10 girls are the latest Project Booyah participants to complete Rockhampton program

A teen girl and nine others now have a vibrant future and lifelong friendships thanks to an incredible program in Rockhampton.

Participants of Project Booyah celebrated completing their course in Rockhampton Wednesday June 18. Pictured Project Booyah program coordinator senior constable Shelly Ibell and program participant Bailee Brown.

It was a day of incredible accomplishment for a group of local youths who graduated from the latest round of the Project Booyah program designed to support disengaged teenagers.

The ten girls part of the latest intake celebrated their achievement in a small ceremony at the Rockhampton PCYC, which was also attended by family and friends as well as program staff.

Fifteen-year-old Bailee Brown was one of the participants of the 16-week course and said it was a great experience.

Bailee said she joined the program on a recommendation as she wasn’t doing well at school.

“I’ve learnt how to control my anger and be a lot nicer to people and work on myself,” she said.

As part of Project Booyah, Bailee and her fellow participants took part in adventure-based learning, leadership skills, social and skill development training, decision making/problem solving exercises, resilience training, community engagement, short courses and qualifications.

Bailee Brown,15, completed the 16-week Project Booyah program on Wednesday, June 18, along with 10 other girls.

This included learning survival skills, visiting the Rockhampton Fire Station and also completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Bailee said she was both sad at completing the program but also proud of her achievement.

Bailee said her favourite part of the program was making friends with the other program participants.

In a tearful speech at the ceremony Bailee said she was grateful to be part of the latest Project Booyah cohort and described her fellow participants as “amazing girls.”

“I can honestly tell you today Booyah has changed my life,” she said in her speech.

“The staff were the most kind caring and understanding people. These 16 weeks have been the best of my year so far.”

Project Booyah program coordinator senior constable Shelly Ibell said she was incredibly proud of the girls who participated and completed the program.

“Project Booyah… that basically runs through what we call the respect training,” she said.

Project Booyah program coordinator senior constable Shelly Ibell said she was very proud of the girls who completed their course and described the growth of the participants throughout the 16-week program as fantastic.

“It basically assists with the girls and helps them with resilience to participate better in their future.

“(The program) gives the girls the skills that they need to either participate in the school environment or out in the workplace.

“What I’ve seen; the growth of the girls from the moment that I’ve started to the end has been fantastic.

“These programs assist kids that maybe don’t fall into that school space, to give them some sort of opportunities for their future.”

Bailee plans to finish her Certificate II and III in health and nursing.

Though the latest cohort of Project Booyah participants may have finished the program, they will still get further mentoring through the 18-month Framing the Future post program initiative run by Queensland Police Service which will run for 18 months.

Project Booyah is run by the Queensland Police Service twice a year, in several different state locations.

Participants of Project Booyah celebrate pose, alongside program staff, after a small ceremony held in Rockhampton on Wednesday June 18.