Staying on Track: Changing young lives and making Queensland safer

A year after its rollout, the Queensland Government’s Staying on Track program is already making a meaningful difference in the lives of youth exiting detention.

Staying on Track is a key part of the Queensland Government’s investment in early intervention and rehabilitation, supporting young people aged 10 to 17 as they transition from detention back into family, school and community life.

Delivered by a network of 15 experienced community organisations, the program focuses on addressing the drivers of offending, while building the practical supports youth need to get their lives back on track and succeed.

These providers are currently working with over 430 youth, including over 150 youth in the community post-detention.

For Kieran Palmer, Clinical Services Manager with Ted Noffs in Townsville, the purpose of the program is clear. “It’s basically about helping turn their lives around,” he says.

“Youth detention on its own is not the answer. What we try to do is set up a world around them that decreases the chances of reoffending and increases the chances they’ll find a different life.”

That “world” includes consistent mentoring, counselling, family support and help re‑engaging with education, health care and employment.

Importantly, support begins while a young person is still in detention and continues for up to 12 months after release — a level of continuity that service providers say is a game changer.

The Clinical Services Manager of Ted Noffs Townsville, Kieran Palmer, says the Staying on Track program is turning lives around.

At Life Without Barriers Regional Director Sarah Mahony praised the long-term support offered through the Staying on Track as the biggest difference between this model and previous approaches.

“Young people engaged in the Staying on Track program get a mentor walking alongside them from day one of going into detention and then supporting them for 12 months post‑release,” she said.

“That 12 months of intensive support is huge, and it’s not something governments have really offered before to this extent.”

Ms Mahony says mentors work intensively with youth while they are still in detention, then in their real‑world environments — homes, schools and communities — once they leave detention, while clinicians support caregivers to address the underlying drivers of behaviour.

“We don’t remove a young person, make change, and send them back,” she explains. “We shift the whole ecosystem.” – Sarah Mahony, Life Without Barriers Regional Director

For Shine for Kids, relationships are at the heart of Staying on Track’s success. National Practice Manager Moana Wati says mentors focus on walking alongside youth and their families during a critical transition period.

“That work once they transition back into community is really about connecting them to family, connecting them with community, and making sure that they’re connected to culture as well,” she says.

Practical support is equally important — from helping youth obtain identification and enrol in school, to supporting families who feel overwhelmed.

“We’re not just doing things for them,” Ms Wati explains. “We’re giving them the resources to do things for themselves.”

According to Tahnee Ledgerwood, Group Manager at Anglicare, the program appears to be working from the outset. “We are seeing very positive outcomes,” she says, including improved compliance with court orders and stronger family connections.

These early results reflect the positive benefits of the Queensland Government’s significant investment in evidence‑based youth justice responses that prioritise rehabilitation alongside community safety.

While outcomes can be incremental, service providers agree the impact is real.

“It’s the little wins,” Ms Mahony says. “Helping a young person go to their first job interview, rebuild family relationships, or walk away from a bad decision — those moments matter.”

Staying on Track is making Queensland safer by delivering the right support, consistency and investment in youth and their communities.

For more information about the Staying on Track program, visit
https://www.qld.gov.au/makingqldsafer/initiatives-and-programs/staying-on-track

Last updated:

17 August 2026