Seven teenage girls from Logan have graduated from a police-led youth mentorship program designed to reduce offending.
The initiative is called Project Booyah, and consists of 16 weeks of mentorship, leadership, education, and adventure-based learning for young people aged 14-17 considered “at-risk” of offending.
Since 2022, approximately 66% of participants have continued further education or training, while 30% have secured employment through the program, according to the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
Participants are involved in a variety of courses and activities, including earning barista qualifications, learning to abseil, participating in team camps, and taking on apprenticeships and training.
The QPS says each activity is aimed at building “confidence, self-esteem, emotional regulation and drive to achieve their dreams” while also leading to further study, training and employment.
More than 60 people across Queensland graduated from the program last week – around 40 of those were male and 20 female.
The seven Logan graduates will now transition to the ‘Framing the Future’ program, which provides mentorship and support for the next 18-months as they look for either education or employment.
Senior constable Daniel Masson, one of the program’s co-ordinators, said the program was working.
“There is more to it than just learning to be part of a team and boosting your self esteem and confidence,” he said.
“They really are giving back.”
Mr Masson said one cohort volunteered every fortnight to put together food packs for vulnerable people in the community, as well as landscaping for a local community centre.
“Their actions are appreciated, and that has a real flow-on effect,” he said.
“Utimately, what we try to do is steer the kids back to education or a job.
“And to encourage that pro-social behaviour, which some of them haven’t had a great deal of, but we are seeing great results so far.”
More than 900 young people have graduated from Project Booyah programs since 2016.
Project Booyah Chief Inspector Michael Volk said each semester of the program proves time and time again the power of early intervention.
“Each of these graduates should be immensely proud of all they’ve achieved the past 16-weeks,” he said.
“I applaud all of the program co-ordinators, youth workers and community members who play a part in guiding, supporting and educating these young men and women.
“They’re now on to further education, traineeships and employment with a new mindset, great friends and the whole Booyah team behind them.”
