The youth crime debate is painting young people in a negative light according to Queensland Youth Parliament’s Southern Downs representative Issy Sullivan.
“I believe the youth could be better represented in the debate,” she said.
“We hear a lot of opinions in parliament, but we need to listen to the youth themselves—whether they’re in detention centres or in regional and remote towns.”
Issy believes it’s crucial to ask young people questions such as, “What’s driving you to participate in youth crime?“ and “How can the government or local councils assist you so you do not start offending or re-offend in the future?“
At a public forum hosted by Warwick Stanthorpe Today, she said that this debate often casts a negative light on all young people, even though many are making positive contributions to their communities.
“More attention is given to those who do wrong than to those achieving great things,” Issy said.
“This only contributes to the negative persona many teens face just by living in a regional town.”
Despite this she still believes youth crime requires urgent action and addressing the root causes of youth crime is essential for creating a safer and more supportive environment for young people in the region.
“Youth crime often arises from various factors at home, at school, or in the community,” Issy said.
“In our region, it can be linked to boredom and a sense of not belonging, especially among the youth of Warwick and the surrounding areas.”
She explained that many teenagers in Warwick feel disconnected from the community and lack access to activities that would keep them engaged.
“While we do have a local shopping centre, some parks, and recreational spaces, these options don’t provide the diverse range of facilities and activities that would keep teens out of trouble,” she said.
“Having a fun day usually requires travelling 40 minutes to Toowoomba, which is not feasible for everyone, especially given the current cost of living crisis.”
According to the youth member, tackling youth crime requires a fresh approach – one that looks beyond punishment and focuses on prevention.
“We need to look at why teens have resorted to ‘violence’ and see from their perspective what we can do to help,” she said.
“We already have excellent support systems like the Queensland Police, Headspace, and online platforms such as Lifeline or Kids Helpline that we can access.
“But we also need to start by asking the youth themselves what they need.”
Issy believes that involving young people in discussions about youth crime will lead to more practical solutions.
“Adults do not know how to support us because we haven’t been asked what we need,” she said.
“If we involve the youth in discussions about them, we might actually see some real change.”
