The latest Sunshine Coast Project Booyah cohort have graduated after a 16-week police mentoring program focused on supporting at-risk and disengaged young people build self-esteem and resilience.
The program is run by the Queensland Police Service, in partnership with the Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC), and the local community.
Program participants are often considered at-risk in the community and many have disengaged from their schooling or community.
The program works to develop teen’s leadership, social, literacy and numeracy skills, to put them on a pathway towards improving their health, education, employment opportunities and connection to community.
Project Booyah Sunshine Coast Police Coordinator Senior Constable Greg Newman said eight boys graduated on Friday, June 21.
“These are local teenagers that have come into the program disengaged from their community and lacking direction, that have grown into capable, valued members of our community,” Senior Constable Newman said.
“Throughout the program we teach them about healthy relationships, controlling their emotions, and the impacts of drugs and alcohol.
“Everything we do is focused on growing their confidence, self-esteem and resilience and reconnecting them with their community, including school, training and employment.”
In additional to graduation certificates, a past program participant was awarded the inaugural Crossroads Award.
“This award acknowledges a participant that has come to the program at a crossroads in their life, but has committed themselves to the learning experience,” Senior Constable Newman said.
“As program facilitators, we are meant to be teaching the teenagers, but in fact, sometimes their life experiences, resilience and wisdom teaches us.”
As graduates, the cohort will remain connected to the program through regular contact from the program facilitators to support them achieve their goals.
