Project Booyah helps young man to change bad habits into good

Last year, Project Booyah participant Damian was expelled from school.

There was no job to go to and he was walking the streets of Mackay during the day and throughout the night with no motivation.

“I was doing whatever I wanted. I was just walking around, stealing, and playing up at school,” said Damian.

But the 17-year-old showed the initiative to turn his life around with the help of Project Booyah, funded by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN), and decided to look for any work instead of waiting for an apprenticeship.

Project Booyah is a Queensland Police Service (QPS)-led mentoring program which has an emphasis on empowering disconnected youth to enhance their life skills, so they become better members of their community.

QPS Inspector and State Manager Booyah and Youth Programs Michael Volk said the behavioural management program helped improve the lives of youth in all areas as it aided in developing personal maturity.

“In Damian’s case, due to his expulsion from school and being unemployed, and wandering the streets at night, he was linked up with an employment agency to help secure temporary work, whilst looking for a full-time apprenticeship,” said Inspector Volk.

Damian said he didn’t really know what the program was at first, “but I’m glad I got the chance to turn my life around.”

He found work as a casual trade assistant in a carpentry business. It wasn’t the field he was keen on, but he continued to build his resume and get his life on track to reach the goal of becoming a diesel fitter.

Damian never gave up the pursuit of his dream job. He trudged around local workshops, introducing himself, and handing in his resume to get a diesel fitting apprenticeship.

He persisted for months, and this year Damian successfully obtained a full-time apprenticeship.

Since starting his apprenticeship, he has taken responsibility for his actions and employment has become his priority.

“I’ve changed a lot. I don’t do any of the bad stuff that I used to do. I’ve got a full-time diesel fitting apprenticeship and I’ve just got my Ps, so I’m able to get myself to and from work. I’m making better choices for myself now,” said Damian.

NQPHN provided the seed funding for Project Booyah in Mackay and helped the program gather the support and data needed to receive permanent funding from the QPS from the end of 2022.

The intervention program is for young people who have either committed offences or are considered at-risk of committing offences because of their behaviour. The program, centred around cognitive-based therapy, is designed to make young people examine the decisions they make before they act on them.

“The program has three main parts – behavioural change, adventure-based learning, and vocational pathways,” said Inspector Volk.

“The behavioural change component consists of 18 sessions and helps to develop mature thinking.

“The adventure-based learning component links the behavioural change lessons to real life examples.

“The vocational pathway component provides young people with training opportunities to assist with future employment – for example, obtaining a white card, RSA, first aid certificate, etc.”

Project Booyah is based on crime and victim outcomes; however, NQPHN’s primary focus was on adolescent mental health outcomes.

Inspector Volk said the program covered areas of resilience, positive image, drug and alcohol, impulse control, anger management, conflict management, moral reasoning, suicide prevention, self-esteem, and healthy relationships.

“These programs, when delivered with a focus on adolescent mental health, meet outcomes for both NQPHN, QPS, and the Queensland Government, leading to these young people living happier, healthier, longer lives,” said Inspector Volk.

“The most important benefit is for young people to learn to examine their decisions before they act on them.

“By learning a new way to think, they save themselves from bad decisions.”