August 2, 2022
Two young South Burnett women have been hand-selected to head up a federally funded youth project as part of CTC’s new Safer Communities Program.
Over the next two years, Kingaroy graduates Kate McCormack and Courtney Ludlow will be delivering a wide range of activities, workshops, information sessions, and come-and-try days across the region in a bid to engage local youth with their communities.
“The central theme around the entire CTC Safer Communities Program is all about creating ‘the best thing that happened today’ and helping to change the internal story for all young people who join us,” program officer Kate McCormack said.
“Courtney and I are both very passionate about providing hundreds of opportunities to hundreds of local young people aged 12-24 who might otherwise not get the chance to take part in these activities and skills.”
The Safer Communities Program received grant funding from the Australian Government through the Safer Communities Fund Round 6 Early Intervention grants stream with support from South Burnett Regional Council following a community-wide call for more diversional activities for local teens and young adults.
The program will be delivering everything from cooking to canoeing by partnering up with dozens of local community organisations and clubs.
“The beauty of this program is it allows us to join forces with entities who already make an incredible impact on our region’s young people,” Kate said.
“We are able to provide the transport, supervision, planning, and support required to get some of our more at-risk young people there and home safely.”
Some of the sessions the program has already managed to deliver include a financial fundamentals money management lesson, two Barambah boys cooking classes, a tenancy skills session, and a kokedama-making workshop.
“As a recent Kingaroy State High graduate, I can appreciate just how much it means to regional kids to be able to participate in such a wide variety of new hobbies and ventures,” Courtney said.
“We’re having almost as much fun as the participants because these are skills and activities I would have loved to do when I was growing up here.”
The Safer Communities program will also encompass a Prep-L and learner driver program as well as several full-day events across the region to encourage a deeper sense of connection with the region’s communities.
These activities will include several small-town skills days as well as Farmer For A Day, a hands-on experience for young people to see what a career in the local agricultural sector is like.
“We’re keen to establish a connection with the wider South Burnett community so if you can assist by sharing your skills or services in any way, please get in touch with us,” Kate said.
“Right now we are calling out to the community to assist us by volunteering as driving instructors to help all of our young people get their hours up in our learner driver vehicle.
“So if you have the capacity, please reach out today.”
To get in contact with the Safer Communities Program, call CTC Youth and Family Services on (07) 4162-7788 or email Kate McCormack
