A Townsville teen says he was getting into fights and falling behind at school before he managed to turn his life around through Project Booyah.
A group of nine teenage boys are getting ready to graduate after completing Project Booyah’s 16-week program.
The extremely successful police mentoring program aims to re-engage at-risk youths between 14 and 16 who may be struggling at school or commit minor offences.
Police Constable Jennifer Dare said they incorporate adventure-based learning, leadership skills, and social and skill development training.
Teens are also offered literacy and numeracy support and pathways to reconnect with school or undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Constable Jennifer Dare. Picture: Shae Beplate.
“The boys came into the program, and there were some behaviours that needed to be adjusted, and through it, we’ve taught them about resilience and coping skills,” Constable Dare said.
“We’ve also had them abseiling off Mount Stuart, mountain biking and camps.”
She said the boys in their latest cohort had come a long way and had shown a “big change” in behaviour ahead of upcoming graduation.
Constable Dare said the project had a success rate of about 90 per cent in relation to re-engaging teens back into school, and about 70 per cent don’t reoffend.
She said schools in Townsville can directly refer kids to Project Booyah.
Project Booyah graduates Kaydn Bax, 15, Sammy Foti, 15, and Jaydon Fisher, 15, prepare for their big day. Picture: Shae Beplate.
Kaydn Bax, 15, was among some of the graduates who were being fit for their graduation suits at Taracash on Thursday.
He said his principal at Thuringowa State High signed him up for the program.
“It’s been so good, like they’ve helped me get my white card, my CPR and first aid training,” he said.
“They’ve helped me a lot. I was struggling in school and getting myself in trouble with fights.
“I was falling behind in maths, science and English, and they’ve really helped me with it.
“It’s boosted my confidence a bit as well.”
“I want to do something in construction, carpentry maybe, and they helped me book an interview with Tec-NQ.”
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