In 2025, Youth Insearch received funding from the Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support under the Queensland Government’s Making Queensland Safer plan to deliver Regional Reset across Moreton Bay and Rockhampton.
Regional Reset is a new early intervention program supporting young people aged 8–17 years and their families who are showing early signs of high-risk or anti-social behaviours. The program is designed to step in early, strengthening safety, connection, and support around a young person before risks escalate.
How the program works
Regional Reset is delivered to cohorts of up to 20 young people for an 18-week journey. Across five key phases, the program is designed to provide the right level of support at the right time, moving from identification and engagement through to sustained change.
1. Referral & assessment
Our team connects with local communities to identify young people and families who may benefit from Regional Reset. We work with families and key stakeholders, such as schools and relevant services, to confirm the program is the right fit, understand strengths and risks, and ensure the young person receives the most appropriate support.
2. Early engagement & family planning
This phase focuses on a young person’s support network. Network meetings commence with the young person, their family, their Peer Mentor, and Case Worker, helping to establish shared goals and clear support roles. One-on-one support is provided by Peer Workers, and young people in the program are invited to participate in weekly Support Groups, building connections across the group and preparing them for the next phase.
3. Intensive Reset Intervention
Over five weeks, young people engage in three intensive workshops at PCYC outdoor education facilities. These live-in interventions offer mentorship, supervision, and a structured program to support positive change.
Young people also participate in adventure-based learning such as high ropes courses, alongside sessions from Yiliyapinya’s Know Your Brain program. These
experiences help create space away from high-risk environments while building insight, self-regulation and healthier choices.
Midway through the program, families and broader support networks are invited to participate, strengthening connection, reinforcing progress, and helping establish a practical plan for change beyond the program setting.
4. Transition & community reintegration
Over six weeks, young people gradually transition back into community-based activities. Support focuses on consistency, maintaining momentum, and linking participants with additional services and programs when needed.
5. Sustained change & empowerment
This final phase provides ongoing support to embed positive change at home and in everyday routines. Participants can also continue into Youth Insearch’s core programs, including pathways into Peer Leadership, to strengthen confidence, connection, and long-term wellbeing.
From our Head of Youth Justice, Kate Bjur
With the initial stage of delivery now underway, Regional Reset expands on Youth Insearch’s work supporting young people at the earliest stages of risk-taking and offending behaviour. The program combines trusted elements of our workshop model with new partnerships and community-based supports.
The first Regional Reset workshops were delivered in February 2026, with young people in both locations expressing gratitude for the opportunity to engage in the program, forming supportive friendships, speaking openly in groups and setting goals for the weeks ahead.
A particular highlight has been the role of peer mentors, young people with lived experience of youth justice involvement or risk-taking behaviours who are now walking alongside participants as role models and mentors. Their presence has helped build trust quickly and has shown participants that change and leadership are possible.
Young people have engaged deeply in the Youth Insearch program while also participating in adventure-based activities delivered by PCYC Queensland and the Know Your Brain program delivered by Yiliyapinya Indigenous Corporation. These experiences are helping young people better understand themselves, build confidence and develop stronger connections with others in the group.
Families and supporters have also begun engaging through network meetings, strengthening the circle around each young person.
As with any new program, the first phase has also brought valuable learning. Feedback from young people after the first workshop has helped the team refine the structure of upcoming workshops to better match participants’ energy levels and engagement. This responsiveness reflects the program’s commitment to listening to young people and adapting in ways that support their participation.
Regional Reset is still in its early stages, but the dedication of staff, peer mentors and partners, together with the courage shown by the young people taking part, is already creating momentum.
