Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support

Queensland Budget 2025-26 · Crisafulli Government

Minister
Laura Gerber MP
Department head
Director-General Robert Gee APM

As at budget day (2025-06-10)

$770.9 million
Total expenses
$343.1 million
Capital program
$431M
9 tracked measures
2,665
FTE staff

Key service areas

Youth detention and supervisionYouth justice intervention programsVictim support servicesVictims of Crime Financial Assistance

Budget initiatives

Victims of Crime Financial Assistance$275MNewAnnounced

Funding for the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme to provide faster payments to victims of violent crime.

Victims of crime receive financial support faster to help them recover and rebuild their lives. The $393 million over two years funds the Victim Assist Queensland financial assistance scheme, clearing backlogs and improving processing times.

2024-25: $118.0M2025-26: $275.0M

General Government operating, 2025-26 budget year within 2-year total (MYFER $40M in 2024-25 + Post-MYFER $78M in 2024-25 and $275M in 2025-26)

Circuit Breaker Sentencing$30MNewAnnounced

New 3 to 6 month program as an alternative to youth detention through intensive rehabilitation across two remote facilities in North and South Queensland.

New sentencing options that tackle drug and alcohol addiction as root causes of offending. The $80 million Circuit Breaker Sentencing program provides three-to-six-month intensive rehabilitation across two remote facilities in north and south Queensland, as an alternative to imprisonment for eligible offenders.

2024-25: $20.0M2025-26: $30.0M2026-27: $20.0M2027-28: $10.0M

General Government operating, 2025-26 budget year within 4-year total

Staying on Track (Youth Justice)$50MNewAnnounced

12 months of post-release rehabilitation support to all youth exiting detention, helping young people transition back into the community and away from reoffending.

Programs to support young people after they leave detention, providing 12 months of post-release rehabilitation. The $225 million Staying on Track program over five years ($50 million per year ongoing) aims to break the cycle of reoffending by maintaining support after a young person leaves custody.

2024-25: $25.0M2025-26: $50.0M2026-27: $50.0M2027-28: $50.0M2028-29: $50.0M

General Government operating, $50M per annum over 5 years from 2024-25 plus $50M per annum ongoing from 2029-30

Crime Prevention Schools$10MNewAnnounced

Establishment of Crime Prevention Schools to re-engage youth who have disengaged from mainstream education and are at risk of falling into crime.

Specialist schools for disengaged young people, providing education and support to keep them away from crime. The $50 million over four years funds Crime Prevention Schools that re-engage youth demonstrating high-risk behaviours.

2024-25: $10.0M2025-26: $10.0M2026-27: $10.0M2027-28: $10.0M2028-29: $10.0M

General Government operating, total over 5 years from 2024-25 plus $10M per annum ongoing

Regional Reset Program$12.5MNewAnnounced

Funding for youth demonstrating high-risk behaviours in regional areas, providing intensive intervention and support.

Intensive programs in regional areas to intervene early with young people at risk of offending. The $50 million Regional Reset program over four years targets communities where youth crime is concentrated, providing structured activities and mentoring.

2024-25: $12.5M2025-26: $12.5M2026-27: $12.5M2027-28: $12.5M

General Government operating, $12.5M per annum over 4 years from 2024-25

Gold Standard Early Intervention: Kickstarter Program$15MNewAnnounced

Bringing the best research-backed youth intervention models to Queensland to divert young people from the justice system.

Evidence-based programs proven to reduce youth offending, brought to Queensland for the first time. The $50 million Kickstarter Program over four years funds research-backed intervention models from other jurisdictions that have demonstrated results in reducing youth crime.

2024-25: $5.0M2025-26: $15.0M2026-27: $15.0M2027-28: $15.0M

General Government operating, total over 4 years from 2024-25

Gold Standard Early Intervention: Proven Initiatives$15MNewAnnounced

Community-led and outcomes-focused programs that reduce youth offending through proven early intervention approaches.

Funds community-run programs with a proven track record of reducing youth offending. The $65 million over five years ($15 million per year ongoing) supports community-led initiatives that are already working to keep young people out of the justice system.

2024-25: $5.0M2025-26: $15.0M2026-27: $15.0M2027-28: $15.0M2028-29: $15.0M

General Government operating, total over 5 years from 2024-25 plus $15M per annum ongoing

Youth Co-Response Models (Youth Justice)$13.7MNewAnnounced

Youth co-response models to target crime hotspots and enhance community safety, delivered through the Department of Youth Justice.

Joint teams of youth workers and specialists deployed to crime hotspots to intervene with young offenders. The $75 million over four years funds youth co-response models that work alongside police to address youth justice issues in the community.

2025-26: $13.7M2026-27: $19.8M2027-28: $20.5M2028-29: $21.0M

General Government operating, total over 4 years from 2025-26

Victims Advocate Service$10MNewAnnounced

New professional Victims Advocate Service providing dedicated support to victims of crime through the justice process.

Victims of crime get a dedicated advocate to guide them through the justice process. The $50 million Victims Advocate Service over five years ($10 million per year ongoing) provides professional support so victims are not left to navigate the system alone.

2024-25: $10.0M2025-26: $10.0M2026-27: $10.0M2027-28: $10.0M2028-29: $10.0M

General Government operating, $10M per annum over 5 years from 2024-25 plus $10M per annum ongoing

Forward estimates

Year-by-year allocations for 9 measures with published forward profiles.

Measure2024-252025-262026-272027-282028-29Total
Victims of Crime Financial Assistance$118.0M$275.0M$393.0M
Circuit Breaker Sentencing$20.0M$30.0M$20.0M$10.0M$80.0M
Staying on Track (Youth Justice)$25.0M$50.0M$50.0M$50.0M$50.0M$225.0M
Crime Prevention Schools$10.0M$10.0M$10.0M$10.0M$10.0M$50.0M
Regional Reset Program$12.5M$12.5M$12.5M$12.5M$50.0M
Gold Standard Early Intervention: Kickstarter Program$5.0M$15.0M$15.0M$15.0M$50.0M
Gold Standard Early Intervention: Proven Initiatives$5.0M$15.0M$15.0M$15.0M$15.0M$65.0M
Youth Co-Response Models (Youth Justice)$13.7M$19.8M$20.5M$21.0M$75.0M
Victims Advocate Service$10.0M$10.0M$10.0M$10.0M$10.0M$50.0M
Total$205.5M$431.2M$152.3M$143.0M$106.0M$1.04B

Performance metrics

Service standards from the Service Delivery Statement. Targets and actuals as published.

MetricPrior targetActualTarget
2024-252024-252025-26
Percentage of orders supervised in the community that are successfully completed — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth offenders83%80%83%
Percentage of orders supervised in the community that are successfully completed — Other youth offenders90%88%90%
Percentage of orders supervised in the community that are successfully completed — All youth offenders85%82%85%
Proportion of youth offenders who have another charged offence or are referred by QPS to a Restorative Justice Conference within 12 months of an initial finalisation for a proven offence69%70%69%
Rate of youth aged 10 to 17 years who have contact with Youth Justice, per 10,000 population — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth offenders390376390
Rate of youth aged 10 to 17 years who have contact with Youth Justice, per 10,000 population — Other youth offenders303030
Rate of youth aged 10 to 17 years who have contact with Youth Justice, per 10,000 population — All youth offenders595959
Proportion of youth declared a serious repeat offender under the Youth Justice Act 1992 out of all youth with a proven offence finalised1.5%1.2%1.5%
Average daily number of youth in detention centres, rate per 10,000 population — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth offenders46.14046.1
Average daily number of youth in detention centres, rate per 10,000 population — Other youth offenders1.71.51.7
Average daily number of youth in detention centres, rate per 10,000 population — All youth offenders5.35.05.3
Youth detention centre utilisation rate99%99%99%
Cost per youth supervised in the community per day$300.00$349.58$380.00
Financial Assistance Funeral and High Risk Applications — average days to an assessed first decisionNew35 days
Percentage of special assistance payments processed within three business days of being assessed as eligibleNew80%

Source: Service Delivery Statement. Prior target and actual are for 2024-25; target is for 2025-26.

Source document

Service Delivery Statement — Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support (PDF)

Last updated: 2026-05-26. Factual information from published budget documents.