News
21 March, 2024
Hope for troubled kids
Disengaged and at-risk youth in the Moreton Bay area are receiving a second chance at education, thanks to a local church endeavour supported by Carinity.
Rivers Youth Versatile Education and Training School (RYVETS) is a flexi-school for young people who are at-risk of off ending, or who have disengaged from mainstream schooling.
A proactive program for youths aged 12 to 14 years, it is run as a partnership between Rivers Baptist Church, Queensland Police Service and Dakabin, Pine Rivers and Bray Park State High Schools.
“The partnership began through our church’s connections with one of the local high schools who had the vision for the flexi-school,” said Rivers Baptist Church Pastor, Shane Greenhalgh.
“Our church recognised the great need for vulnerable youth in our neighbourhood to be empowered through having a second chance at education.”
The flexi-school runs in the Lawnton-based church’s youth space, with Education Queensland staff and up to 15 students participating each day.
“Many of the students who have been through the program or who are currently enrolled have experienced childhood trauma,” Shane said.
“Without an education, they become vulnerable to criminal activity or poverty as they transition into their adult years.”
“We’ve already seen two cohorts of students successfully re-engage with their education through RYVETS.
“They have subsequently moved onto vocational pathways or continued in their education either at a mainstream high school or at the Salvation Army flexi-school school for Years 10-12 students, which is just down the road.”
Funding from Carinity’s Collaborative Community Projects has allowed the education program to expand its support for young people.
This has included supporting social and emotional programs for RYVETS participants and running a Red Frogs Board Riders community event at a local skate park, hosted by students.
