Welcome to the 2008
Crime Stoppers Youth Challenge Queensland

The Crime Stoppers Youth Challenge Queensland is an educational competition based program for students in Years 6 to 12 throughout all Queensland schools and youth organisations such as Scouts, Guides, Cadets and PCYCs. Students who are home schooled in Queensland are also encouraged to participate in the program.

The Crime Stoppers Youth Challenge Queensland is designed to help young people to:

• Understand the context of crime, ethical issues surrounding crime, the motivations of those committing crime and causes of crime;
• Investigate the processes in solving crime, including the role of Crime Stoppers, the Police and the community;
• Reflect on the consequences of crime for individuals and the community - whether it be personal, legal, economic and/or social consequences and
• Plan and communicate strategies to reduce and prevent crime.

The topic for 2008 is ARSON

Our aim for the Crime Stoppers Youth Challenge is for participants to understand the role of Crime Stoppers, the context of crime and its impact within their community. In addition to this, participants are to offer creative and practical solutions in relation to the topic and demonstrate what they can do to help make their community safer.

What is ARSON

Arson is the act of intentionally and maliciously destroying or damaging property through the use of fire.

Within this definition exists four (4) core elements:

• The lighting of fire (fire is the fundamental element of arson);
• Intention or wilfulness (excludes fires started by natural causes or accidents);
• Malice (excludes fires started intentionally with positive or legitimate intent) and
• Property (there must be some kind of property or object that is burned).

Arson has devastating effects on the victims, the community and the offenders. Arson is reported to cost $77 million per year in Australia from bushfires alone, with one single bushfire incident costing in excess of $300 million.

On average, over $5 million worth of damage is caused to Queensland schools as a result of arson each year.

What do PARTICIPANTS need to do?

Participating groups may present the topic and recommendations in any format they choose. This may include the following (and much more) a short film, PowerPoint presentation, board game, poster, short story, newspaper article etc. More ideas for entries are available in the 2008 Teachers Guide. To view an example of a winning entry from 2007, please click HERE.

What can you WIN by taking part in the Youth Challenge?

Entries are judged according to the above listed criteria in competition with participating schools and youth organisations within each region, across each year level category. For the 2008 Crime Stoppers Youth Challenge, the State will be divided into 11 regions. Regions are listed in the brochure and online registration form.

Categories

• Upper Primary Year 6 and 7
• Lower Secondary Years 8 and 9
• Upper Secondary Years 10, 11 and 12

All participants receive a certificate of participation. Within each category, prizes are awarded as follows:

Regional finalists

$100 for each student group to be awarded to the individual participants,
(for example, 4 students in a group = $25 each) and framed certificates for the school or youth organisation. Regional finalists then compete for the state awards.

State finalists

Awarded to the winning participants' school or youth organisation within each of the year level categories:

Our Partners

The 2008 Crime Stoppers Youth Challenge Queensland is proudly partnered by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, the Queensland Police Service and Department of Education, Training and the Arts.

Teachers Guide AVAILABLE NOW The 2008 Teachers Guide is now available online to view and download. Hard copies may be requested by contacting us at the Crime Stoppers State Office. Registrations are OPEN Register online now for the 2008 Crime Stoppers Youth Challenge. Registration forms are also available in hard copy form via this site or by contacting us School information packs All Qld schools should have now received a 2008 Youth Challenge info pack. If you require additional packs for your school please contact us Online school information packs include the following: Registration Form Teachers Guide Entry Check List Cover Sheet Brochure Poster Key competition dates 2008 Challenge launch 11 February 2008 Registrations open 12 February 2008 Competition begins as soon as you register Registrations close 30 June 2008 Entries close 30 September 2008 Regional winners announced October 2008 Awards ceremony and state winners announced November 2008 WOW Brisbane Broncos support launch Many thanks to Tonie Carroll, Ashton Simms and the WOW Brisbane Broncos for supporting our 2008 Youth Challenge launch. Many thanks also to Sandgate State School for hosting the event. Thanks to all our 2008 partner representatives, especially the QFRS Sandgate Fire Station Crew. View image courtesy of Quest Newspapers - WOW Brisbane Broncos View media release - launch 2008 Congratulations to last year's regional finalists and state winners All those involved were very proud to attend the award ceremony at Government House late last year. View the Crime Stoppers Youth Challenge Queensland 2007 results and photos View last year's winning gold entry In 2007, our topic was theft. To view Sandgate State School's winning gold entry please click here

The Crime Stoppers Youth Challenge Queensland is an adaptation of the Tasmanian Crime Stoppers Youth Challenge program.