Project Booyah Ipswich graduates turn lives around

A group of young women has become the first all-girl cohort to complete a program for at-risk youths.

Ten young women have graduated from a program made to mentor at-risk youth away from bad life choices.

Project Booyah is a Queensland Police program helping youth make better life choices and re-engage with school.

For the first time in Ipswich, 10 young women have graduated from an all-female cohort within the program.

Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard said the aim of the program is to give youth a chance to make a better life for themselves via police mentorship and community programs.

“It’s about equipping them with skills and training, and pathways to employment to help turn their young lives around,” she said.

“There is a very small window of opportunity for at-risk young people to receive the right interventions at the right time.

“Project Booyah has had great success in being there at the right time and in the right place to make a real difference to a young person’s life.”

Project Booyah Ipswich co-ordinator Senior Constable Andrew Tracy said being a part of mentoring the graduating cohort was rewarding.

“This is the first time our Ipswich program has run a female cohort. To see how far they have come over the past 16 weeks has been incredible to be a part of,” Sen Const. Treacy said.

“The success of the program comes down to the participants wanting to make positive changes in their lives. We simply provide them with the tools and ongoing mentoring to enable them to achieve their dreams.

Pr0ject Booyah has been running since 2016 and has mentored more than 400 young people.

The project boats a success rate of more than 80 per cent.