Ekka showcases program for at-risk youths
A program created for at-risk youth, said to have a 100 per cent success rate, will be put under the spotlight at the Ekka as a way to curb youth crime in Queensland.
QLD News
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A program created for at-risk youth in NSW will be put under the spotlight at the Ekka as a way to curb youth crime in Queensland.
Big Brother’s Dave Graham will bring his show to the Ekka every day where he and kids from the program Rufftrack will create the ultimate dog high jump competition.
“We work with kids that are falling through the cracks that are deep deep down in the cracks, and they come to us via police by emergency services, family members,” he said.
“We have teams that go out and get kids that are sleeping rough.
“It doesn’t really matter where they come from. It’s the fact that they need something and they’re grasping for it and they’ll do anything that they can getting involved in serious crime, the criminal justice system.”
Mr Graham said he used the program, which was created for those aged 11 to 17, to bring them in with love, kindness, purpose and direction to bring them back into society.
He said he hoped the people watching the program would see the need for it in Queensland.
“The statistics are pretty straightforward,” he said.
“100 per cent of kids that come through our programs don’t end up in the juvenile justice system.
“And our goal was 20 per cent so the results are absolutely outstanding when you give kids a dog, give them responsibility.
“I would love to be bringing it to southeast Queensland.
“It does strike me as odd how the Queensland Government hasn’t seen the incredible things that we’re doing in NSW.
Mr Graham said the show itself would be fun for the audience.
“They can expect a whole lot of former feral dogs and a whole lot of former feral kids put in an arena with an incredible purpose and positivity and uplifting performance of kids with goals,” he said.
“And the idea that as a village, we can raise our kids together.”
The show will be every day at the Show Ring at 12.30pm and 3.30pm.
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