If, as the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better and pound of cure, Geelong Youth Engagement is weighing in somewhere around 500 tons.
The crew at GYE run four mentor-based youth programs designed to encourage engagement with education, employment and youth, build resilience and increase self-belief and confidence.
They run four programs throughout the Geelong and Bellarine regions involving more than 20 secondary schools.
Its flagship program remains the Geelong Kokoda Youth Program, revered by all involved and now in its 12th year.
Of its other programs, one focused on road safety – called You Just Never Know (YJNK) – has grown quickly and this year will reach approximately 2400 Year 11 students who are at or near the process of learning to drive.
The key to the success of YJNK is in its “lecturers”, presenters from Barwon Health, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and the Justice Department who combine for presentations of about 100 minutes.
And their secret to keeping the attention of an audience that could potentially lack focus is “keeping it real”.
The students hear from the people who are first on the scene of an accident and/or dealing with its aftermath.
GYE program co-ordinator Kelly Taylor says it’s a great way for the students to learn of the dangers of speeding, drink or drug-driving and use of mobile phones while in the car.
And to help this program reach as many of our region’s youth as possible, the Portarlington Golf Club is delighted to announce it has contributed $5000 to GYE through its Community Contributions Fund (CCF).
“We’re so grateful to all at the golf club who have made this possible – it really helps us get our message across to the largest audience possible,” Taylor said.
“The funding (essentially to cover facility hire and labour costs of facility staff for two days) will mean we can essentially offer the program to all those schools for free, so the kids have no barrier to their attendance. It makes a huge difference.
“In targeting students in Year 11, it’s important that they start driving with good habits in their mind and this program really makes them think – not only about driving itself, but also what behaviour to be aware of at parties or concerts when others offer them a ride in their car, too.”
Taylor said the feedback from previous editions of the program had been “very positive”.
“But they tend to find it quite confronting because it’s very realistic and they are now seeing things through the eyes of those in emergency services and what they see at the site of an accident,” she said.
“Another thing that the kids take from this … and all of our programs is that they learn that there is a network of people around them to support them when they need to know something.
“All the programs help into the future by giving a more rounded knowledge of day-to-day life, but one of the important things we’ve found that helps the youth out is that they can become part of a network of friends and contacts that they didn’t previously have.”
Golf club chief executive Michael Phillips said the decision to exercise the CCF funding for GYE’s road safety program was comparatively easy.
“Sadly, the statistics just show that kids are far more likely to be in an accident in the early part of their time behind the wheel,” he said.
“And doubly so for us because while only 24 per cent of Victorians live outside Melbourne, regional accidents account for more than half of the state’s road fatalities.
“So if we can help the next generation of drivers and save just one life, it will be an incredible investment.
“We really commend the GYE team on the work they are doing – not only in making our roads safer, but in helping fill our community with engaged youngsters who want to do the right thing by everyone.”
In the past five financial years alone, the Portarlington Golf Club has given charitable support of more than $150,000.
In that time, the CCF component has become the biggest single source of community initiatives with almost $50,000 in such grants alone.
The CCF was established to support not-for-profit community or sporting organisations to make positive improvements that will, in turn, benefit the wider community.
This year, highlighting just how much the CCF means to these institutions, the club received 18 grant applications totalling in excess of $122,000.
The Geelong Youth Engagement grant is one of four successful applications, with a total of $15,000 given back to the community, extended from the originally advertised scope of $12,000.
“We really think these donations have become incredibly important within our community, so we’re happy to extend this year because all the applicants were incredibly worthy,” Phillips said.
The crew at GYE run four mentor-based youth programs designed to encourage engagement with education, employment and youth, build resilience and increase self-belief and confidence.
They run four programs throughout the Geelong and Bellarine regions involving more than 20 secondary schools.
Its flagship program remains the Geelong Kokoda Youth Program, revered by all involved and now in its 12th year.
Of its other programs, one focused on road safety – called You Just Never Know (YJNK) – has grown quickly and this year will reach approximately 2400 Year 11 students who are at or near the process of learning to drive.
The key to the success of YJNK is in its “lecturers”, presenters from Barwon Health, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and the Justice Department who combine for presentations of about 100 minutes.
And their secret to keeping the attention of an audience that could potentially lack focus is “keeping it real”.
The students hear from the people who are first on the scene of an accident and/or dealing with its aftermath.
GYE program co-ordinator Kelly Taylor says it’s a great way for the students to learn of the dangers of speeding, drink or drug-driving and use of mobile phones while in the car.
And to help this program reach as many of our region’s youth as possible, the Portarlington Golf Club is delighted to announce it has contributed $5000 to GYE through its Community Contributions Fund (CCF).
“We’re so grateful to all at the golf club who have made this possible – it really helps us get our message across to the largest audience possible,” Taylor said.
“The funding (essentially to cover facility hire and labour costs of facility staff for two days) will mean we can essentially offer the program to all those schools for free, so the kids have no barrier to their attendance. It makes a huge difference.
“In targeting students in Year 11, it’s important that they start driving with good habits in their mind and this program really makes them think – not only about driving itself, but also what behaviour to be aware of at parties or concerts when others offer them a ride in their car, too.”
Taylor said the feedback from previous editions of the program had been “very positive”.
“But they tend to find it quite confronting because it’s very realistic and they are now seeing things through the eyes of those in emergency services and what they see at the site of an accident,” she said.
“Another thing that the kids take from this … and all of our programs is that they learn that there is a network of people around them to support them when they need to know something.
“All the programs help into the future by giving a more rounded knowledge of day-to-day life, but one of the important things we’ve found that helps the youth out is that they can become part of a network of friends and contacts that they didn’t previously have.”
Golf club chief executive Michael Phillips said the decision to exercise the CCF funding for GYE’s road safety program was comparatively easy.
“Sadly, the statistics just show that kids are far more likely to be in an accident in the early part of their time behind the wheel,” he said.
“And doubly so for us because while only 24 per cent of Victorians live outside Melbourne, regional accidents account for more than half of the state’s road fatalities.
“So if we can help the next generation of drivers and save just one life, it will be an incredible investment.
“We really commend the GYE team on the work they are doing – not only in making our roads safer, but in helping fill our community with engaged youngsters who want to do the right thing by everyone.”
In the past five financial years alone, the Portarlington Golf Club has given charitable support of more than $150,000.
In that time, the CCF component has become the biggest single source of community initiatives with almost $50,000 in such grants alone.
The CCF was established to support not-for-profit community or sporting organisations to make positive improvements that will, in turn, benefit the wider community.
This year, highlighting just how much the CCF means to these institutions, the club received 18 grant applications totalling in excess of $122,000.
The Geelong Youth Engagement grant is one of four successful applications, with a total of $15,000 given back to the community, extended from the originally advertised scope of $12,000.
“We really think these donations have become incredibly important within our community, so we’re happy to extend this year because all the applicants were incredibly worthy,” Phillips said.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Monique Leffanue addresses a GYE road safety forum in Geelong, while the students get an up-close look at the impact of a car crash.
