A group of state high school students travelled to Whitehaven Beach on Tuesday to graduate from a new program which hoped to guide them in making better life choices.
Operation RESPECT brought together the grade 9 Proserpine State High School students and Police Sergeant Billy Li in a ten-week Police Youth Mentoring Program.
The local PCYC Whitsunday Manager and Police Officer taught the students alongside the state high school’s behaviour support teacher, Chris Lang.
Along with nine students, Sergeant Li and Mr Lang boarded the Whitsunday Water Police vessel Damian Leeding to enjoy a casual graduation on the silica sands of Whitehaven.
The group of boys had been promised that, at the end of their ten weeks of Operation RESPECT, they would travel aboard a policeboat to enjoy a barbecue and games at the famous beach – as well as a day off from school.
Sergeant Li ran the program which utilised interactive learning, leadership skills, decision making and problem-solving exercises, resilience training and family inclusive principles to guide his group.
The State School students spent two hours of the week with Sergeant Li undertaking activities that focused on topics from conversation skills, personal presentation and hygiene to healthy eating and mental fortitude.
This is the first time the program has been run in the region, with the group of Proserpine boys its first Whitsunday graduating class.
Sergeant Li said he has seen a change in behaviour in his RESPECT alumni now that they’ve completed the program.
“They all have improved concentration, behaviours, and found respect for themselves and other people, which is fantastic,” Sergeant Li said.
“They’ve commented on their behaviours being better at school and there’s also the positive interaction they’ve now had with a police officer.”
State High School teacher Mr Lang said this first iteration of the program – which ran over six months – had imparted different things for the nine “very different boys”.
“They’ve all gained something from the program, but how much you can’t quantify. But I think even the respect they have for Billy and the police now is something they can benefit from,” Mr Lang said.
“Having a good relationship and a good male role model, as well as seeing police as protectors of the community, those are real benefits.”
The group spent two hours at Whitehaven playing games, catching up on some RESPECT revision, enjoying Hill Inlet, and a sausage sizzle as part of their graduation reward which included a tour and ride of the Damian Leeding police vessel.
Student Cameron Heard – who took part in RESPECT– reflected the group of boy’s consensuses on the program.
“It really helped me gain respect, as well as discipline and I’m enjoying school more now,” Cameron said.
Sergeant Li said RESPECT will continue – likely as soon as next term - with the plan to take on an all-female group in the next instalment.
Sergeant Billy Li, his first Operation RESPECT graduates, and Behaviour support teacher Chris Lang onboard the Whitsunday Water Police vessel Damian Leeding
