Turning lives around

GEELONG Youth Engagement CEO Andy Brittain is seeing the rewards of his commitment to turning young people’s lives around, with program participants returning as advocates to promote his initiative.

The Westfield Local Hero finalist had been a police officer for almost 33 years, working solely with young at-risk people facing significant challenges for the past 15 years, while also starting the valuable Kokoda program in 2013 as a volunteer before taking on the CEO role.

He said 89 young people had been through the Kokoda program, with more than 100 adults walking alongside them and supporting them before, after and during the trek.

“Adults are an integral part of the program and have been absolutely magnificent in their mentoring role; they provide a trusted relationship that sometimes in lacking,” Andrew said, explaining local businesses and agencies support GYE by sponsoring a young person and providing their mentor and trek companion.

“We’ve had great people come on board, and they keep connected with them and develop a unique relationship.”

Andy said the program supported young people for a year, which included 20 weeks of training before walking Kokoda, and 90 per cent of participants kept in contact.

COVID has cancelled any plans for a Kokoda trip this year but a trip to the Flinders Ranges is scheduled, and two Kokoda programs planned in 2022 if restrictions allow.

He said there were countless success stories of kids getting jobs or returning school, with some returning to encourage or mentor new participants, and representing GYE to help with community grant applications.

Andy said becoming a Local Hero award winner and securing $10,000 for GYE would enable him to buy equipment and expand the program so all participants could complete a level three first aid course, which could help them or someone else around them one day.

“We rely on grants and donations and we are lacking electronic equipment like projectors and laptops to deliver our program to young people; and we need to buy things that will last,” he said.

Support Andy and GYE by voting online at the Westfield website.