Transition to Success (T2S) is an education, training and employment service that helps young people who:

  • are aged 15–18 years old
  • are in the youth justice system, or at risk of entering it
  • want to participate in vocational training and gain the skills they need to change their lives and build a better future.

T2S is voluntary and is delivered over 10–16 weeks, bringing together government and non-government organisations to help young people lower their risk of offending by engaging in training, work experience, and by developing the skills required to gain and maintain employment, training, or further education.

Our Youth Justice staff collaborate with local businesses, councils, schools not-for-profit agencies, and registered training organisations to deliver a flexible and tailored service that equips young people to enter the workforce or further their education.

Participants can:

  • get hands-on training
  • learn real-world job skills
  • gain nationally recognised certificates and qualifications
  • develop personal and social skills
  • build their knowledge, capacity, confidence and self-esteem
  • meet and overcome life challenges
  • access and retain employment or further training.

Participants increase their support networks and are linked directly with employers and education providers for long-term opportunities.

T2S can also help young people who have had difficulty with mainstream education, training or employment pathways because of issues relating to:

  • past or current trauma, abuse or neglect
  • ongoing complex family situations
  • involvement with child safety
  • literacy, numeracy or learning difficulties
  • dependence on a negative peer group
  • contact with the youth justice system
  • mental health
  • drug and alcohol use
  • lack of stable accommodation
  • behaviour leading to suspension or exclusion from school, or conflict with other students or teachers.

Tailored services and support

T2S is delivered differently around the state and is tailored to each community and its young people.

T2S focuses on 3 areas for the young people involved:

  1. Job-related training to get them ready to enter the workforce, including
    • career counselling
    • job training
    • work experience job placements.
  2. Social skills training to
    • provide guidelines
    • set behaviour goals
    • provide ongoing support as they learn new ways to interact with others
    • teach them how to manage their emotions when they feel vulnerable, exposed or challenged.
  3. Behaviour management training to
    • guide their behaviour
    • challenge them to improve
    • encourage them to hold each other accountable.

We work with young people on:

  • literacy
  • numeracy
  • skills for work and vocational pathways.

We help young people achieve nationally recognised qualifications in industries including:

  • construction
  • agriculture
  • landscaping
  • engineering
  • hospitality
  • business
  • automotive vocational preparation
  • farm machinery
  • foundation skills (including literacy and numeracy).

T2S takes a holistic approach to supporting participants, delivering services that help young people develop their social and developmental wellbeing such as:

  • aggression replacement and other self-regulation
  • learner licences
  • first aid
  • white cards (construction safety)
  • mental health
  • drug and alcohol
  • healthy relationships
  • employment readiness
  • social and behavioural goal setting.

T2S is currently delivered in 20 communities across Queensland:

  • Aurukun
  • Bundaberg
  • Brisbane North
  • Brisbane South
  • Caboolture
  • Cairns
  • Cassowary Coast (Atherton)
  • Cherbourg
  • Forest Lake (Western Districts)
  • Gold Coast
  • Hervey Bay
  • Ipswich
  • Logan
  • Mackay
  • Mount Isa
  • Redcliffe
  • Rockhampton
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Toowoomba
  • Townsville.

TS2 is helping reduce youth crime

T2S provides a supportive and therapeutic environment that enables young people to meet challenges in their life and work towards a positive future that is not defined by their past behaviours.

Each year, more than 400 young people engage in T2S, many graduating with certificates, short course accreditations and experience in various fields. Some go on to continue their education or training, while others find jobs and work on building a career.

An independent evaluation report found that graduates:

  • are less likely to reoffend
  • spend less time in custody
  • are more likely to continue engaging with education, employment and training.

The report also found that T2S has been successful in delivering positive financial benefits to the Queensland Government and community.

The evidence showed that every dollar spent delivering T2S results in $2.13 in benefits, including avoided costs of crime, custody, and supervision. Read the report for full details.

Referring a young person to T2S

Young people can be referred by:

  • youth justice service centres
  • child safety
  • youth services
  • schools (including public and private alternative education providers)
  • employment service providers
  • themselves (self-referral).

We work with referrers, family and other key agencies to support the young person during T2S and after they graduate.

If you know a young person who may be eligible and interested in taking part in T2S, we encourage you to get in touch:

  1. Email T2SYJ@cyjma.qld.gov.au to request supporting materials.
  2. Complete the referral form we send you. This will give us the information we need to give the best support to the young person.
  3. We will contact you and the young person to arrange an interview, where we will discuss:
    • the program
    • what kind of support might be needed—such as transport, literacy, numeracy
    • any concerns you or the participate have.
  4. We will also meet with parents and carers to discuss T2S and how we support young people change their story.

Partnerships

We work with the local community, including partnering with relevant organisations, to develop the best opportunities for the young people engaged in T2S.

The T2S model enhances service delivery through local partnerships between Youth Justice and:

  • Education Queensland (i.e. local secondary schools and senior guidance officers)
  • registered training organisations (i.e. TAFE)
  • not-for-profit agencies
  • community groups
  • local businesses.

Learn more about our partnerships and community involved in T2S, including how you can volunteer or partner with us.

More information

Learn about other Youth Justice programs and initiatives working to reduce crime in the community.

Last updated 11 July 2024

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