Annual Impact Report 2023

Annual Impact Report 2023

Welcome Welcome to our 2023 Annual Impact Report.

The quality of the outcomes that TRACTION achieved during 2023 continues to paint a compelling picture for mentoring as strategy for early intervention and prevention. Mentoring relationships can be the vehicle through which interventions can be developed to address identified issues and challenges as well as act as a preventative strategy to support the healthy development of young people.

TRACTION’s program platform offers an integrated solution to prevent issues from arising as well as address early signs of less than optimum wellbeing, learning engagement, social and emotional skill development, and for our First Nations participants, strengthen cultural identity and connection to community.

During 2023, we built relationships with 291 young people. We engaged with approximately 43 referral agencies/schools across South East Queensland to assist young people identified as requiring additional support for their mental health and wellbeing, their engagement with learning, and to develop the skills and attributes to manage better emotionally and socially. In determining our impact across these areas, we surveyed and/or interviewed 171 young people, 109 parents /guardians and 15 representatives from referring schools.

Our impact in 2023 clearly demonstrates that when we actively engage young people with their learning, and when we assist them to participate and connect with their families, school community and peers, they are more likely to achieve better educational, social, and emotional outcomes.

Feedback from our stakeholders constantly reaffirms that the reason why TRACTION makes a difference is because of our safe and welcoming learning environments and our engaging mentoring strategies and that these actively assist young people to recognise their strengths which in turn boosts confidence, wellbeing, skills and capabilities, sense of belonging and connection.

At TRACTION, we have a culture of taking our own learning, growth and development as seriously as we take young people’s. In 2023, we stretched our program offering and developed, piloted and evaluated two additional initiatives to better support our young people.

Our leadership program, Take the Lead and our First Nations bike build program Building Deadly Riding Deadly demonstrated excellent results and we very much look forward to extending these offerings to more young people in the future. Many opportunities are evolving through the delivery of these projects. These include strengthened relationships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sector, program improvement and expansion, internal knowledge and capacity building, and improved outcomes for Indigenous young people.

As always, our work would simply not be possible without our dedicated and generous sponsors, funders and donors backing our committed and talented team members. To them and to the young people that teach us every day, many thanks for entrusting us to help you make a difference during 2023.

Heartfelt thanks,

Eleesa Johnstone Impact & Capability Manager

Sandy Murdoch Founder & Chief Executive Officer

TRACTION for Young People Ltd (“TRACTION”)

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Executive Summary Our Program Approach TRACTION’s approach to promoting young people’s holistic positive development is informed through best practice literature and research that establishes that wellbeing, connectedness and learning engagement are strongly linked.

Strategies which build competence, confidence, connection, character and caring enable young people to stay healthy and build resilience enabling them to cope with challenges they may face.

Positive relationships and connectedness and feeling a sense of belonging are essential for wellbeing.

Wellbeing is linked to improved academic achievement, enhanced mental health and responsible life choices.

Connectedness with school and engagement with learning are important predictors of academic performance and a strong sense of emotional wellbeing while poor connectedness, wellbeing and engagement are more highly associated with the uptake of risky health behaviours and poorer mental health.

Be Influential

Be a Learner

Be Connected

Be Active Be Well

Behind each of our program offerings is an intentional program structure that reinforces the interdependent and mutually reinforcing nature of health and wellbeing, relationships and connections, and learning engagement and that these are essential for building the positive development of each individual young person we connect with.

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Executive Summary Outputs

Provided 13,307 hours of mentoring to young people

Supported 291 young people

Worked with 43 referral agencies across 7 SEQ regions

Donated 245 bikes to young people

Achieved a 98% satisfaction rating from young people

To measure impact, TRACTION interviewed 109 parents/guardians (65%), 15 (31%) school representatives and extensively surveyed 171 (59%) young people.

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Why Schools Refer Young People to TRACTION Over the course of 2023 schools were required to provide reasons for why a referral for each young person was made to TRACTION in accordance with three categories: wellbeing and resilience, learning engagement and social and emotional skill development. Some young people were referred across more than one category alone.

2023 Referral Reasons

38% 38%

Learning Engagement

41% 41%

Social & Emotional Skill Development

54% 54%

Wellbeing

Over half (54%) of the young people referred to TRACTION in 2023 were experiencing challenges effecting their overall wellbeing. Wellbeing indicates that young people require support with social connections and participation at school to cope with the demands of school, mental and/or emotional health, support to enhance their sense of belonging and safety at school, support to express their identity and/or culture, support to cope with challenging homelives and support for self-esteem and confidence. There are concerning results in these categories including 59% of young people are not participating as well as they could in the school community and 48% are experiencing challenges in feeling as though school is a place where they belong, are valued, and feel safe.

A total of 41% of referrals were for support for the development of skills for social and emotional learning.

This includes teamwork (44%) and leadership (38%) skill development and for the development of prosocial skills necessary for successfully transitioning through high school.

Finally, 38% of young people were referred for support and assistance to enhance learning engagement.

Indicators for learning engagement included behavioural challenges, attendance concerns and learning support. Interestingly less than one fifth or 21% of referrals were due to concerns about levels of school attendance and just over one third or 35% for behavioural challenges.

These results paint a worrisome picture and are aligned with findings from state and national data, that indicate that social disconnection and isolation from the school community is contributing to challenges for wellbeing and learning engagement.

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Making a difference for young people Data from 2023 strongly indicates that TRACTION is having a significant and positive impact on young people’s wellbeing, social and emotional skills, and engagement with learning.

In relation to wellbeing, 100% of schools, 74% of parents/guardians and 85% of young people agree that wellbeing and resilience improved after completing a TRACTION program.

Learning engagement also improved with 70% of young people, 82% of parents/guardians and 67% of schools indicating that attendance and behaviour at school had improved after completing a TRACTION program.

TRACTION also had a positive influence on young people’s social and emotional skill development with 87% of young people, 70% of parents/guardians and 76% of schools indicating improvements in these areas.

The following sections of this report evidence these outcomes in further detail.

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What does the data tell us?

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In 2022 across South East Queensland: Less than half (47.7%) of fulltime students attended school 90% of the time.

Dashboard One: Enhancing Learning Engagement There is no doubt that young people who are actively engaged with their learning, who participate and are connected with their school community are more likely to successfully complete school and achieve better social, emotional, and lifelong financial outcomes.

Unfortunately too many young people in SouthEast QLD, actively or passively disengage from school. Data from the 2021 census estimates this figure to be 9% or 40,985 young people aged 1524 nationally. The reasons for early disengagement are complex and diverse. Barriers to school engagement and completion can include poor mental health, family breakdown, homelessness, and poverty. Additionally, many young people experiencing disadvantage, including Indigenous young people, young people living with a disability and young people in care, are further marginalised educationally and have higher rates of suspension and expulsion at earlier ages than average.1

1 Graham, L., Killingkly, C.,Alexander, M.,Wiggans.S. (2023) Suspensions in QLD state schools, 2016–2020: overrepresentation, intersectionality and disproportionate risk. The Australian Education Researcher.

2 Queensland Family Child Commission Data Explorer https://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/dataexplorer 3 Lamb, S, Jackson, J, Walstab, A & Huo, S (2015), Educational opportunity in Australia 2015: Who succeeds and who misses out, Centre for International Research on Education Systems, Victoria University, for the Mitchell Institute, Melbourne: Mitchell Institute.

8.3% of students had disciplinary absences, which is above the QLD average of 7.3%.

Personal challenges at school impact 38.9% of students.

78.4% of students stay enrolled at school between year 10 and year 12.

What does the research tell us about what works?

Clearing the path for learning requires a targeted and early intervention approach to learners not meeting early educational milestones. This is said to require more attention on wellbeing, engagement, and non-cognitive skill development in the early and middle years of school and during important transitions. A young persons sense of safety, belonging, purpose and sense of self can be enhanced with a focus on the development of qualities and skills underpinning persistence, 3 conscientiousness, and self-efficacy , or in other words, social and emotional skill development.

Increasing incentives to attend school and introducing inclusive special programs and supports offered through the community to support schools in delivering their core business are attainable and achievable through early intervention programs such as TRACTION. It is well documented, most notably in the past 12 months in Queensland, that interventions that disrupt patterns of school disengagement are increasingly associated with decreased involvement with the youth criminal justice system.

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Our 2023 Impact Learning Engagement

Measuring Success SHORT TERM IMPACTS Young people have improved levels of engagement with learning.

Our results during 2023 confirm that TRACTION is a mentoring and hands on learning program that successfully switches on young people’s confidence, motivation, capacity, and skills for re/engaging with their education.

TRACTION helps motivate young people to attend school and develop behaviours that will support their learning instead of disrupt it.

Young people that attend TRACTION learn to recognise that with the right resources and support and the willingness to ask for help they learn ways to cope more effectively and find ways to persevere at school and achieve identified goals. Importantly, TRACTION helps facilitate supportive connections between young people and school staff, breaking down feelings of loneliness and lack of connection to the wider school community.

MEDIUM TERM IMPACTS Young people meet their educational goals.

LONGER TERM IMPACTS Young people have positive educational experiences and diverse transition pathways.

Referral Reasons: In 2023, 38% of young people were referred to TRACTION for support to engage with learning and meet their learning goals.

Schools identified that they were concerned about the attendance of 21% of young people and 35% who were demonstrating behaviours that challenge.

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Outcomes Learning Engagement Outcomes for Young People 79% of young people are getting along better with teachers.

67% of young people are more positive about going to and being at school.

69% of young people have improved ability to manage school demands.

84% of young people are more comfortable to ask for help from teachers.

The mentors were very helpful and handson when it came to learning something new and I could understand like I usually wouldn't in school. At school there is way less teachers to help out kids whereas here there is more to help you learn.

- Young Person

I have grown more social asking for help when needed and I am more confident in my mistakes because the mentors assured me that when I make mistakes it’s all part of the learning process.

- Young Person

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Outcomes for Parents/Guardians 67% of parents agree they have seen improvement in how their child engages with school.

67% of parents agree their child is better able to cope with the demands of school.

His overall engagement with school has improved - he's had no incidents in 3 months.

He's like a different kid. TRACTION came along at a really good time for him - it allowed a partnership to form between school and for him to form friendships/connections. It helped keep him engaged.

- Parent

The change in environment was enough to allow him to reset. The program also gave him insight into other opportunities that may be available to him late in his schooling which was a stress relief for him. He talked constantly of wanting to leave school prior to the program. These feelings have reduced since TRACTION. Undertaking this program made him feel seen and special in a positive way.

- Parent

Outcomes for Schools 57% of young people improved rates of attendance.

61% of young people improved behaviour.

63% of young people improved effort at school.

69% of young people improved interactions with teachers.

I have observed all participants have improved with their respect that is given to staff and teachers. TRACTION works because it helps the participants obtain self-respect and improve communication skills. They now have the confidence to achieve personal goals and obtain positive outcomes.

- School

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Success Story: Leila Love of Learning Leila completed two TRACTION programs in 2018 and 2019 while she was in Grade 8 and Grade 9 at Glenala SHS. Leila admits she wasn't the best student in Grade 8 and 9 and started not liking school and disengaging. A teacher from school selected her for the program if she promised to attend school for the remainder of the week. Leila described how she loved the program and started going to school every day.

Leila recalls how patient and understanding the mentors were. They would explain expectations and consequences and knew how to connect with the students and bring everyone out of their shell in order to relax, open up and have fun. Leila explained how the biggest problems for lots of kids is related to just sitting in the classroom but for TRACTION, being in a different environment and learning by doing was a game changer.

We had to learn time management, responsibility, and to take ownership. The method of how things were taught was just spot on. TRACTION really shifted my mindset and I discovered that I actually did really like school, especially science because it involved the hands on learning elements like TRACTION did.

TRACTION helped break me out of a bad habit of missing school. The more I missed the harder school became, I wasn't understanding things.

“TRACTION helped me become more confident in asking for help and that then helped me feel better about asking for help from teachers at school. I am grateful that I changed my mindset from Yr 9, TRACTION definitely helped me to change that, I was on the way to dropping out of school but now I can proudly say, I am the first in family to graduate from Yr. 12.”

Leila also explained how TRACTION gave her a taste of public speaking and leadership and in Yr. 12 this led to her becoming one of the school’s Indigenous leaders. Having now successfully finished Yr. 12, Leila is looking forward to further study through TAFE and plans to use this as a pathway to achieve her dream of studying Marine Biology at University.

Dashboard Two: Wellbeing and Resilience Childhood wellbeing can be understood and measured by looking at a range of interrelated factors, some of these being socioeconomic, educational attainment and family and community connectedness.

Disadvantage across any one or more of these domains can carry significant and lifelong social, emotional, and financial costs. Wellbeing and learning outcomes are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Positive mental health and wellbeing is a crucial foundation for broader efforts to lift achievement, engagement, and attendance outcomes. Poor learning outcomes can also cause poor mental health and wellbeing at school 4 and beyond.

What does the data tell us?

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In 2023 across South East Queensland:

37.8% of young people nominated mental health and suicide as issues of greatest concern.

34.6% of young people and young adults report high to very high levels of distress.

20 young people died by suicide in 2021-22.

50% of young people have accessed mental health support.

28.6% of young people feel lonely most or all of the time.

58% of children and young people rate their health as excellent or good.

What does the research tell us about what works?

Early intervention, place-based initiatives informed by local need and access to quality learning translates to 6 improved childhood wellbeing outcomes. A positive sense of belonging and the extent to which students feel part of their school, feel valued and cared for by the school community has flow on benefits for learning and engagement with school. Positive school environments, high-quality teacher-student relationships, supportive peers and learning environments as well as peer mentoring are associated with improved 7 wellbeing for students and arguably also for teachers. Improving young people’s health and wellbeing in 8 school would have an immediate effect on a student’s quality of learning in school.

4 Department of Education (2023) Improving Outcomes for All. The Report of the Independent Expert Panel’s Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System. Canberra 5 Queensland Family Child Commission Data Explorer https://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/dataexplorer 6 University of Canberra (2024). Uniting Care Australia. Nurturing Inclusion: Paving the Way to Improved Child Wellbeing, Child Social Inclusion Index 7 Australian Education Research Organisation. (2023) Encouraging a sense of belonging and connectedness in secondary schools.

8 Goodsell, B., Lawrence, D., Ainley, J., Sawyer, M., Zubrick, R., & Maratos, J.(2017) Child and adolescent mental health and educational outcomes - An analysis of educational outcomes from Young Minds Matter: the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Perth: Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia.

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Our 2023 Impact Wellbeing & Resilience

TRACTION’s referral data indicates that schools are seeking additional supports to strengthen the wellbeing status of young people in schools.

TRACTION offers an opportunity for young people to build confidence, develop supportive connections with peers, to experience the benefits of help seeking and develop strategies to cope with stress, overwhelm and anger.

As a result, our young people develop stronger connections to their school community reducing a sense of isolation and loneliness and experience a greater sense of wellbeing necessary for active engagement with their education and learning.

Measuring Success SHORT TERM IMPACTS Young people experience success.

MEDIUM TERM IMPACTS Young people have improved wellbeing and resilience.

LONGER TERM IMPACTS Young people have enhanced community engagement, health, and wellbeing.

Referral Reasons: 54% of young people were referred to TRACTION for support to improve wellbeing.

59% of young people were referred to enhance their participation in and connection to the school community.

48% of young people were referred to enhance a sense of safety, value and belonging at school.

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Outcomes Wellbeing & Resilience

TRACTION has taught me to communicate with others and ask for help which I've found helped a lot. It’s a place that helps make young people feel safe and secure.

- Young Person

Outcomes for Young People 87% of young people feel more confident and positive.

84% of young people are getting along better with peers.

69% of young people learnt ways to deal with feeling stressed, upset, or angry.

79% of young people are making healthier and safer choices.

80% of young people are more willing to seek support from adults.

TRACTION was giving me a break from the toxic side of school. I learnt skills at TRACTION such as resilience and I had help from mentors with the issues I was having at school and I made a lot of new friendships. I also learnt how to build a bike which I am very grateful for.

- Young Person

Outcomes for Parents/Guardians 95% of parents agree their child has improved confidence and feels more positive about themselves.

63% of parents agree their child has improved their capacity to cope with feeling stressed, angry or upset.

74% of parents agree that their child’s wellbeing has improved.

TRACTION helps young kids struggling to understand their worth.

- Parent

He got a lot out of TRACTION, confidence was one.

Confidence in general, being able to take on something (a project) and complete it has given him a sense of accomplishment. He has a little spring in his step. Now he has seen what he can do, it's given him a boost and made him feel more positive, confident, and open. TRACTION has given him a greater outlook on life, steering him in the right direction and has sped up that whole process compared to if he didn't participate in TRACTION. - Parent

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TRACTION gives an opportunity for students to be removed from the school environment and into a place that is more respectful, autonomous, has mentorship and leadership and is an opportunity for students to have a clean slate to leave some of their issues aside and have a mentor who believes in them and gives them self-worth and confidence through building a bike.

- Parent

Outcomes for Schools 100% of young people improved levels of connection and participation in their school community.

100% of young people improved levels of wellbeing.

84% of young people improved interactions with peers.

TRACTION centres itself around a basis that a young person is already doing something they're excited about and interested in and then utilising that framework to implement learning skills and strategies that will further strengthen their development, engagement, and attitudes.

- School

87% of young people improved confidence at school.

I believe the coping skills they have learnt at TRACTION is showing in their school work and their classes. Some of the students have improved personal confidence since commencing TRACTION. I know they all now ask questions and ask for assistance when they need help. This was one of the biggest ways that the program helped and assisted - how to ask for help.

- School

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Success Story: Riley Confidence to pursue his dream Riley completed the TRACTION Bike Build program as a student at Wynnum State High School in 2020. TRACTION gave Riley the confidence to pursue his dream of a career in the Defence Force.

In January 2024, Riley visited TRACTION and shared his reflections of his time at TRACTION with his Mentor, Oscar.

I wasn't enjoying school and misbehaved. I couldn't do sitting in a classroom and I wasn't bonding with my friends.

At TRACTION I built up my communication skills and learnt how to work with people.

TRACTION gave me opportunities to step up and build my leadership skills. I had to sand my bike, and we were sanding for ages!

I got it done though and I was proud of myself that I actually achieved something.

What I learnt at TRACTION really helped me go up through the ranks in cadets. Now I've got a job in the Navy and I'm loving it.

“I really enjoyed TRACTION. I started focusing more which really helped me at school. I put my head down, did the work and now I know I can complete things. The TRACTION Mentors are really good people. They understand us. They are helpful and flexible and there to support you.”

Dashboard Three: Skills for Lifelong Learning - Social & Emotional Skill development Social and emotional skills and pro-social behaviours shape the way young people view themselves and perceive themselves in relation to others.

These skills are central to self-esteem, healthy relationships, self-control and managing behaviours and emotions. During the ages of 4 and 12, most children’s inclination to develop pro-social behaviours increases. However, this tends to rapidly decrease around the age 13 and remains relatively low until age 17; at the same time levels of poor mental health symptoms can increase each year of development. At the age of 13, if a child becomes more prosocial emotional and clinical symptoms of overwhelm, worry and 9 unhappiness can reduce by 11%.

What does the research tell us about what works?

Successful transition from childhood to adolescence and adulthood requires the support of caring adults and role models combined with healthy learning environments and engaging learning strategies. Achieving this means building and recognising a range of skills and capabilities in young people. It means improving young people’s sense of belonging by recognising learning attained in activities that matter to them, and building on their individual strengths.11 When mentors help participants realise their own capabilities and help develop coping skills to deal more effectively with social situations and strengthen their social networks and connections, feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression can decrease and self-esteem and 12 self-confidence can increase. Social and emotional learning paves the path for better engaged lifelong learners and future work-based success.

What does the data tell us?

In South East Queensland: 40% of young people are worried about school or study problems.

42.2% of young people are confident in achieving study/work goals.

72.7% of young people can talk to their teachers about their concerns.10 43.8% of young people aged 15-19 reported having barriers to achieving study or work goals after school.

9 Rowland, B. Evans-Whipp, T. (2023) Growing Up in Australia. The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Prosocial behaviours and the impact on mental health. Snapshot Series – Issue 9.

10 QFCC (2023) Growing Up in Queensland: A story of child and family wellbeing.

11 Learning Creates Australia (2023) learning Beyond Limits. Insights and learnings from visionary schools and communities working toward a fit-for-purpose learning system 12 Suurmond, J. Kruithof, K., & Harting, J. (2023). Does mentoring improve the health of people in the community? A realist evaluation. Journal of Social Work.

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Our 2023 Impact Skills for Lifelong Learning: Social & Emotional Skill development TRACTION is engaging with young people at the right time of their development to boost social and emotional or prosocial skills.

Our workplace-oriented learning environments supports young people to identify strengths and attributes and develops skills, behaviours and attitudes that not only can help protect them from experiencing adverse mental health challenges but also represent critical soft skills necessary for workplace success.

Measuring Success SHORT TERM IMPACTS Young people learn skills to regulate behaviours.

MEDIUM TERM IMPACTS Young people have enhanced practical, teamwork and leadership skills.

LONGER TERM IMPACTS Young people develop skills and competencies for future learning or work.

Referral Reasons: 55% of young people were referred for support to enhance self-esteem and levels of confidence.

44% of young people were referred for support to develop teamwork capability.

38% of young people were referred for support to develop leadership potential.

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Outcomes Social & Emotional Skill development Outcomes for Young People 87% of young people feel more confident and positive.

81% of young people are more confident communicating with adults.

92% identify they are more respectful and think about how their choices and behaviour affect others.

95% identify improved skills for teamwork and 90% for leadership.

85% of young people believe they can make a positive contribution to community.

It helps boost your confidence and shows you, you can do things yourself. It teaches you how to be a leader and how to use teamwork skills.

- Young Person

It gives young people a sense of the real world and works on skills such as communication, emotional regulation, and socialisation - skills you don’t receive at school at this age.

- Young Person

82% agreed TRACTION assisted helping them to consider future career choices and 85% agreed they developed practical job skills.

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Outcomes for Parents/Guardians 73% of parents agree their child thinks more about how their choices or behaviours affects others.

66% of parents agree their child has improved skills to communicate with adults.

TRACTION is a less confronting way of dealing with skill attainment then traditional school or psychology sessions where it is face to face. Having that environment where you are not just sitting and learning, it’s more interactive and engaging.

- Parent

77% of parents agree that their child has improved practical skills for daily living.

87% agree their child has improved skills for teamwork and 64% for leadership.

Outcomes for Schools

It helps the young people to work on confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. It helps them to communicate with each other, adults and share their experiences throughout the program. It's hands on, engaging, and helps young people find direction in a very supportive environment with mentors who meet the young people where they are and get on their level. It gives the young people role models or people to look up to; something they may lack in their home.

- Parent

TRACTION works because it helps the participants obtain self-respect and improve communication skills. Students gained the confidence to achieve personal goals, obtain positive outcomes, be part of a team and have access to staff that understand the students' strengths and weaknesses. This assists each student to feel important each week.

- School

Schools agreed that 87% of young people improved teamwork skills.

Schools agreed that 63% of young people improved leadership potential.

Schools agreed that 77% of young people improved practical skills.

TRACTION works because it offers students a platform to learn both practical and social/emotional skills that are often not taught within the classroom setting.

- School

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2023 New TRACTION Programs and Approaches Be Influential: Take the Lead With the invaluable support of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, TRACTION has added a leadership element to our program platform.

In 2023, we trialed our program, called Take the Lead. The Take the Lead program has produced excellent results in skill development, social and emotional learning and confidence and self-efficacy for our young participants.

We delivered and evaluated Take the Lead in four pilot programs over Term One and Term Two of 2023.

The outcomes confirm that the program was influential in developing participants’ leadership and teamwork skills. The way the program was delivered provided young people the opportunity to consistently practice qualities that we discovered supported leadership growth in young people, such as acceptance, respect, connection, influence, conflict resolution, teamwork and help giving. It provided the chance for young people to lead themselves and also influence others.

Our evaluation results confirm that Take the Lead influenced the development of leadership, teamwork, and practical skills to a greater degree than for participants not in the trial groups. As depicted by the summary graph below, young people, their parents/guardians and referring schools agree that Take the Lead stimulates and improves the growth and development of leadership capability as well as teamwork and practical skills.

Take the Lead Outcomes 2023 Take the Lead Trial Schools

Non Trial Schools

100% 80% 60%

82%

71%

86%

76%

74%

73%

40% 20% 0%

Leadership Skills

Teamwork Skills

Practical Skills

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It gave her confidence, but also showed her an outcome of effort, hard-work and dedication.

It showed it was better It gave her the confidence buther alsothat showed getput attention for thethe right reasons. She is her whentoshe in the effort, outcome thinking and morededication. and not acting on impulses of her hard-work It showed her that it was better to as getmuch. attention for Parent the right reasons. She is thinking more and not acting on impulses as much.

-Parent

TRACTION helped me gain confidence in talking with my peers, adults, and teachers. It also taught me an important skill in life which was leadership.

- Young Person

TRACTION has provided my son with additional leadership skills along with a positive attitude.

- Parent

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Connecting to Culture and Community Building Deadly Riding Deadly Building Deadly Riding Deadly (BDRD) is a culturally safe and inclusive version of TRACTION’s core Bike Build program for First Nations young people. BDRD was developed in consultation and partnership with Gunya Meta under the stewardship and guidance of Aunty Faith Green. The program aims to empower First Nations young people to build connection to culture and their community and through this, enhance their engagement with learning. The development and implementation of BDRD is funded by the Sisters of The Saddle (SOTS) Foundation.

BDRD focuses on helping young people feel safer, accepted and more connected to their culture and school community and to enhance their sense of wellbeing and confidence or self-belief. It was anticipated these outcomes would have a flow on effect of helping young people feel safer to attend school and engage with their learning. Families and carers of the young people and the school’s cultural liaison team are involved in the program, and it is co-facilitated with First Nations staff alongside TRACTION mentors. The program is designed around the TRACTION Bike Build program structure with techniques, strategies and activities that also build curiosity, awareness, and knowledge of First Nations culture.

Building Deadly Riding Deadly Outcomes 2023 During 2023, three pilot BDRD programs were delivered with 23 young people at Park Ridge State High School with 100% completion rate. Of the 23 young people that have completed the program to date, 94% were referred to facilitate connection to culture and community, 68% to support the development of social and emotional skills, 65% for reasons associated with wellbeing and mental health and 37% for enhancing engagement with learning.

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Cultural Connection and Identity Consistently the greatest enhancements offered through BDRD was enhanced cultural connection and identity with 93% of the young people and 93% of their carers agreeing improvements were identified. The cultural liaison staff member agreed that 68% of young people had improvements in this capacity.

Social and Emotional Skills BDRD is helping young people consider their future plans for education and beyond through strengthening skills for teamwork, leadership and day to day living. 90% of young people and 79% of their parents and guardians agreed improvements were gained and the school representative observed positive changes for 65% of the young people.

TRACTION develops skills and confidence in the students as well as giving them a connection to their culture that is sometimes missing in their life. Watching students, who haven't in the past been involved in the First Nations program, bring their friends up to show them the bikes was just the best! The Mentors were amazing and really connected with the students and supported them the whole way through the program.

- School Representative

They help you learn to build a bike and communicate with others and brings people and their culture together.

- Young Person

I felt black and deadly - Young Person

23 It helps to teach kids different skills like, patience, team work and how to communicate to people you may or may not know. Building Deadly, Riding Deadly is an amazing program, it helped me learn new things and just feel better in myself and I speak more now.

- Young Person

He found a direction in life and helped him map out what he wants to do. Eight months ago I didn't know if he was going to be kicked out of school permanently and now he is a completely different kid that has discovered his purpose and has plans for his future which he is actively working towards.

- Carer

Enhanced Wellbeing & Resilience The school representative identified that 58% of the young people had improved levels of wellbeing and resilience, while 87% of young people and 72% of carers noted improvements in this area.

Improved Learning Engagement

His behaviour has gone a complete 180. He has gone from always in trouble to not in trouble at all anymore. He used to be closed off before and now has become more open and able to find people that speak his language. His communication skills have significantly improved.

- Parent

Building Deadly Riding Deadly gives the students something to look forward to each week. They work hard in class and on their behaviour in the playground during the other days of school to maintain their position in the program. The culture connections and mentoring is invaluable to these kids!

- School Representative

Carers noted strengthened improvements with school and learning for 84% of the young people and 80% of the young people agreed. The school representative identified that for the one third of young people referred to the program for improvements in this area, 55% had improved.

Connecting and building friendships with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids was very important for him. It was good for him to learn life skills outside of school. The connection to his culture and mentors has helped his mental health.

- Parent

It's a great program. Some kids lack knowing what they can achieve, and this program really does help them realise their strengths and helps them enjoy learning in a new way.

Seeing that they can build a bike from scratch is a great source of pride for them. I would absolutely recommend it for other families.

- Parent

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07 3102 9565 connect@traction.community PO Box 389, Paddington QLD, 4064

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