Keeping students on track

Mount Gambier High School students taking part in Bicylce SA program

Select middle and senior school students from Mount Gambier High School have been participating in the Team BSA program run by Bike SA during Term 3.

Team BSA is funded by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and promotes riding and fixing bikes as an important vehicle for developing healthy and empowering behaviours in youth living in regional and remote communities.

The students are participating in the 8-week BMX program, which gives them the opportunity to be involved in an alternative program outside of their regular curriculum, with the objective of increasing school engagement and positive behavior outcomes.

Giving the students a weekly outlet has had great effects. Riding outside improves not just the physical ability of each student but also has a positive impact on mental health and general wellbeing. Additionally, it provides a healthy social platform for students to interact with each other away from social media and outside of the traditional classroom.

Senior School Wellbeing Leader Michael Brooks said the students were looking forward to the final four weeks of the program. “Not only do students get to ride at various locations around town, they work together on bike maintenance, trail building and social interaction through physical activity and challenge,” Mr Brooks said. “Already as the term has progressed, the students have shown an improvement in their attitude and personal application, as well as developing their confidence, self-esteem and positively working together with a purpose.”

Bicycle SA program manager Antje Dietz said after delivering the program in seven different regional and remote communities, it was great to see that it works and is having a positive impact. “The students enjoy riding a bike, they open up, and they have a chance to engage positively with their peers. We hope that more communities will have the opportunity to benefit from this program,” he said.

The program had mentored more than 140 youth prior to coming to Mount Gambier and excellent outcomes have been achieved since the program’s inception, such as increased student attendance rates, reported mental health improvements and greater positive social interaction between students.

Team BSA instructor Brad Grantham said it was a pleasure to being part of each student’s progression on the bike and to hear that they are improving in school activities.

“It’s really great to see all the positive effects the program is having only four weeks in and we can’t wait to see how much they can achieve by the end of term.” RIDING PROGRAM: Moses Bullock, Lachlan Legray & Taylor Okely get ready to head out of the school grounds for a ride up the rail lands trail