New start for youth

SIX Casey youths have graduated from an eight-week intensive personal development program designed to keep them engaged in education.
Deputy Commissioner Simon Overland presented Operation Newstart certificates to them last week.
The students from the Casey area have taken part in the program since it began in 2004.
Operation Newstart South Eastern, a joint initiative between Victoria Police, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Connections, gives young people a unique opportunity to develop new skills, attitudes and self-belief in a supported environment.
It is targeted at students aged 14-16 years of age who are disengaged from their learning, failing to attend school on a regular basis, lacking confidence or who are at risk of coming to the attention of police.
Over eight weeks, the participants took part in the program from Tuesday to Friday, and spent Monday at their local secondary schools.
The local schools communicate closely with the facilitators to monitor and support the stud-ents when they return to their schools.
Victoria Police facilitator Leading Senior Constable Sharon Sorensen said the youths (five boys, two girls) involved in Operation Newstart South Eastern had to adhere to a strict set of guidelines.
The youths took part in a range of activities including outdoor adventure activities, first aid, fitness testing, camps and community volunteer work.
They also attended a TAFE Taster Course at Chisholm Institute and student and parent workshops were also an integral part of the program.
“The program provides an important journey for the students where they participate in engaging activities that provide opportunities for the young people to be challenged,” Ldg Sen Const Sorensen said.
“When the students overcome the challenges and experience success, it helps to motivate them to face up to the other issues they face in their life includ-ing their education.”
Facilitators track students’ progress for a period of two years on completion of the program.
There are seven Operation Newstart programs across Victoria.
Operation Newstart Dandenong also held a graduation ceremony on Friday, where seven youths were presented certificates for completing the program.