Operation Hard Yakka graduation 2022, Fraser Coast

After 12 days in an army-style youth diversion training program, six graduates have shown their new skills in front of proud family and friends but it’s what comes next that makes the biggest difference. PHOTOS, VIDEO:

Proud parents, guardians and friends watched their boys graduate from the Fraser Coast’s youth training program ‘Operation Hard Yakka’ on Friday.

Starting in 2008, the course is a military style youth diversion training program which is held at the Susan River Homestead Adventure Resort.

After 12 intense days in the program, this year’s six graduates showcased their new skills in a presentation and graduation ceremony in front of friends and family.

The military-style field presentation featured the boys demonstrating signals and tactics, while working together as a team.

Owner and chief training officer of Oz Adventures and Operation Hard Yakka Bob Davis said the teamwork could then be related back to family life.

“If you were in a team in the army, and you do the wrong, or don’t do your role, people can suffer … you do the wrong thing as a role as a son in a family, the family can suffer,” Mr Davis said.

The Operation Hard Yakka program started in 2008.

The program includes challenges like adventure abseiling, a high ropes course and gel ball.

“We talk about the true meanings to the words ‘love’ and ‘sorry’ … we work on the concepts of trust, respect, attitude, listening skills, communication skills …” Mr Davis said.

Participants in the program also cook their own meals and undergo room inspections each morning.

“It’s resilience in a lot of ways … it’s giving the boys a bit of ownership on themselves, but also understanding what their parents are going through …” Mr Davis said.

“It’s a down to earth program, and why it does work, and in most cases a high 90% success rate, is because it’s residential.”

Operation Hard Yakka graduates lead by their chief training officer Bob Davis.

Olivia King proudly watched her son Darcy King-Wano graduate from Operation Hard Yakka on Friday.

“You could just see it in his face too, he’s changed … he’s happy …” Ms King said.

She spoke very highly of the program, and said she enrolled her son so he could learn respect.

When asked if she thought there should be similar programs across the state, she said “definitely”.

“It’s been really great and I think there should be a lot more,” Ms King said.

Operation Hard Yakka Graduation 2022. Front row. Phoenix Driver, Deltan Mallie, Darcy King-Wano, Darius Beezley and Lane Gray. Back row. Chris Provis, Shadow Police Minister Dale Last, Chief Trainer Bob Davis, Trainer Cameron Gee and Quinton Warwick.

Shadow Police Minister Dale Last also attended the graduation and presented the boys with their certificates.

Mr Last said the program taught young boys respect and gave them skills they could “take forward throughout their whole life”.

“You see the changes in these kids who come out of this program from when they start, to when they graduate, it’s absolutely extraordinary,” Mr Last said.

“Let’s not forget, none of these kids have been directed here by a court of law, this is all voluntary, and well done to the parents and the guardians for taking the initiative and doing something to help their kids get back on track,” he said.

Operation Hard Yakka Graduates 2022. Left to right. Deltan Mallie, Phoenix Driver, Lane Gray, Darcy King-Wano and Darius Beezley.

When asked about escalating crime in Hervey Bay, particularly youth crime, Mr Last said there was an opportunity to develop programs like Operation Hard Yakka and implement them across Queensland.

“I see a lot of value in these types of programs, particularly some of these young offenders who are going down the wrong pathway, there’s not a lot of options for those kids at the moment,” he said.

“What we’re seeing across the state is a crime epidemic in the youth space, and unless something’s done about it, it’s just going to continue to spiral out of control, programs like this have a lot to offer.

“I think there’s a real opportunity to take these types of programs and develop them and roll them out across the state.”