Kickstarter program

Accer Care Pty Ltd

Project: YD Project

A 12-week early intervention initiative aimed at empowering Indigenous youth aged 8–17 years through individualised case management, mentoring, and cultural activities aimed at fostering positive life choices.

Location: Brisbane

ARC Parenting

Project: Parenting on the ARC Workshop

This is a 12-month trauma-informed, psychoeducational initiative designed to support parents and caregivers of at-risk children and youth aged 8–17. It provides evidence-based tools to enhance emotional regulation, reduce family conflict, and strengthen relationships.

Location: Brisbane

Indigenous Mana Limited

Project: Indigenous Mana Academy

Indigenous Mana Academy is a 12-month program for youth aged 10–17 in the Moreton Bay Region using rugby league, mentorship, and cultural activities to re-engage at-risk youth back into education, reduce antisocial behaviour, and strengthen family and community connections.  Delivered in partnership with First Nations businesses and Elders, the program will offer a range of supports including rugby training sessions, mentoring, cultural camps, and family engagement sessions.

Location: Moreton Bay

Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation

Project: Onwards & Upwards Wellbeing Mentoring program

Supporting youth aged 12–17 years, this 12-month initiative focuses on Indigenous participants through personalised mentoring, run coaching, and education in well-being, leadership, and vocational skills.

Location: Brisbane

Lutheran Church of Queensland

Project: Compass - Moreton Bay

Compass provides support for 10–17-year-old youth and their families through tailored case coordination and community engagement over a 12-month period to address underlying needs, strengthen emotional regulation and social-emotional wellbeing.

Location: Moreton Bay

Redcliffe Area Youth Space Incorporated

Project: PIVOT (Prevention and InterVention for Offending Teens)

This program offers trauma-informed case management, mentoring, education support, pathways to employment, and pro-social activities to help reduce youth crime and antisocial behaviour.

Location: Moreton Bay

Queensland Blue Light Association Incorporated

Project: Blue Edge Brisbane and Moreton Bay

This eight-week program enhances mental and physical wellbeing, building leadership and resilience, and reducing low-level crime through positive behaviours and community connections.

Location: Brisbane

Fight 4 Youth

Project: Positive Pathways Toolkit

An early intervention program for 8–17-year-old youth, teaching emotional regulation, decision-making skills and resilience, addressing peer pressure, substance use, and fostering positive community engagement.

Location: Gold Coast

Gunya Meta

Project: Strong Warriors, Strong Future

This culturally-led project provides an opportunity for 20 First Nations youth aged 10–17 to strengthen cultural identity, kinship, and family inclusion over an 18-month program.

Location: Logan

Kirrawe Indigenous Corporation

Project: Walama Ngurra Bangaba: Returning home building futures

This is a 12-month trauma-informed program for First Nations youth aged 8–17, focusing on re-engaging them with education, training or employment while strengthening cultural and community connections.

Location: Brisbane, Logan, and Gold Coast

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Queensland) Limited

Project: Tails of Change

A two-year early intervention program using hands-on animal care to help disengaged youth aged 11–17 years to build empathy, emotional regulation, and pro-social behaviours, reducing the risk of offending.

Location: Brisbane and Logan

Adapt Mentorship Indigenous Corporation

Project: Adapt Youth Mentorship Program

This 12-month program will deliver culturally responsive mentoring, creative activities, and tailored support to reduce crime and promote positive behaviour for First Nations youth aged 8-17.

Location: Toowoomba

Downs Industry Schools Co-operation Incorporate

Project: Step Up Now (SUN)

SUN is a 5-month program that will support at-risk youth to develop life skills, resilience, and to transition into education, employment or training.

Location: Toowoomba

Dynamic Community Care Pty Ltd

Project: The Durungal Program

An eight-week intervention for youth aged 10–17 years, focusing on non-violent conflict resolution, aggression reduction, and social skills development through weekly or fortnightly face-to-face sessions delivered by a qualified facilitator in a confidential setting.

Location: Ipswich and Toowoomba

Legacy Connect (Cultural Wellbeing Services)

Project: Legacy Cultural Youth Program (Springfield Lakes)

This two-year, trauma-informed initiative supports at-risk Pasifika, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), and Indigenous youth aged 10–17 years in Ipswich and West Moreton through culturally grounded workshops and one-on-one mentoring.

Location: Ipswich

Village Support Limited

Project: Where We All Belong

This program will support youth and their families, working in partnership with schools to deliver tailored supports, combining sports, cultural programs, career workshops, and family forums to reduce offending behaviour.

Location: Toowoomba

V.I.T.A.L. Projex

Project: STRONG Futures (Strength, Trust, Respect, Opportunity, New Ground)

STRONG Futures is a 12-month, trauma-informed early intervention program delivered in four 10-week cohorts to provide youth aged 10–17 years the opportunity to improve antisocial behaviour and reduce reoffending.

Location: Ipswich

Youth Retreat Centre

Project: Reconnect with Culture and Community

An outreach program in Ipswich offering intensive case management over 12-months, including mentoring, and tailored referrals to support First Nations and general youth aged 14–17 years.

Location: Ipswich

Central Queensland Indigenous Development

Project: Deadly Futures – Ready for Work program

Deadly Futures is a 12-week employment readiness initiative for First Nations youth aged 13–17 years, including cultural mentorship and skills development activities to promote positive behaviour and a pathway to education, training or employment.

Location: Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Woorabinda

Lookout 07

Project: The Youth Leadership Program

This program provides support for 12–17-year-olds through mentoring, mindset coaching, and job-readiness training over a period of 10 weeks.

Location: Sunshine Coast

South Burnett CTC Incorporated

Project: Safer Pathways

This initiative provides support over 15 months for disengaged, homeless or at-risk youth aged 8-17 years, offering individualised support plans, structured peer group activities, emotional regulation and community re-engagement sessions to help get them back on track.

Location: South Burnett

Brodie Germaine Fitness Aboriginal Corporation

Project: CAMPFIRE – Cultural Advancement and Mentoring Program

This 18-month program is led by Elders, cultural leaders, and trained mentors to strengthen cultural identity, emotional regulation, and positive relationships while re-engaging youth with education and employment.

Location: Boulia, Doomadgee, Mount Isa

Family and Childrens Emerging Support Services

Project: The Youth Leadership program

The Youth Leadership program provides support for 12–17-year-olds through cultural mentoring, mental health and housing support, as well as life skills education, including literacy, hygiene, and budgeting.

Location: Mackay

NQ Ummah Care

Project: Pathways to Engagement (PE) for Culturally Diverse Youth

This program provides 16 months’ of support to youth from migrant backgrounds, empowering at-risk youth to make positive life choices through soccer-based activities, life skill workshops and mentorship, preventing youth offending, and improving education and employment outcomes.

Location: Townsville

Mudth-Niyleta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation

Project: Youth Wellbeing

This program offers support to disengaged, homeless, or at-risk youth aged 8–17 years to re-engage with education, employment, and the community through case management care plans, referrals to allied health services, mentorship and networking opportunities.

Location: Mackay

Silver Lining Foundation

Project: Out of Hours Support program

Delivered by First Nations mentors, the Out of Hours Support program provides activity-based mentoring for 8–17-year-olds over 16 months, offering structured support during weekends, afternoons, and school holidays to reduce criminal behaviour by engaging youth in positive, culturally appropriate activities and fostering pro-social connections.

Location: Townsville

Townsville Fire Limited

Project: Pathways to Empowerment - Building Brighter Futures for at-risk youth

Participants will undertake a 10-week program, including weekly basketball training and mentoring sessions with Townsville Fire athletes. This program offers a range of supports to youth aged 10-17 years in the Townsville region, combining sport-based activities, mentoring, life skills workshops, and cultural interventions to re-engage at-risk youth back into education, the community, and future pathways.

Location: Townsville

Aspire Cairns Community Limited

Project: Learn, Lead, Play and Thrive – Where Sport Fuels Success

A sport-for-development model that prioritises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, girls, and underrepresented groups aged 8–17 years, focusing on physical activity, cultural connection, education support, and mentoring to build resilience, foster community connections, and improve outcomes.

Location: Cairns

Australian Training Works Group Pty Ltd

Project: The Rebuild Project

The Rebuild project supports youth aged 15-17 years to build skills and contribute to community through a structured program including daily mechanical training and free repair services for residents in need, fostering positive pathways, community connection, and a sense of purpose for participants.

Location: Cairns

Bori Muy Limited

Project: Connecting The Dots Youth Program

This is a 12-week initiative that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged 8–17 yeas through one-on-one mentoring, culturally safe health workshops, and pro-social community activities, including “On Country” cultural camps.

Location: Cairns

Desert Pea Association Inc

Project: CROSSROADS – Kuranda

A 12-month program targeting at-risk Indigenous youth aged 12–17, using digital media and cultural frameworks to address antisocial behaviour and disconnection.

Location: Mareeba

Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation

Project: Jabalbina On Country Cultural Workshops

This workshop provides a 12-week program of cultural activities for at-risk 10–17-year-olds, including storytelling, bush skills, and artifact making.

Location: Cairns

Prosocial Skills Development

Project: Mastering Me

Master Me is a one year long early intervention program supporting youth aged 8–17 years with emerging antisocial behaviours by combining mentoring, activity-based learning, and prosocial skills development to foster emotional regulation, build relationships, and create a supportive therapeutic community.

Location: Cairns

Thrive and Connect

Project: Thrive Guiding

Thrive Guiding will support youth aged 10–14 years in the Cairns region over 13 months. With four 10-week intensive sessions, the program provides one-on-one mentoring and team building exercises to build cultural identity, belonging, and pathways to education, training, and community.

Location: Cairns

Deception Bay Neighbourhood Centre Inc.

Project: STEP UP - Early intervention for Children 8-12 developing accountability and emotional regulation

A 12-week early intervention program for youth showing early signs of antisocial behaviour and social disengagement. The program starts with 6 weekly group sessions delivered in the first 6 weeks, followed by a 6-week period dedicated to individual youth and family check-ins.

Location: Deception Bay

Inspire Youth and Family Services

Project: Inspire positive redirection program

A place-based early intervention initiative for youth aged 8-17 years engaging in antisocial or early criminal behaviour. The program combines culturally responsive mentoring, family support, and community engagement.

Location: Inala

Music Beat Australia

Project: Changing the tune

A 14-month music therapy project for at-risk neurodivergent youth aimed at improving emotional regulation. Conducted at local PCYC branches for accessibility, the program fosters emotional literacy, social connectedness, and pro-social engagement to re-engage youth with education and training in their community.

Location: Brisbane region

Everything Suarve Inc. (ESuarve)

Project: Step into my story – ESuarve’s VR pathways project

Australia’s first virtual reality program that tackles youth crime through immersive, decision-based scenarios. Guided by lived-experience mentors, participants confront the consequences of crime in a safe, impactful setting, fostering resilience, accountability and pro-social pathways.

Location: Gold Coast, Brisbane, Logan

Fight 4 Youth

Project: The suspension project

Provides a safe, structured alternative for youth who are suspended or excluded from school. Through life skills, mentoring, and supervised community service, the program reduces offending, protects schools, and builds pathways back into education or training.

Location: Gold Coast

The BUSY Group

Project: Girls rising into trades (BUSY GRIT)

Supports at-risk girls aged 14–17 with their 10-week Kickstarter program that provides mentoring and teaches girls trade skills to turn their lives away from crime and reconnect them with education, training or a job.

Location: Logan

The Trustee for Top Blokes Foundation  

Project: Top Blokes Mentoring Program

Working with schools in Brisbane and the Gold Coast to support at-risk boys aged 10-17 to reconnect with education, training or employment. The program focuses on building healthy relationships, reducing antisocial behaviour, leadership and teamwork while teaching boys to make positive decisions about risk taking, peer pressure, and illegal substances.

Location: Gold Coast, South Brisbane

TRACTION for Young People

Project: NextGEN BUILD Redlands

NextGEN BUILD supports youth aged 10-15 years by combining bike-building activities with mentoring, cultural practices and trauma-informed supports. Delivered over a 9-week school term, the program focuses on early intervention and school engagement to reduce long-term offending risks.

Momentum Mental Health

Project: Building Momentum for Youth: Strengthening pathways for at-risk youth and their families/carers

Building Momentum will support at-risk youth aged 8-17 and their families in Toowoomba, with a 12-month mentoring program to re-engage youth with education, training and employment.

Location: Toowoomba

Reason to Thrive Inc.

Project: Equine Assisted Learning Life-Skills Programs for at-risk Youth

Reason to Thrive will support at-risk youth aged 10-17 with a program that uses animal care, equine therapy, and outdoor learning to teach emotional and behavioural regulation.

Location: Ipswich, Brisbane, Lockyer Valley, Toowoomba

Sudanese-Australian Lost Boys and Girls of South Sudan

Project: Youth Safe Steps to Opportunity

A youth diversion and empowerment program that supports at-risk youth aged 8-17 with intensive mentoring, family engagement, skill-building and cultural support to re-engage them with education and the community.

Location: Ipswich

Chatsworth Park Ranch Inc

Project: FORGEAHEAD Youth Program

A 10-week early intervention program supporting at-risk youth aged 12-17 to stop crime before it starts with hands-on blacksmithing training. The program teaches youth practical skills and uses mentoring to strengthen community and family connections to help youth re-engage with education, training or employment so they can build positive futures.

Location: Gympie

Glenmore State Highschool P&C

Project: The Yadaba Nunthi Junior Ranger Program

Delivered with Woppaburra, Darumbal, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers, this program supports at-risk Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to re-engage in education. Participants gain nationally recognised qualifications in conservation, environmental science, and cultural leadership while completing their Queensland Certificate of Education.

Location: Rockhampton

JT Academy

Project: JTYouGotThis Early Intervention Program

A 12-month early intervention initiative at Silver Linings School supporting you aged 10-17 through weekly sessions focused on positive behaviour change. Delivered collaboratively with JT Academy facilitators, the program engages students, parents, and guardians to foster wellbeing, re-engagement with education, and pathways to positive futures.

Location: South Burnett

Oz Adventure Outdoor Challenges

Project: Operation Hard Yakka for Girls – Breaking Cycles, Building Futures

Operation Hard Yakka for Girls is a brand-new outdoor activity training program for at-risk girls aged 8-17 that builds discipline and resilience while fostering teamwork and positive decision making to break the cycle of crime.

Location: Fraser Coast

SunnyKids Ltd

Project: SunnyKids in Schools – Early intervention SNAP BACK program

Provides 12 months of case management and weekly workshops for youth aged 8-17 year across six Sunshine Coast schools. The program aims to address school disengagement and antisocial behaviour and barriers like homelessness and domestic violence through counselling and life skills development.

Location: Sunshine Coast

The Smithery Coaching and Mentoring

Project: Next Man Up program

A 10-week mentoring program working with local schools to support at-risk boys aged 15-17 across the Maryborough region to help them re-engage with education, training or employment so they can build positive futures.

Location: Maryborough

Helping Our Mob

Project: Kickstart @ H.O.M.E – Integrated youth diversion and development program

An Indigenous-led early intervention program that combines cultural reconnection, vocational training and environmental tourism activities to address youth recidivism by fostering practical skills, cultural pride, and community connections.

Location: Townsville

MADEC

Project: Pathways to Independence – Building safer futures for at-risk youth

This is an intensive wraparound initiative for youth aged 14-17 that aims to reduce youth offending by empowering participants to achieve stability and independence through fostering resilience, teaching life skills, and providing support with transitional housing and employment re-engagement.

Location: Mackay

North West Queensland Indigenous Community Social Services Limited

Project: Youth Murri Pathways

Developed for First Nations youth displaying antisocial or early criminal behaviour, Youth Murri Pathways is a 12-month early intervention initiative delivered in partnership with Elders and Vocational Training Queensland. It combines case management, cultural mentoring and flexible education to address youth offending risks, strengthen cultural identity and build pathways into school, training or employment.

Location: Mount Isa

QLD Blue Light Association

Project: Blue Lures North QLD

Using fishing as a therapeutic tool, Blue Lures North QLD helps youth build trust with police, fosters resilience, and builds life skills and personal growth. Through regular fishing sessions, cultural activities, and mentoring, this initiative promote wellbeing, reduces justice involvement, and support positive life pathways in a safe, inclusive environment.

Location: Palm Island, Cloncurry, Townsville

Sarina Rural Skills

Project: AGRI Engage

Provides at-risk youth with hands-on experience in vegetable, cattle, and sugar production as well as agri-tourism projects, fostering skills for future employment with mentoring from positive role models and connection to local industry leaders.

Location: Mackay

The School for Living

Project: Building resilience and reducing crime through sport and connection in Mornington Island

An early intervention initiative aimed at youth aged 8-17 designed to build resilience, foster emotional regulation, improve school attendance, and reduce youth crime through rugby league training.

Location: Mornington Island

Fresh Start Academy Inc.

Project: Barbering Cairns program

Supports at-risk youth aged 10 to 17 years old with their hands-on Kickstarter barbering program that puts youth on a path away from crime and towards education, training or employment. Participants will undertake a 20-week program that provides tailored mentoring, educational workshops, and accredited training, including barbering, first aid, RSA and barista courses  .

Location: Cairns

Fresh Start Academy Inc.

Project: Fresh Start Academy – Automotive Cairns

Supports at-risk youth aged 15-17 with mentoring and hands-on mechanic training to re-engage them with education, training or employment and divert them from crime.  The program teaches youth practical skills and gives back to their community by offering low-cost automotive repairs and servicing to support families in need.

Location: Cairns

Pormpur Ngamplin Pam Mongthak Aboriginal Corporation

Project: Future Ready – Pormpuraaw Youth

An 18-month program for Aboriginal youth aged 8-17 focusing on job readiness, cultural engagement and mentoring. Delivered in partnership withs schools, local employers and community services, it provides skills workshops, accredited training, work experience and individualised support plans to reduce offending and create clear pathways to education, training and employment.

Location: Pormpuraaw

The BUSY Group

Project: Girls rising into trades (BUSY GRIT)

Supports at-risk girls aged 14–17 with their 10-week Kickstarter program that provides intensive mentoring and teaches girls trade skills to turn their lives away from crime and reconnect them with education, training or employment.

Location: Cairns