FTS was founded by Selena Walters who has a background in the community sector as a consultant, youth worker and in education both at the Brisbane youth detention centre and for a national children’s cancer charity.

FTS staff and volunteers have various backgrounds, including having worked in detention centres and those who have spent significant time in both juvenile and adult correctional facilities.

Whilst at the detention centre, Selena gained insight into the gaps in the system for young people who once locked up, away from the drugs, negative peer influences and feeling safe, supported and with a roof over their head and food in their stomach “most really aren’t such bad kids – just kids who find themselves in bad situations.”

It was also clear from conversations that the majority did not access mainstream support services and struggled to commit or respond to current programs. It was obvious that upon leaving detention there was a real need for an alternative approach that was specifically tailored to the needs of this cohort – the 10% committing 48% of youth crime in Queensland.