Media release: Synapse awarded Court Link program with an emphasis on lived experience

Synapse begins delivering the program brokerage model, Court Link Community Support Service (CLCS), the Queensland Government brokerage program to support a proportion of individuals accessing Court Link.

The program is to test the increase in engagement by offenders in the program over a 12-week duration and improved outcomes, including sentencing.

Synapse is delivering the program across the Cairns region and surrounds, with participants experiencing multiple complexities beyond their offending allows access to this additional support, this includes experience of disability, domestic violence, homelessness, mental health or drug and alcohol issues.

Synapse’s Australia’s National Director, Adam Schickerling said, “As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are overrepresented in the court system in Cairns at an approximate 62% of Court Link participants, Synapse believes culturally informed practices are required to achieve success and produce a positive impact at sentencing.”

“Critical to such support is a person, family, culture and community -centred focus to support the individual to meet court requirements, prior to sentencing decisions. For Synapse this means bringing participants and the CLCS team members together based on culture and language group preferences, age, and gender or personal and lived experiences.”