ipswich West Jim Madden welcomed the news and said Project Booyah is an early intervention program that helps at-risk young people turn their lives around.

“Project Booyah is a life-changing experience for so many young people in Ipswich,” he said.

“The program targets at-risk young people with an intensive 16-week course designed to build the life skills they need to get on the right track.

“Project Booyah has an outstanding track record of delivering for young Queenslanders.”

Member for Bundamba Lance McCallum said the hard work did not end with graduation from the program.

“Framing the Future (the post-Project Booyah support program for graduates) is now permanently funded to mentor graduates and to continue to connect them with employment, education and training opportunities,” he said.

“After a successful trial on the Gold Coast, a new school-based adaption of Project Booyah called RESPECT will be expanded to locations across Queensland so school-based police officers can proactively mentor young people.

“This permanent funding from the Palaszczuk Government will help support young Queenslanders and build stronger and safer communities.”

Member for Jordan Charis Mullen said a recent Griffith University evaluation of the program confirmed that it was highly successful in reducing youth offending.

“This is at the forefront of the Palaszczuk Government’s focus on safer communities,” she said.

“The evaluation found that the majority of participants did not go on to offend again.

“It also determined that for every dollar invested in Project Booyah directly saves the community $2.55.

“By investing in Project Booyah, these young people and the wider community will see the benefits.”

Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard said Project Booyah was designed to strengthen the ties between at-risk youth and their communities.

“Young people who successfully complete the program have been diverted from antisocial behaviour and have ended up in work or training,” she said.

“Participants in this program feel engaged, valued and respected members of their local community.”

Project Booyah is currently running in nine sites across Queensland: Cairns, Townsville, Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton, Pine Rivers, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands and the Gold Coast.

Minister Ryan announced this week a two-year trial of Project Booyah would begin in Mackay in January 2021.