This initiative aims to reintegrate disengaged teenagers into their community, guiding them towards education and ultimately meaningful employment.

Bli Bli NHW Area Co-ordinator Edith Blanck has taken the lead in her community by approaching community leaders to help out Project Booyah.

Senior Constable Greg Newman had this to say about the support he has received:

“We simply cannot do what we do without the support of the local community including Bli Bli Neighbourhood Watch who have provided breakfast to all of the cohort since 2019. Local businesses are also involved including Bli Bli Priceline Pharmacy where manager Kam Shirzadi has donated a host of toiletry items for male and female participants and we have also had significant financial support from the developers of Parklakes Central Peter Shadforth and Robert Flipp.”

Area Coordinator Edith Blanck said Project Booyah was playing an important role assisting young people in the community.

“This program is truly unique, and I am not surprised it has achieved a success rate of up to 80 percent. It’s been wonderful to see another crop of graduates complete the program and re-engage into further education or employment. There’s also a female programme which will begin after these school holidays and participants will graduate in late September.

“As always, funding for these types of programs is limited so it’s great that local organisations like Parklakes Central contribute to the overall success of young people within our community.”

We extend our gratitude to Priceline Pharmacy and Parklakes Central for their generous support of this program.

Lachie Zettl, Kam Shirzada from Priceline, Constable Newman, Edith Blanck, Robert Flipp, Peter Shadforth, Kevin Covey and Sam Williams.