L-R: Jayden, Constable Tom Thiele from Edmonton Police, Oliver and Bailey outside Trinity Cycle Works with the completed bikes
Seven local boys have graduated Project Booyah on Friday as part of the second cohort of students for the Cairns project.
Project Booyah is a QPS initiative and is a multi-agency approach to reduce and prevent young people’s involvement in crime, the criminal justice system and further disengagement with their local community, education and/or their family.
Cairns Booyah co-ordinator, Detective Senior Sergeant Marty Ots said, “We started out with eight boys for this group and I’m pleased to say we’ve seen seven of the boys graduate. Part of Booyah’s challenge is to get the kids to embrace new ideas and build strong relationships. “
Supporters of the program work closely with police and the boys throughout the program and we see some great changes. Bikes were donated by Queensland Police and then taken apart by Oliver and Trey at Trinity Cycle Works.
The frames were repainted by David and staff at Stanley’s Panel Works and put back together again by the staff at Trinity Cycle Works.
These bikes were then presented at Graduation day to Bailey McCarthy and Jayden Edwards who were this cohorts recipients of the Matt Eaton award.
Both boys respected and embraced the challenge of Project Booyah and were subsequently awarded for their efforts.
Encouragement awards were also presented to John Rigley and Jimmy Dehne.
Senior Constable Kelly Chamberlain will be Project BOOYAH co-ordinator for the February intake of students and at present she is calling for nominations for a girls only BOOYAH group to run next year.
The program is run over four months and is designed to challenge and extend the participants, through adventure based learning camps, health assessment, vocational studies provided by TAFE Queensland, literacy and numeracy studies facilitated by teachers from Education Queensland, fitness, resilience and leadership training and job placement.
Project Booyah commenced in 2012 and since that time there has been 142 young people across Queensland who have participated in the program with the majority of participants re-engaging in education and/or obtaining employment outcomes.
The project was recently awarded the Meritorious Police Certificate at the 2014 Australian Crime & Violence Prevention Awards held in November.
For more information about the girls program go to: Girl Power Wanted for Project Booyah