What is U-turn?
U-turn is a structured ten-week automotive training course in car maintenance and body work, delivered in a workshop environment. U-turn targets young vehicle theft offenders, engaging them in ‘hands on’ mechanical training while addressing life-skills and personal development issues. U-turn gives young offenders an opportunity to learn new skills and turn their lives around, thereby helping to reduce the impact of vehicle theft on the Tasmanian community. The U-Turn program was piloted in Tasmania over a two-year period with funding provided by the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council and the Australian Government’s National Crime Prevention program. The program was delivered by Mission Australia under contract to Tasmania Police. During the pilot period, eight courses were run and fifty-two young people graduated from the program. The State Government has committed ongoing funding to enable the program to continue for a further 2.5 years beyond the pilot period which ended
