Creating lasting change

Students have gained skills in umpiring and coaching which has enabled us to run mini clinics in our primary school, with the Year 9/10 students planning and running each session independently. We have also been able to support the local football club and school association football teams by providing umpires, as a result of their training though this program.

Staff have noticed a marked improvement in the students’ confidence and ability to work collaboratively towards a common goal as a result of leadership and decision-making activities they have been exposed to. They have taken great interest in the Event planning project, where they are guided by the Foundation staff, to work collaboratively in groups to plan and run a major sporting event involving students, parents and staff. This opportunity has given them insight into the complexities of managing an area of personal responsibility but also in having to consider how their decisions affect the other planning groups, in order to run a successful event.

The Stephen Michael Foundation activities that are held in the community are well attended by kids who do not come to Police attention and there would be at least 6 kids who regularly come to our attention and do not regularly attend school that also attend the activities. I believe this is a good thing, because in most cases the kids that regularly offend come from very trying family circumstances. So the activities provide them with the opportunity to engage with other peers in a positive, safe and fun environment which helps build relationships with other kids and improves their self-worth.

The activities definitely help reduce anti-social behaviour because whenever the kids are engaged in sporting activities, they don’t want to be anywhere else, and sometimes when they can’t attend for various reasons, they feel very disappointed and make sure they try to do the right thing so they can attend the next time around. I’m excited about the upcoming proposal to expand the activities into a sports competition being held next year and also to hold leadership workshops which adds a learning aspect to the kids’ development.

Beforehand, we just weren’t that maturity level of what we should have been and then after learning through leadership skills and everything, we just stepped up our game and then especially teaching the little kids, it made us realise and so pull our heads in. Probably just talking when the teacher’s talking, like the usual stuff, just mucking around heaps. But as soon as Stephen Michael came down, we kind of pulled our heads in, cracked on.