Questions Raised Over Changes To Project Booyah

Image for illustrative purposes only. Photo source: Shutterstock

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By Hannah McNamara

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Youth mentoring program Project Booyah is sparking discussion in Mackay, with concerns being raised by local parents about the reduced role of Queensland Police Service officers in the program.

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The program, which has been operating in Mackay since 2021, supports disconnected and at-risk young people through mentoring, practical skills, education, training and employment opportunities, with the aim of building confidence, resilience and stronger connections with the community.

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Project Booyah has traditionally been delivered through a partnership between the Queensland Police Service and PCYC, with police officers playing a hands-on role alongside youth workers.

It is understood that new changes mean the program’s delivery will now sit with the youth workers, with police being involved in a reduced capacity compared with their previous hands-on role.

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Parent Kristy Lee Fox, whose daughter completed Project Booyah earlier this year, has publicly raised concerns about changes to the program.

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“This is not about PCYC versus QPS,” Kristy said.

“The PCYC youth workers do an incredible job and are an important part of Booyah. What we are fighting for is to preserve the partnership that already works and, particularly, the direct, hands-on involvement of QPS officers with the young people throughout the program.”

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Kristy said her daughter’s experience had highlighted the importance of the relationship between participants and police.

“When she was recently asked whether she would have done the program if it wasn’t for the police officer who led her cohort, her immediate answer was ‘No.’

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“I completely understand the importance of frontline policing, but I also believe prevention is frontline policing,”  Kristy added.

“Putting police back on the streets shouldn't mean taking them away from the young people we're trying to keep off those streets.”

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Kristy has also called for more information about how the changes will affect the program, including whether graduates, families and those delivering Booyah were consulted.

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“I also think it is important that people understand Booyah isn't about replacing parents. Young people can become at risk for many different reasons. Recognising that your child is heading down the wrong path and reaching out for additional support is part of responsible parenting.”

Earlier this year Senior Constable Keiran Horsfall described the partnership between QPS and PCYC as valuable to helping young people move forward.

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“QPS and PCYC work in partnership to help disengaged young people gain experience and qualifications, with the aim of helping them build better lives,” he said.

For many of the young people and families who have experienced it, Project Booyah has been described as “life-changing”.

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Kristy said she had seen the impact of Project Booyah firsthand through her daughter, watching her confidence grow, develop resilience and gain a different perspective on her future.  

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“As a parent, I will forever be grateful for what Senior Constable Keiran and the Project Booyah team did for my daughter.”

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Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton said the project had seen great success. He shared that a former Queensland Police Commissioner had conducted a 100-day review linked to the changes, which included efforts to return as many police officers as possible to frontline duties.

“As far as I understand, the police will still have involvement. They won’t have the administration behind it, but uniformed police will still be involved in the project,” he said.

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“I hope those fears will be put to rest, because police will still be involved, but it just won’t be somebody who is administrating the whole course or project.”

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“The police will be in there regularly, engaging with the youngsters and helping them on their way to become much better citizens.”

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With changes on the horizon for the program’s delivery in Mackay, questions remain around how the new model will operate and whether the strong relationships built between young people and the police will continue.

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A petition titled ‘Keep Project Booyah Police-led’ has also been created, with 387 signatures recorded at the time of print.

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