- Government delivers significant new and permanent funding support to Blue Light as the organisation celebrates 40 years of helping Queensland's young people
- Blue Light to receive more than $200,000 annually and on-going
- Funding is part of the Miles Government's Community Safety for Queensland Plan
The Miles Labor Government is delivering a major funding boost for renowned youth support organisation, Blue Light.
Blue Light will receive $234,000 in financial support annually.
That financial support will be on-going.
Queensland Blue Light Association Incorporated is a not-for-profit organisation run by Police and civilian volunteers that has been helping young Queenslanders for 40 years.
Blue Light's vision is for every young person to reach their potential and live free of crime.
It's about police, community and young people achieving positive outcomes through early intervention.
The first official Blue Light Disco in Queensland was held on the Gold Coast in 1984.
Since then, Blue Light has developed into a crime reduction initiative, which aims primarily to identify and address the needs of young people at risk.
There are currently 77 affiliated branches across Queensland servicing a diverse range of communities.
Blue Light delivers more than 500 programs, activities and events each year.
These include community events, dance parties and movie nights, sporting activities and early intervention and crime reduction programs.
Blue Light can deliver programs anywhere in Queensland and can adapt programs and initiatives to suit local needs.
As stated by Police Minister Mark Ryan:
"Blue Light is an organisation that makes a very real difference in the lives of young people.
"It's a mix of police officers and volunteers coming together to support young people, and especially young people who may be at risk of getting themselves into trouble.
"It's about early intervention and helping young Queenslanders reach their full potential.
"I am proud to be part of a government which is supporting an organisation that does so much to support community safety."
As stated by Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski:
"The Queensland Blue Light Association (QBLA) and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) have a strong and proud history of working together to support young people.
"The QBLA Blue EDGE (Educate, Develop, Grow, Empower) Program is centred around physical training and provides young people with life skills through career education and mentoring.
"QPS Officers, including our school-based police officers, deliver the program to hundreds of young people each year.
"This fund will help ensure the QBLA and the QPS can continue to work together to improve the lives of young Queenslanders."
As stated by The Queensland Blue Light Association President Warren Parker:
"During our 40th anniversary year the Queensland Blue Light Association welcomes the funding which will be used to support our mission of police, community and young people achieving positive outcomes through early intervention.
"The funding will allow us to deliver vital programs to the community including Blue Edge and Elevate which are designed to ensure young people reach their potential and live free of crime."
