Queensland Youth Partnership Initiative review
Queensland Youth Partnership Initiative (QYPI) is an early intervention program intended to deliver a multi-agency response to de-escalate risky behaviours and promote positive inclusion of youths congregating in or around shopping centre precincts.
QYPI aims to reduce youth offending, anti-social and problematic behaviour by providing outreach to a particular space, such as shopping centre precincts, and may include soft engagement activities such as recreational activities, yarning circles and barbecues. The intent of these outreach and engagement activities is to provide youths with information, advice and referral.
QYPI is delivered in Rockhampton, Coomera, Helensvale, Chermside and North Lakes on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons year-round.
Activities and services are tailored according to local need and may include:
- tailored, supervised and structured pro-social activities (e.g. sport, recreation, art, music)
- engagement and referral
- connection to youth and welfare services (for example, homelessness and domestic and family violence services)
- training for program, retail and security staff to engage with youths who may be drug-affected or who may have experienced trauma
- transport support.
Review
A rapid review was completed by Nous Group Pty Ltd in 2023 to review and update the program logic and recommend program improvements. The rapid review findings are based on consultations with 4 QYPI providers, 4 Regional Directors and 3 Risk Security Managers from Westfield.
Findings revealed:
- observable changes in attitude and behaviour towards youths in shopping centres
- the program is building trusting relationships between youths and shopping centre staff and increasing awareness of support services within each location
- some evidence that shopping centres are receiving fewer complaints and there have been decreases in serious incidents involving youths
- security teams have gained a more trauma-informed understanding of youths' behaviour
- the service is complementary to the Community Youth Response and Diversion program and effective in the early intervention space.