THE state government has committed more than $4.13 million over four years to the Project Booyah youth program for disengaged teens.
Story: Redland City Bulletin
HELPING TEENS: Redlands MP Kim Richards and Capalaba MP Don Brown at a Project Booyah graduation ceremony.
It comes about two years after a funding squabble between the state and federal governments.
The program is run by Queensland Police at nine sites across Queensland, including Capalaba's PCYC.
Redlands MP Kim Richards said the program helped at-risk young people turn their lives around and had been a life-changing experience for many in the Redlands.
"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," she said.
The state will also spend $1.29 million to make Project Booyah's post-graduate component a permanent fixture and will permanently fund a school-based adaptation of the program.
Ms Richards said the move would help support young Queenslanders and build safer communities.
"Project Booyah has an outstanding track record of delivering for young Queenslanders, but the hard work does not end with graduation from the program," Ms Richards said.
"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.
"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 ... "
The state and federal governments had fought over Project Booyah funding arrangements in 2018.
Ms Richards said the federal government had pulled funding for the program but Mr Laming fired back, saying only one-off grants would be sought as it was a Queensland Police-run program.
Capalaba MP Don Brown said a Griffith University evaluation showed the program was highly successful in reducing youth offending.
"(It) found that the majority of participants did not go on to offend again," he said.
"It also determined that for every dollar invested in Project Booyah directly saves the community $2.55.