Youth Advocacy Centre loses bail support funding as Queensland youth justice overhaul takes shape

Twenty-year provider says 19 frontline workers face redundancy

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

A Brisbane-based youth bail support service with a two-decade track record is losing its government funding under Queensland's youth justice shake-up, with chief executive Katherine Hayes saying about 19 workers will lose their jobs.

The Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC) was among the unsuccessful respondents to the state government's July call-out for bail support providers, as part of the LNP government's looming crackdown on youth offending.

In a Facebook post on Monday, YAC said its 20-year run of government-funded bail support work was ending. The centre's multi-year contract had been cut short in July, with rolling three-to-six-month contracts in place since then.

Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber defended the restructure, arguing the former Labor government's weak bail laws and "failed intervention programs" meant 60 per cent of youth offenders reoffended while on bail.

"The previous Labor government bail support programs were fragmented and didn't give youth the comprehensive support needed and the data proves this," Gerber said.

But Hayes said YAC's bail support work had been independently reviewed in department-commissioned research, which found it reduced the frequency and seriousness of reoffending.

"YAC's workers are very highly regarded in the community, the youth justice sector, the courts and by the Youth Justice Service Centres," Hayes said. "The new program has lost a dedicated focus on family support and early intervention."

Premier David Crisafulli, speaking earlier in his term amid criticism of his government's youth justice approach, said of some critics that "in many cases, it's the same people who led to the same situation for the last decade."

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The loss of a 20-year provider could disrupt support for vulnerable young people on bail at a time of heightened focus on youth offending
Nineteen specialist frontline workers face redundancy, removing experienced staff from the sector
The decision signals how the new government is reshaping youth justice service delivery

Background

Queensland's LNP government under Premier David Crisafulli has pursued a tougher youth justice agenda since taking office, including "adult time, adult crime" legislation. The government is restructuring bail support programs for young people, inviting new providers to bid for contracts in place of longer-running services.

Key Perspectives

Youth Advocacy Centre (Katherine Hayes): The centre's bail support work was independently reviewed in department-commissioned research and found to reduce offending frequency and seriousness. The new program has lost focus on family support and early intervention. Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber: Previous Labor government programs were fragmented and failed, with 60 per cent of youth offenders reoffending while on bail. Premier David Crisafulli: Critics of the government's youth justice approach, he suggested earlier in his term, are "the same people who led to the same situation for the last decade."

What to Watch

Whether other existing providers are also excluded as the new bail support program rolls out
The fate of young people currently receiving support from the Youth Advocacy Centre
Potential political and legal responses to the government's restructuring of youth justice services

Sources

Youth justice critics lose funding for bail support work · The Sydney Morning Herald
Youth justice critics lose funding for bail support work · The Age

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedGerber said: “The previous Labor government bail support programs were fragmented and didn't give youth the comprehensive support needed and the data proves this.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““The previous Labor government bail support programs were fragmented and didn’t give youth the comprehensive support needed and the data proves this,” Gerber said.”
SupportedHayes said YAC workers were highly regarded across the community, youth justice sector, courts and Youth Justice Service Centres.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““YAC’s workers are very highly regarded in the community, the youth justice sector, the courts and by the Youth Justice Service Centres,” Hayes said.”
SupportedHayes said: “The new program has lost a dedicated focus on family support and early intervention.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““The new program has lost a dedicated focus on family support and early intervention.””
SupportedCrisafulli said of critics: “in many cases, it's the same people who led to the same situation for the last decade.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Just on some of those [making] commentary, in many cases, it’s the same people who led to the same situation for the last decade,” Crisafulli told reporters at the time.”
SupportedYAC is losing government funding for bail support as part of the Queensland youth justice shake-up.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “This week we’ve learned about the existing services which are losing funding under the Youth Justice department’s shake-up.”
SupportedYAC had a 20-year run providing government-funded bail support.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “In a post to Facebook on Monday, YAC said its 20-year run of government-funded bail support work was ending.”
Partly supportedAbout 19 frontline workers whose roles are tied to the work will lose their jobs.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “About 19 frontline workers whose roles are tied to the work will lose their jobs.”
Partly supportedYAC is losing funding under the LNP government’s looming crackdown on youth offending.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Last week gave us long-anticipated news of the government’s new support program for kids granted bail under its controversial looming crackdown”
SupportedYAC was an unsuccessful respondent to the department’s July call-out for bail support providers.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The Brisbane-based Youth Advocacy Centre, fronted by Katherine Hayes, was among the unsuccessful respondents to the department’s July call-out for bail support providers.”
SupportedYAC’s multi-year contract was cut short in July.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Circus hears YAC, which has a reputation for calling out governments of all stripes, had a multi-year contract cut short last July”
Partly supportedRolling three-to-six-month contracts have been in place since the contract was cut short.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “had a multi-year contract cut short last July, with rolling three-or-six-month contracts since.”
Partly supportedHayes said YAC’s bail support work was independently reviewed in department-commissioned research and the review found it reduced reoffending frequency and seriousness.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Hayes said YAC’s current bail support had been independently reviewed by Nouse Group in department-commissioned work which found it reduced offending frequency and seriousness.”