Out on the cusp of Logan, in Tamborine where the city meets the Scenic Rim, is a farm that operates a little differently to others in the city.
It doesn’t grow cane like the one in Eagleby, or strawberries like in Chambers Flat, or prawns like the farms that can be found along the Logan River.
Instead, Woodstock Farm is changing lives by arming young people with the essential tools they need for life.
The working farm is run by the Youth Enterprise Trust (YET), a social enterprise that uses its profits to support disadvantaged people in the area, including through its educational hub, youth space, adventure education precinct and environmental programs.
The organisation funds its services by hosting concerts, weddings, camping and other functions on its 122ha farm.
“Our whole intent is working with young people,” YET CEO Ian Frame said.
“We deal with young people aged 12 right through to 19, and we put them through a six month program. It’s all around building resilience, self-esteem, self-worth, and getting kids into training and employment.
“To make that happen, we’ve decided to go on a large-scale social enterprise venture to raise more money so that we can actually run these programs for the community.”
Program participants are learning manual skills on the farm, hospitality skills at the on-site weddings, and leadership skills during an ANZAC-themed program run at the nearby adventure park Emu Gully.
Mr Frame is a former police officer who developed and led a police youth mentoring program called Project Booyah, which remains operational and was awarded the Premier’s Award for Excellence for its success keeping at-risk young people out of trouble.
“I’ve always had a bit of a passion for helping young people transition away from crime and go on a better pathway into training or employment,” Mr Frame said.
“The risks out there to these young people are fairly well known in relation to drugs and alcohol, mental health issues, family issues, domestic violence, and all the risk factors that we know present to these young people.
“Because of those risk factors, they invariably disengage with education which results in development of their criminogenic behaviours.”
He said it was essential young people learned to take responsibility for their decisions and make positive choices to “become better people”.
“We follow a fairly simple ‘E’ model – we call them the ‘three Es’, which is education, environment and entrepreneurship.”
Over the last 2.5 years, around 150 young people have participated in the Woodstock program.
Around 96% of participants graduated, 74% gained employment, and 22% went back into education.
“So we’re getting the outcomes,” Mr Frame said.
“When they come out to our property, they see it as a place of healing and a place where they can feel a connection with their environment.
“Those three fundamental key values seem to really drive these young people to become better people.”
