The On Country program was established in 2019 as a 3-year trial in Townsville, Cairns and Mount Isa. On Country is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-led program, providing cultural-based rehabilitation for First Nations young people, many of whom have complex needs.
The program provides young people with an opportunity to self-reflect on their offending behaviour through cultural interventions, connections, spiritual healing and trauma informed practice while on Country. Longer term support is available to help them reconnect with education, family, community, culture and employment opportunities.
Evaluation
An outcome evaluation (PDF, 1.2MB) completed by the Queensland Council of Social Services in 2023 found that stakeholders were supportive of the On Country program and felt it had strong potential to reduce reoffending. Stakeholders also felt On Country was successful in reconnecting young people with culture, family, community and Country.
Additionally, the evaluation:
- confirmed young people with healthy and strong social, cultural, physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing are less likely to offend
- found the design of youth justice programs for First Nations young people should take a health and wellbeing approach and focus on holistic needs of the family (beyond just the young person)
- found that ongoing community engagement between provider/department and community beyond initial program implementation needs to occur to ensure the program continues to meet community expectations and needs
- found that the duration of support for young people needs to be longer than 6–8 weeks in order to build relationships and deliver intensive support.
The department also undertook further analysis of the program. Key findings included:
- The On Country program has contributed to reducing reoffending in the community.
- Young people who participated in the On Country program, compared with those who did not, were proportionally less likely to reoffend 6 months after program completion [58% (n = 99) compared with 64% (n = 305)].
- Young people who participated in the On Country program, compared with those who did not, were proportionally less likely to reoffend 12 months after program completion [66% (n = 112) compared with 73% (n = 349)].
- 70% (n = 59) of young people participating in On Country, with a completed risk assessment, are rated as high or very high risk of reoffending (13% are rated as serious repeat offenders).
- There was a 30% improvement in behaviour, emotional regulation, effective communication, managing conflict and family circumstances.
- Case studies show positive progress from young people who continue in the program and those who have completed the program, including
- re-engaging with education
- engaging in alcohol and drug counselling programs with support from mentors
- accessing health checks
- and
- accessing family support payments for the first time.
- Male On Country program participants, compared with females, were more likely to reoffend 6 months after program completion [65% (n = 63) compared with 46% (n = 26)] and 12 months after program completion [72% (n = 81) compared with 54% (n = 31)].
- The proportion of youth justice young people with serious offending reduced from 37% (n = 44) to 30% (n = 36), 12 months post-program completion.
- The proportion of youth justice females with serious offending reduced from 30% (n = 17) to 21% (n = 12), 12 months post-program completion.
Last updated 21 February 2024
