Arabic version: انتقادات للمتطوعين لنموذج التواصل الجديد لبرنامج مكافحة الجريمة في كوينزلاند
Crime Stoppers Queensland will undergo significant changes to its community outreach model, moving away from a volunteer-led, locally based committee structure to a more centralized approach with regional ambassadors. This announcement has sparked criticism from volunteers who believe the new model will not work, particularly in regions like far north Queensland. According to ABC News, the changes were communicated to volunteers during Teams meetings, where they learned that the existing committees, which have operated for more than 30 years, will be phased out.
Mladen Bosnic, chair of the Mareeba-based Far Northern Crime Stoppers committee, voiced strong opposition to the decision. He estimates that the work of some 250 volunteers Queensland-wide will now be done by around 15 ambassadors, one for each regional police district. Bosnic expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of a single ambassador in covering the extensive areas that the committee currently serves, which includes the Tablelands and Cape York Peninsula regions.
Crime Stoppers Queensland CEO David Hansen defended the changes, stating that the organization needs to evolve in response to changing community engagement patterns and technological advancements. Hansen emphasized that moving away from traditional event-based outreach to a greater digital media presence will improve the audience reach and impact of campaign messaging. He acknowledged the changing landscape of how people interact with organizations and the increasing regulatory requirements.
Despite the intended shift towards digital outreach, Bosnic remains unconvinced, arguing that face-to-face interactions are crucial for building trust within small regional towns and Indigenous communities. He stated, “The digital line does not work and will never work,” and expressed doubt that a one-size-fits-all model could effectively serve the diverse needs of the state.
Crime Stoppers Queensland has confirmed there are no changes to how the public can anonymously report information — the phone number, online reporting channels, and anonymity protections remain the same. However, the lack of a clear timeline for the implementation of the new model has left many volunteers feeling uncertain about their future roles. Bosnic noted that many local committee members feel disillusioned and devastated by the changes, questioning their confidence in the organization’s leadership moving forward.
