In some of the darkest corners of the Gold Coast, a hug from police liaison officer Saga Selsby can be life-changing.

Key points: Street CRED is a unique program helping vulnerable young people on the Gold Coast

Street CRED is a unique program helping vulnerable young people on the Gold Coast The project has engaged with 230 youths over a 13-month period

The project has engaged with 230 youths over a 13-month period It has won a 2019 Queensland Child Protection Week Regional Program Award

Once a week at sundown, she dons a hoodie and jeans and hits the streets with the group of child-support workers that make up Project Street CRED (Collaborate, Re-engage, Empower, Deter).

"We identify young people who might be at risk, homeless or vulnerable and then we just engage," Ms Selsby said.

Street CRED leader Saga Selsby hugs a young man at Surfers Paradise. ( ABC Gold Coast: Steve Keen )

"It's as simple as just sitting down with them and saying 'how's everything going?' and then they kind of spill their guts and tell us everything.

"It usually starts off with a hug, because I love my hugs."

It is a powerful gesture on the team's beat of Southport, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, where kindness can be a rare commodity.

"Her hugs are amazing, they're the best," said Keely Johnson, 18.

"The whole team does a lot to help and I think it is because they actually care about the children, they take the time to know their stories and know what is going on and their background.

"They actually give the help they need and not the help they think they need.

"When I was homeless they helped a lot, they came and visited me and because I was in the bush it would have been harder for them but they came into the bush and visited us almost every day."

Street CRED worker Will Aufai talks to a young man at a Gold Coast tram station. ( ABC Gold Coast: Steve Keen )

The unique program was a winner at the 2019 Queensland Child Protection Awards and is a collaboration between the Queensland Police Service, Department of Child Safety, Department of Youth Justice, Gold Coast Youth Service and G:link (the Gold Coast light rail service).

The Street CRED team receiving a Queensland Child Protection Week Award in Brisbane ( Supplied: Street Cred )

"This has been wildly successful. For a very basic concept it works really well," said Inspector Owen Hortz, who oversees the Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise areas.

"We find if we go out and see the kids where they are living and where they are experiencing the problems, it is really well received rather than expecting them to come into an office during office hours."

In just over a year, Street CRED has engaged with 230 vulnerable young people, five of whom Ms Selsby said were "back on the straight and narrow", with dozens more "a work in progress".

On the ground, workers reach out to at-risk young people, handing out food vouchers and Go Cards (public transport cards) and surveying popular hang-outs for evidence of drug use and gang activity.

During the ensuing days workers refer youths to relevant support services.

"The real work is in the follow-up, so we build the relationship on that night and then the follow-up that happens during business hours is what makes it work as well," Ms Selsby said.

"Growing up I was always told it takes a village to raise a child and so this for me is an example of that.

"I'm hoping that as a result of the [Queensland Child Protection] award the program will roll out and be tailored statewide and that services can work together like this everywhere.

Inspector Owen Hortz and Saga Selsby keeping an eye on youths during a Street CRED patrol. ( ABC Gold Coast: Steve Keen )

"My biggest hope it that it will have sustainable outcomes for young people."

For Cody Grzazek, 18, that has already happened.

He was one of Street CRED's first engagements and said he now had a future he was excited about.

"I was actually living in a bush behind Southport and they pretty much helped me move into a house," he said.

"They stopped me from being homeless, they helped me get money when I needed it, and they stopped me from being hungry when I needed it.

"Whenever someone is in trouble I tell them to go to them (Street CRED), they'll get them sorted."