Hiking into the future

Geelong Youth Engagement
Committed. Encouraging. Accepting

Andy Brittain has spent the past nine years helping at-risk youth turn their lives around through an intensive personal and physical development program delivered by Geelong Youth Engagement.

Andy developed the concept for the year-long program while working as a police officer. The Geelong Kokoda Youth Program finishes with a demanding trek along the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea.

Up to 16 teenage participants are selected from local state high schools who are facing different challenges in their lives which may include struggles with mental health,, self-harming, homelessness, anti-social behaviour,family violence, amongst others .

Training for the trek helps build resilience. At the same time, support from positive mentors helps the young people grow in confidence and develop a positive attitude. Continued support is offered after the program ends.

The participants’ progress is so profound that Andy gave up his successful policing career to ensure the program continued in the community after the COVID-19 pandemic threatened its future.

Andy is rewarded by seeing past participants continue on to be successful into their adult lives following their involvement in the program.

Andy is thankful to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “It has reinforced that I am on the right path. My motivation to do more is getting stronger as there are many more people in our community needing our help,” he says.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Geelong Youth Engagement will use its funds to train the program participants in first aid and buy a TV and computer for educational presentations.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here