Seven Hobart teenagers, who have been working hard to create a positive new direction in their lives, will graduate today from the first Southern Tasmanian intake of Project Booyah.

Along with their Launceston-based counterparts, they have just completed the pilot 20-week program. It’s designed to help young people, aged 15 to 19 years, re-engage in education, vocational preparation and life skills through project-based work, classroom and adventure-based learning.

They learnt literacy and numeracy skills for the workforce and a range of construction skill sets including working at heights, asbestos awareness and using hand and power tools.

In front of their families, friends and members of the community, the seven participants from the Hobart program will receive their graduation certificates at a ceremony today.

Project Booyah is run by the Tasmanian Association of Police and Community Youth Clubs in partnership with Tasmania Police, TasTAFE and Save the Children.

Program State Co-ordinator, Senior Constable Ross McIvor said:

“The growth we’ve seen in these young men has been tremendous. They’re engaged, they’re achieving and they’ve got reason to be proud of themselves.

“They are not compelled to participate in the project and it only works because they actually want to be a part of it.

“Of course, the participants are still a work in progress – like we all are.

“Development through the turbulent years of adolescence into a stable adulthood is a particularly difficult process and they may not personally realise the true benefits of Project Booyah until years down the track.

“We can see that the program has already had a significant impact.

“These participants have worked hard to overcome their own personal challenges to be here today and it is a testimony to their character that they have stuck it out”, he said.

TasTAFE construction teacher Ben Wright said he had seen “a massive change” in the participants as the program progressed.

“They’ve definitely come a long way.

“I saw a real change in the boys. They wanted to stay longer to get the job done and they smashed it – they built a cubby house in four days,” Mr Wright said.

The next intake of Project Booyah Tasmania will start in mid February 2017 and applications are now open. The program will be delivered in Bridgewater, Huonville, Launceston and Devonport, with 10 places available in each area. Anyone interested in getting more information can contact Senior Constable McIvor at clubofficer@pcyclaunceston.org.au