Free facility set up to tackle youth crime in Queensland
Youth crime has dominated headlines in Queensland for much of the year, with many advocates calling for 'grassroots' solutions to tackle the problem. A Sunshine Coast counsellor says youth centres could help break the cycle, and he's putting his words into action, setting up a free facility to keep kids occupied.
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00:00 Every weekday afternoon, dozens of kids pour into this centre where it's organised chaos.
00:07 "I'll beat you so many more times!"
00:10 They play under the watchful eye of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Leon Stensholm,
00:15 the competitive bodybuilder who's now helping shape young lives.
00:19 "I felt the Sunshine Coast needed a place where the kids can feel safe, non-judged, and a place where they can reconnect."
00:25 He's put his life savings into the facility, which is free for kids to visit.
00:30 More than 650 have passed through the doors since July.
00:34 "Coming here, my mental space has changed completely and I'm much happier."
00:39 "Leon, he's a sick dude, so you just want to hang around him, be here even more."
00:43 Mr Stensholm is a licensed counsellor.
00:46 "I lost a brother and four clients to suicide in a very, very short time frame, so that was the catalyst to build this.
00:52 And I realised that each individual there felt they had no one to talk to.
00:56 And I didn't want anyone, any other family around me to feel what my family had to go through."
01:01 He also believes busy kids have no time for trouble.
01:05 "So it's all about that early intervention."
01:07 The state government's recently announced $56 million in funding to upgrade Police Citizens' youth club facilities.
01:13 There's 56 PCYCs in Queensland, including just one on the Sunshine Coast.
01:19 Mr Stensholm hopes to see more clubs like this to fill the gaps.
01:23 "I'm trying to bring the old school back."
01:25 He's already inspired new career goals.
01:28 "Yeah, probably a social worker, or something I can put back into the community and help people with."
01:36 Helping others and themselves.
01:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]