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Team Newsletter April/May 2019
Message from CEO I hope you all had a safe and happy Easter break and Anzac Day. It is difficult to believe winter is already here! As always, there have been many positive things happening across the state, including Braking the Cycle launching at PCYC Caboolture and PCYC Deception Bay, gymnasts from PCYC Sandgate achieving great results at the recent Gymnastics Queensland State Championships, and PCYC Beenleigh’s ‘Get Playing Places & Spaces’ funding success to name a few. I am also pleased to share that we are embarking on a journey to become a more inclusive provider, through the development of a Disability Action Plan (DAP). As ever, please send your stories and events to media@pcyc.org.au so I can share your wonderful news and achievements. Phil Schultz Chief Executive Officer
Coming up
Upcoming PCYC Queensland activities 9 June
| PCYC embRACE
15 June
| PCYC Beenleigh 40 year celebrations
29 June
| ESC Cadet Games Townsville
13 July
| ESC Cadet Games Brisbane
27 July
| PCYC Bundaberg Gala Ball
PCYC Queensland changing Jesse’s story Jesse’s story began with an incredibly difficult childhood. His life was being dominated by domestic violence and bullying. He did not have any confidence, was forced to leave mainstream schooling and was headed down a path of negativity and damaging outcomes. But everything changed when Jesse was referred to PCYC Queensland. He began visiting his local PCYC club for support, mentorship and encouragement to make more positive life choices. With assistance and guidance, Jesse had the courage to participate in sporting activities and programs and was able to gain more balance in his life, set personal goals and build hope for a positive future. We are so excited to share that Jesse has now finished his high school education and is participating in the PCYC Braking the Cycle learner driver mentor program to get his license. He also put his new-found confidence into play and recently landed his dream job as a landscape gardener! Today, Jesse is calm, can easily talk to people and is a much more positive person. He credits his changed story to PCYC Queensland’s staff, volunteers and serving police officers. You make the difference.
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Team Newsletter April/May 2019
Zone 1 – Far North Queensland PCYC Cloncurry making music and celebrating Daniel Crisp Lucky Luke currymurri13, a hip-hop artist born in Cloncurry now living in Mount Isa, visited PCYC Cloncurry to teach a group of eager young boys how to create music tracks. For an entire weekend, the boys delved into the world of music making, being guided through the process of writing lyrics, recording voices and instruments, and compiling all the elements in a computer program to create the final track. Lots of unique tracks were produced and shared amongst the group!
In other wonderful news from PCYC Cloncurry, volunteer Daniel Crisp has been selected as the sole representative of Traeger for the YMCA State Youth Parliament, the largest non-partisan forum for youth aged 15 to 25 in Queensland. Only 93 Youth Members are selected to represent each electorate around the state, providing a fundamental link between young people and the Queensland State Government. Congratulations Daniel on this great achievement!
PCYC Mareeba Ready to Work program As part of PCYC Mareeba’s Ready to Work program, Ida Portella from Ida Portella Business & Travel Services presented an inspiring lesson to enthusiastic participants. Ida shared her wealth of knowledge of the travel industry, highlighting its pros and cons, and the wonderful places of the world that are worth visiting. Many of the participants left eager to pursue careers in the travel and tourism industry and are now investigating suitable study options!
PCYC Mount Isa teaches seniors about security
On Monday, 1 April PCYC Mount Isa held a Seniors Safety information session in collaboration with Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Bunnings. Constable Naomi and Sergeant Bernie advised guests on valuable security measures for homes, vehicles, and the internet, as well as personal safety strategies. Alongside the information, was a table of household security products that guests could purchase and implement in their own homes. A lot of great feedback was received from the event, well done to all.
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Team Newsletter April/May 2019
Zone 2 – North Queensland PCYC Mackay Branch Support Officer flying high
PCYC Innisfail branch manager to host ‘Locker Room Talk’ program
PCYC Mackay Branch Support Officer (BSO) Georgia Knoll won hearts around Australia when she featured excitedly in the background of a live Channel 7 news report. After joining the Sunrise team at Brekky Central and becoming an all-time favourite guest, she had the incredible opportunity of being part of the Jetstar cabin crew for a day and experiencing her dream role of being a flight attendant! Georgia welcomed passengers on board, presented a safety demonstration, and served customers in the air. Georgia’s passion for being a flight attendant is about making people happy, and her mum Debra says she’s very passionate about all people being treated the same. It is great to see Georgia chasing her dreams and bringing her great energy to wherever she works. Her advice is to ‘just be yourself’!
PCYC Innisfail branch manager Sergeant Michael Maguire is developing a Locker Room Talk program to discuss domestic violence, drug use and alcohol issues with isolated young people aged 13 to 24. This motivation comes from experiencing many confronting situations during his 16-year career with the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
Sergeant Maguire says “we find that a lot of young people exposed to these situations are into team sports and won’t approach a police officer to seek advice, however they will talk with teammates and other members on their level. We want to have peer-to-peer discussions, making sure players are well educated on what they can and can’t do and what the community’s expectations are.” Locker Room Talk will see police and other agencies delivering a monthly half hour talk to sporting teams such as the Mackay Cutters and the Innisfail Leprechauns.
PCYC Bowen P.R.E.P members become pizza makers for a day Members of PCYC Bowen’s boys P.R.E.P program had an exciting opportunity to become Pizza Hut employees for the day! The group visited the local store and met with the owner Vicki, manager Rickie-Lee, and delivery driver Mitch, before heading into the work area to see how and why a business runs. Vicki and Rickie-Lee explained the qualities they look for in an employee, and what makes a team successful. The boys then got creative, making their very own pizzas, and dined in store before cleaning up and heading back to school. It was a great learning opportunity for all.
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Team Newsletter April/May 2019
Zone 3 – Central Queensland PCYC Caboolture and Deception Bay launch Braking the Cycle
PCYC Hervey Bay ‘Love Bites’
PCYC Queensland’s learner driver mentor program Braking the Cycle was recently offically launched at PCYC Caboolture and PCYC Deception Bay. PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz was pleased to launch the program alongside State Member for Morayfield, Mark Ryan, QPS Inspector Michael Volk, and key community stakeholders. Event attendees were inspired by Braking the Cycle participant Bianca Childs, who spoke about the positive impact the program has had on her life as a young mum, and said the program had changed her life and provided her with the independence to go back to study and gain employment.
As part of the Love Bites program, PCYC Hervey Bay’s Sergeant Kelly made a special visit to Hervey Bay High School to teach the Year 10 students about domestic violence and healthy relationships. She empowered them to ‘not be a bystander’ and the students wrote words of wisdom on the Love Tree with something important they learnt during the session.
PCYC Emerald’s basketball court mural PCYC Emerald and the Central West Youth Justice Service Centre have worked with a young person, to help him engage with structured recreation activities and move back to full-time mainstream schooling. The team developed a project that would give the young person an immediate sense of purpose and pride, where he could visibly see his incredible achievements. The project involved designing and painting a mural for PCYC Emerald’s basketball court facilities, and the young person was supported by a oneon-one youth worker. The project had a really positive impact on this young person’s life, who was able to move back into full-time mainstream schooling this year. Service Centre manager Natalie said “We have a really strong working relationship with PCYC Emerald, who are very supportive of reintegrative activities for youth justice, and encouraging physical activity for young people.” Read about this young man’s journey through the eyes of a PCYC Emerald staff member in our new spotlight story located at the back of this edition.
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Team Newsletter April/May 2019
Zone 4 – South West Queensland PCYC Bayside teaches students about safe bike riding A very successful bicycle safety education day was recently hosted at Macleay Island, as a joint partnership between PCYC Bayside Sergeant Tina Bowen, Bayside Crime Prevention Coordinator Acting Sergeant Brendon Winslow (and his team of Volunteers in Policing), Police Liaison Officer, and local Macleay Island Police. Macleay Island State School students were treated to a day of bike riding, education, and road safety rules. All 140 even received a free bike helmet courtesy of PCYC Bayside! Sergeant Bowen says “we don’t always get to help kids like this and when we get the chance, it really does make it all worthwhile. Wearing a bicycle helmet is the law but more importantly, they do save lives if you ‘stack it’ on a bike.”
PCYC Carindale hosts international police inspectors PCYC Carindale had a special visit from two Hong Kong police inspectors in the first week of March, who were in Brisbane for an international police exchange program. Sergeant Dave Beard gave Michael Lau and Karina Kong a guided tour of the club, explaining the programs and how the club engages with local community. Both inspectors were very impressed! Michael and Karina also visited the Carina Men’s Shed and spoke to Rex Gelfius, as well as the Carina Police Station where they got an exclusive look at the woodwork department’s restoration project, that will be permanently displayed at the station.
PCYC Beenleigh receives ‘Get Playing Places & Spaces’ funding PCYC Beenleigh has been successful in the ‘Get Playing Places & Spaces’ funding through State Government Sport & Recreation, that will see the gymnastics facility and equipment completely overhauled. A total of $146,573 has been provided via the funding round with a further contribution of $36,643 committed from Logan City Council, which is fantastic news for the club, members and community.
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Team Newsletter April/May 2019
Zone 5 – South East Queensland
PCYC Bornhoffen helping young burn patients Queensland Children’s Hospital burn patients have participated in the annual bush adventure therapy program at the PCYC Bornhoffen Leadership Development Centre, called the Thrive Program. As a first, this year the program was evaluated by Children’s Health Queensland and the University of Canberra on the premise of better understanding the short and long term benefits it offers. PCYC Bornhoffen has been working with young burn patients for over a decade to support them in their recovery. Amazing work!
PCYC Gold Coast
PCYC Sandgate’s gymnasts excel
A big congratulations to Emily Ireland, PCYC Gold Coast Youth Delegate, Youth Leadership member, and Awardee of the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, for receiving a $5,000 scholarship with the Tugun Branch of Bendigo Bank. It was well deserved and we wish you all the best at university!
Two senior Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) gymnasts from PCYC Sandgate, Samuel Poilapa and Riley Conroy, have recently competed at the Queensland State Championships and have been selected to be part of the 2019 QLD State Team at Nationals in May! Both boys competed at Level 7, with Sam placing first overall and he is now the Level 7 Queensland State Champion on four apparatuses. Riley placed fourth overall on an apparatus, and Head Coach Paula Sargent was also appointed as the Level 7 Queensland State Coach. Amazing work and very well deserved!
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Team Newsletter April/May 2019
Other News PCYC Labrador Vacation Care Program During the holidays PCYC Labrador Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) ventured down to Aerial Angels at Varsity Lakes for their excursion. The children were excited to attend a new location they had not visited before and to try their hand at some circus skills. Upon arrival, the fantastic staff took the children through a warm up and three group games to get their bodies warm and moving, ready for the activities to come. The children were then split into five groups and rotated through different workshops each led by a different instructor; trapeze, aerial silks, mini trampolines, hula hoops and learning to juggle with scarfs. Not only were these activities great fun, they also assisted in further developing the children’s gross motor skills and were specifically catered for every child from Prep through to Year 6. The excursion was a great experience and thoroughly enjoyed by both the Educators and children! During the Easter school holidays, PCYC Queensland OSHC operated 92 sites for April Vacation Care, with over 31,790 attendances.
Indigenous Community Sport & Recreation Program 2018 Annual Report Thanks to our dedicated team of officers working collaboratively across 35 communities in Queensland. Last year, PCYC Queensland delivered 109 activities/programs resulting in 10,408 sessions and more than 214,463 participation episodes. Read about other great outcomes our Indigenous Program team achieved in the Indigenous Community Sport & Recreation 2018 Annual Report, now available on our website.
Health and Wellbeing Corner Heart Week 2019 In 2019, Heart Week is celebrated from 28 April to 4 May and will focus on the importance of having a heart health check. This involves what a heart check is, which patients should have a health heart check and why, and the steps patients can take to manage their risk of heart disease and stroke. Did you know? • Heart Disease is Australia’s biggest killer, taking 51 lives every day • One-fifth of Australians aged 45-74 years are at high risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next five years • Heart disease kills one Australian every 28 minutes, many of these deaths could have been prevented
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Team Newsletter April/May 2019
Other News continued... PCYC Queensland Disability Action Plan PCYC Queensland is embarking on a journey towards becoming a more inclusive provider of activities and services for people with disability, through the development of a Disability Action Plan (DAP) that will seek to identify and actively reduce barriers to participation for people with disability. The DAP will address five key areas of: 1. Equitable access to premises 2. Equitable opportunities for participation and access to information, activities and services 3. Staff training advice and support 4. Equitable employment practices 5. Promotion of positive community attitudes and advocacy for people with a disability. The plan will involve input from staff, members and the community, and is being developed by Inclusive Access Solutions.
What does it take to be a PCYC Queensland branch manager? Recently, 29 QPS officers invested a week at the QPS Academy for PCYC Queensland Branch Manager training. The keen police officers spent an informative week together learning about leading staff and managing PCYC Queensland programs, services and venues. Many specialised topics and business areas were taught throughout the week, including applying for grants; media, marketing, communication and fundraising; finance; managing facilities and much more. PCYC Queensland is looking forward to these officers relieving at one of our 54 clubs across Queensland in coming months and following a QPS career path working in partnership with PCYC Queensland to build safer, healthier communities through youth development.
Emergency Servivce Cadets Cadet Games What challenges will the Emergency Service Cadets (ESC) Cadet Games 2019 bring? 2019 Cadet Games Teams are going to need to pull their weight, aim far, hold on to their fingers and toes, puzzle their way through events and stand tall. Have you registered your team? Don’t miss out!
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Team Newsletter April/May 2019
Staff Member Profiles Melissa King Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) Coordinator PCYC Bayside
In memoriam William ‘Bill’ Crompton
When did you start at PCYC Queensland?
Retired QPS Inspector Vale 1943 – 2019
I started at PCYC Bayside in August 2008 as an educator, then moved into the role of OSHC Administrator. I then moved into my current role as OSHC Coordinator in 2013.
Bill Crompton was the first Branch Manager at PCYC Gold Coast, starting at the club in 1979. He was instrumental in lobbying the Gold Coast City Council for land and a building that resulted in the acquisition of the current site of PCYC Gold Coast at Monaco Street in Broadbeach.
What do you like most about working at PCYC Queensland? I love the opportunity to impact each and every child that uses our service, as well as the connections and friendships you build with the children and their families. The family environment is also great, and I have a team I work with. The flexibility the job allows me is also a positive! What has been the highlight over your years of service? Highlights for me have included moving into the role of OSHC Coordinator, gaining my Diploma qualification, and for a period of time running the largest PCYC Queensland OSHC service in the state. I would also say a highlight has been overcoming challenges and growing with change. What are you most excited about for the future of PCYC Queensland? Exciting areas for the future include continuing to be part of a team that is committed to providing exceptional care to children in our community. I would hope PCYC Queensland continues to be a leader in supporting the youth in our communities, and that I will be a part of the future of PCYC Queensland and the opportunities that will be open to me.
In 1983 Bill was transferred to the role of Company Secretary of PCYC Queensland that led to 10 years of growth in youth programs and development of new sites across the state. Bill identified an old farm in the Numinbah Valley that was up for sale and convinced the Board to purchase the farm for a youth camp. This became the birth of Camp Bornhoffen which has seen tens of thousands of young people through its doors over its 40 years of operation. Bill had a strong belief in the role police officers could play in positive youth development with the culmination of PCYC Queensland hosting the International Federation of Keystone Youth Organisations Conference in the mid 1980s with many countries sending youth to the event. When Bill was promoted to Inspector, he transferred from PCYC Queensland to the Police Academy before retiring after 30 years of service. He passed away on the 20 April 2019. Thank you Bill.
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Team Newsletter April/May 2019
Volunteer Member Profile Chloe Lynch
What advice would you give a young person thinking of engaging with their local PCYC Queensland?
SYLP Coach PCYC Gold Coast Why did you join PCYC Queensland? I have been involved in PCYC Queensland for as long as I can remember. Both my parents are police and I pretty much grew up at my local PCYC Gold Coast, doing gymnastics, dance and tennis and started volunteering at Blue Light discos and other events when I was about 12. What do you enjoy about volunteering with PCYC Queensland? I enjoy the environment that is created at any and every PCYC Queensland event. Everyone is so accepting, and it is a safe space where you can be authentically yourself. I also enjoy the fact that I have met so many amazing people from all over Queensland. What opportunities have you gained from being connected to PCYC Queensland? PCYC Queensland has given me so many insane and life changing opportunities throughout my time being involved, including attending the State Youth Leadership Program (SYLP), Youth Management Team (YMT), being voted as the Youth Delegate for PCYC’s Gold Coast Management Committee, and being nominated for a Queensland Young Achievers Award for Leadership for my volunteering in PCYC and other organisations. Other opportunities include travelling to remote communities in Palm Island and Doomadgee to volunteer in the vacation care programs, and helping to teach Physical Education, art and reading lessons, and be amongst the local community.
Just do it! There are so many amazing programs and volunteering opportunities for anybody and everybody. The people you meet within PCYC Queensland end up being like a second family and there is so much potential for life changing experiences, to develop new skills and to learn new things about yourself and your community. What is your favourite PCYC Queensland moment? My favourite PCYC Queensland moment would be when I was leaving Doomadgee the first time, after saying goodbye to everyone and heading off to the airport, looking in the rearview mirror and seeing a bunch of kids running down the street chasing the car to say goodbye. I pulled over, jumped out of the car and was bombarded with hugs, and was so touched that the small impact I had on those young people’s lives made my time there worthwhile, and that I would keep giving back to communities for as long as I can. What does the future hold for you? I’m currently studying to be a primary school teacher with a major in physical education. My dream would be to work at a PCYC Queensland club before I start teaching. Other than that, I’m happy to go with the flow and continue doing things that bring happiness and positive change to the people and the world around me.
One of my favourite opportunities has been to attend SYLP as a coach on a few different occasions, it really means a lot to be able to give back to a program that has given me the confidence to do so much more in my local and wider community.
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Team Newsletter April/May 2019
Spotlight:
One hundred and eighty by anonymous 180 hours sounded easy at first. So relieved I didn’t have to go to juvvie. But now, how the hell am I going to get through this? I’ve done a few hours here and there and everyone keeps trying to help me, but I don’t reckon I can do it. One foot after the other – looking down at my shoes. I’m at the PCYC pushing the stupid buffing machine, mopping the floor, taking out rubbish… people are looking at me. I keep my eyes down. What do they know? I am trying not to look at the clock, time is going slowly enough. This place is run by a uniform. Hate that uniform. They never leave me alone, they’re always stopping me and harassing me for no reason. I can’t sleep, they’re always coming round in the night to check I’m not breaching my curfew. I wanna sleep in every morning but I’ve gotta get up and do my 180. It’s like a mountain I’m never gonna climb. The uniform talks to me, but I won’t look at her. She’ll be like the rest of them – trying to catch me doing something wrong. I’m so hungry. I slept on my Uncle’s couch but he’s never got any food in the house, just booze… among other things. He had a big fight with his woman last night. She doesn’t want me there. I don’t know if I can go back tonight. The cop is offering me something to eat, but I tell her ‘Nah’ and get on with my work. What’s the point of all these hours anyway? Who cares if I do it or not? At least if I got locked up I’d have somewhere to sleep and something to eat. The uniform is coming over to me. What the hell am I doing wrong? She wants to go outside with me. There’s a garden hanging on the side of the building with vegetables and stuff in it. So I’m getting my hands dirty. The uniform is next to me and we are pulling weeds out of the soil side by side. She’s talking to me. So many questions. I am not giving her anything, I just say ‘Yeah’ and ‘Nah’. At the end, the garden looked pretty good. We are
both hot, we go back inside and she stands in front of the fridge. “What colour Gatorade?” and before I could think I say ‘blue’. She tosses the drink and I catch it. Damn I think I smiled but…‘What flavour chips?’ and again I just blurt out ‘plain’ and she tosses me a bag of chips. I catch the bag and she tells me to take a break and then we are going to start a new project. ‘Thanks’ I mumbled and I reckon at least I didn’t ask her for food… so no shame in eating it. She’s talking about painting. Do I like it? ‘Nah’. She’s reckons she has a plan for a bare wall that needs some mural or something. We look at a white wall and she’s talking, talking, talking. Too much talking. I can’t do this. I look at the clock and tell her I have to be somewhere. I turn around and walk out. I might have said ‘see ya’ but not sure. I can’t do this. 180 – it’s too much. I really wanna smoke. Who would have some smokes? I start walking… it’s so hot. Where am I gonna crash tonight? I wake up on a bench at the park. My phone’s flat – I don’t know what time it is. My Youth Worker will be looking for me. I start walking to the PCYC and know if I am late I will probably get breached. My care factor is pretty low right now. My Youth Worker is waiting and smiles at me. I look away and she starts talking about what we are doing today. I don’t care. I’m tired, I’m hungry and I’ve got no smokes. The uniform is smiling too and says ‘how do you have your coffee?’ and again I answered without thinking. Then I’ve got this cup of coffee in my hands. Smells so good and they start talking about this mural. They set up a projector and put the image up on the wall. My job is to mark it out with a pencil. It’s not hard and the air conditioning is on in this room. Gatorade and a packet of chips turn up next to my hat and phone. The uniform and the Youth Worker – we all worked on drawing this mural on the wall until my hours for the day finished. Continued over page...
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Team Connect Spotlight: Short Story continued... My Uncle let me sleep over last night and I got out early before they woke up. He gave me some smokes and I charged my phone. Uniform’s name is ‘Julie’ I think. At least that’s what I call her. She’s made me a coffee again and we are taping up the edges of the mural. It’s pretty easy and cool in this room. Some 2 minute noodles appear with my Gatorade today and I am feeling ok I reckon. The hours went fast – and when my time was up we weren’t finished. I wanted to finish so offered to stay. At least it’s cool in here.
Team Newsletter April/May 2019
PCYC embRACE Have you registered for PCYC embRACE? Join us for PCYC embRACE on Sunday, 9 June. Register your team now and start fundraising! embrace.pcyc.org.au
I have to really concentrate to make it look good – we are painting now. I’ve never done anything like this before. Trying to stay out of trouble. I don’t want more hours… just wanna get through these. Just keeping my head down. The uniform isn’t too bad. She doesn’t try and get information out of me or judge me. I know I’ve done stuff. I don’t need people reminding me all the time. She says she might be able to help get some work too, if I want. She helped me write a resume and when we finished it, I looked her in the eyes and said ‘thanks’. It’s not anywhere near 180 anymore and I reckon – maybe I can do it.
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