IT WAS graduation day last week for the sixth group of Casey students who celebrated the end of the personal development program Operation Newstart Casey.
Region five Assistant Commissioner Paul Evans presented Operation Newstart Casey certificates to eight youths on Friday, who walked away as graduates of the eight-week intensive program that is designed to help keep them engaged in education.
Students who attend public secondary colleges in theCasey area and are disengaged from learning, not attending school regularly, lacking confidence or at risk of coming to the attention of police, are those the program targets.
Students take part in the program, which is a joint initiative between Victoria Police, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Connections from Tuesday to Friday and spend Monday at their school.
At the graduation on Friday, the group was given a bicycle education trailer and 12 brand new bikes, which were donated by charities and local businesses.
The new trailer and bikes will be used to better educate Operation Newstart students on bike safety and road rules throughout the course.
Operation Newstart facilitator Leading Senior Constable Christine Atherton said the program relied heavily on the support of its local communities and she was “blown away” when a parent from a previous intake started a fundraising campaign and presented a $6000 cheque.
“We are extremely grateful and touched by the support we receive to further develop and enhance our program,” she said.
Businesses, organisations and charities that supported the bicycle education trailer and bikes included The Jack Brockhoff Foundation, Beleza Uniforms, Dandenong Bicycle Superstore and Stockland Community Grants Program.
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