|
A wide range of safe, wholesome and well-supervised activities are held under the Blue Light banner in South Australia, including: |
|
Camps - Make a Choice Youth Leadership Camps Schools Camps Buddy Camps At Risk and Disadvantaged Youth Camps Indigenous Camps Multicultural Camps Victims of Crime Camps |
Other Blue Light
Programs - Make a Choice Blue Light City Safe Walk Drop-in Centres Police Link Program The Big Night Out Blue Light Basketball Program Blue Light Skate Competition Corporate Programs Blue Light Club |
Of all Blue Light activities discos have attracted the most interest. This has come about due to the positive media attention discos have received over the years.
This media attention has played a significant role in the success of Blue Light discos since their inception in South Australia.
At the very first disco held at Noarlunga, television personalities Gil Tucker and Peter Adams – stars of the hit television series Cop Shop – made guest appearances which attracted media coverage. Personalities from other television shows, other local and interstate celebrities and sporting personalities have all played a role in raising and promoting the profile of Blue Light discos. Appearances by popular personalities have ensured relevance and attraction to the ever-changing young people of today.
The media helped to get Blue Light discos off to a good start by attracting young people through the doors and continues to do so by reporting good news stories of Blue Light successes.
The aims of the Blue Light discos are to provide young people with a safe, well-supervised activity free of drugs, alcohol, smoking and violence. The events promote not only a healthy life style but also support the development of peer support networks at the same time as fostering positive police/youth relations. The outcomes have been linked to a reduction in crime amongst young people.
Realising the potential to positively impact on the lives of young people, Blue Light advocates initiated other programs and initiatives.
The first Blue Light camp was held in 1990 targeting a group of ‘at risk’ young people. Since this time Blue Light Camps have become a major part of Blue Light business.
Camps use both police officers and qualified supervisors who present objective-driven activities while addressing community needs. Specific needs are identified and camps are tailored to address these needs. Camp activities are a combination of recreation and behaviour modification activities.
This initiative has resulted in the development of a number of campsites; all geared towards the provision of a broad range of youth activities.
In many cases the community plays a vital role in the delivery of these activities through monetary contributions and volunteering time.
As the name implies the camps cater for young people who have been recognised as possessing outstanding skills and/or abilities such as leadership. Participation is by recommendation of school teachers, family members, friends or police officers who believe that individuals will gain from participation in the camps.
Typically participants are Year 11 students who display skills and abilities as future leaders in the community. The philosophy is “To nurture young people who are perceived as being potential community leaders.”
The Police Special Tasks and Rescue (STAR) Group run camps consisting of about 24 participants who are divided into 6 teams. The teams engage in various problem solving tasks that require group cohesion to work together to solve problems and achieve objectives.
A range of activities using group thinking and problem solving strategies includes abseiling, scuba diving and role play emergency rescue scenarios. These activities require participants to use skills such as the application of logic, creativity, reasoning, leadership and confidence.
Blue Light school camps are geared towards the provision of specific activities for primary and secondary school students deemed to be ‘at risk’.
Material presented on camps is specifically designed to minimise – and reduce – contact with the Juvenile Justice System by presenting strategies centred on making good choices. Emphasis is placed on the importance of life decisions and the consequences of one’s action. Personal responsibility and accountability are the cornerstones of such camps.
The nurturing of personal and interpersonal skills through activities such as abseiling, orienteering and caving is achieved by encouraging teamwork and trust of individuals. Networks are established between police, youth workers and teachers and provide young people with connection to their environment and good citizenship.
Supervisors involved in camps have reported a positive change in participant attitudes and disposition after attending such camps.
“The camp proved invaluable in providing an environment which allowed the students, both individually and as a team, to analyse, understand and manage personal issues dealing with anger management; helping them understand that they do have options, that they are in control and that they can make positive decisions towards an excellent future.” – Principal, Morialta High School.
Buddy camps concentrate on young people establishing a partnership to achieve a common goal. Participants are those who are considered ‘at risk’ and young people with disabilities. Buddy pairs work together and carry out joint activities.
Participants considered to be ‘at risk’ are encouraged to examine their lifestyle and attitudes through the process of helping their ‘buddy’ achieve an assigned task.
The outcome of such interaction benefits both participants in unique ways. The ‘at risk’ participant, possibly for the first time, experiences being trusted and relied upon by another who is dependent on them for the duration of the camp. They experience a degree of responsibility and accountability which assists them in coming to terms with personal issues such as anger management, patience and sharing.
Young people with disabilities benefit by being exposed to skills and companionship in a unique environment.
These camps target young people who are considered ‘at risk’ or who are disadvantaged. Young people falling into this category include those who have already come into contact with the Juvenile Justice System, those who are considered to be at high risk of coming into contact with the Juvenile Justice System, those who have been a victim of crime, or those who come from a disadvantaged background.
The camps concentrate on developing the participants’ sense of well being, self-worth and social skills. Activities encourage both team work and leadership.
The camps cater for young indigenous people deemed to be ‘at risk’ of coming into contact with the Juvenile Justice System or who are presently involved in such activities that would make them candidates for such contact.
“The camp was so successful that tribal elders noticed a difference in the attitude of the youth. School attendance increased.” – Indigenous Camp Supervisor.
The interaction at the heart of such camps strives to overcome negative perceptions towards police with the aim of fostering positive relations in the future.
Blue Light activities are developed so as to be culturally and socially appropriate and target young people from diverse backgrounds so that all young people have an opportunity for participation.
Some young migrants view police with suspicion and fear. The camps have been set up in an effort to change such mindsets.
In order to create better understanding multicultural Blue Light camps are supervised with the assistance and active input from police officers from different cultural backgrounds. On these camps young people are informed about Australian law, weapons legislation and their rights.
This program has been designed for 8 to 18-year-old’s who are victims of crime. Incidents such as sexual assault and domestic violence have a negative impact on victims, often resulting in low self-esteem and low assertiveness. Research has demonstrated that such victims are more vulnerable to further incidents of victimisation.
The camp provides strategies that increase resilience in these young people so as to reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation.
The aims and objectives of the camps are to:
Establish a peer support/mentor system.
Establish a network between young people participating.
Provide tips to becoming more resilient.
Increase feeling of self-worth.
Increase self-image
Participants are paired with another person from a group of selected young people also under the age of 18, to establish a peer support/ mentor system. The peer support or mentor person is usually a young person that has been a past participant on a previous camp.
High ropes training is an activity that promotes problem solving, team building, communication and increases self-esteem and confidence.
TAFE Modules in health, nutrition, communication skills, fashion, personal presentation and floristry are delivered.
Through the camps, participants increase their resilience to minimise repeat victimisation.
Blue Light has a partnership with the One & All Sailing Program and has sponsored hundreds of young people on One & All voyages.
The One & All Sailing Program is effective in bringing out the participant’s inner qualities in a challenging, positive environment. The group dynamic forms a basis from which a personal development program can be nurtured.
Participants set sail as crew members and are trained to navigate the vessel unassisted. Such duties include 24 hour watch periods.
“Being on the One & All was an experience that has changed my life – it has changed me. Having those experiences has expanded my view on life. When you are very frightened about something and you face your fear, you break through not only that particular fear, but a whole range of limits that you put on yourself. This is the gift of the One & All. I found strengths in me that I didn’t know, and my self-esteem is better for the experience. It’s truly a self-discovery voyage … and a heap of fun.” - One & All participant.
The development of personal skills is the ultimate benefit for participants, as well as the nurturing of a sense of responsibility not only to themselves and fellow crew members, but also to the external environment.
“Sail training has broken down the barriers and the children look towards me as their friend.” – Senior Constable John Hookings, Port Lincoln Police Station.
The program employs two 14-foot high performance skiff dinghies that are transported throughout the State. An interstate boat manufacturer and a Port Lincoln Service club assist the program.
Initiated in 1993 at Streaky Bay, the West Coast Sail Training Program was developed to foster closer ties between young people and the police. Young people as far afield as Elliston have been involved. The program is based at Port Lincoln.
Although the program operates primarily in the Port Lincoln and Streaky Bay areas, word of mouth has seen it involve young people from Adelaide and interstate.
Participants are young people considered to be ‘at risk’, disadvantaged or from indigenous and multicultural communities. The age range is from 10 to 16 years.
Sailing skills, from basic to elite, are taught on weekends throughout the year. Participants are encouraged to adopt healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle.
The opportunity exists for interstate travel and the chance to compete at State, National and International levels.
Previous participation at the Pacific Rim Regatta and the World Sailing Championships has proven very rewarding for all participants due to a sense of achievement derived from their involvement.
The Living Skills Program focuses on young people aged between 12 and 14 years. However, the age may vary in accordance with the identified local needs and accordingly the program is adapted.
Participants are chosen for inclusion in the program after being identified by schools or other agencies as falling into one or more of the following categories:
Lack of social skills
Habitual truant
Displays low self-esteem
Lack of positive role models
The program runs for half a day each week over a 9-week period, which is then complemented with follow up visits by the program implementer. It is conducted by a police officer in the classroom, assisted by a school teacher and/or student counsellor.
The sessions deal with:
Rules for respecting each other
Budgeting, shopping and cooking
Skills for adolescence
The role of police
Making positive decisions
Observing police units in action
Providing strategies and information dealing with drug issues
Recreation
Celebration – of new skills, abilities, confidence and social skills
Blue Light City Safe Walk is a program which is designed to introduce young people from the country to various aspects of safety and security within the City of Adelaide area. The program has been developed specifically for Year 12 students and involves a visit and walk around the City during both daylight and dark.
Year 12 students are targeted because at the end of the school year many of them will leave High School to attend University, TAFE College or gain employment in Adelaide. Most have a poor knowledge of safety and security matters relating to the City area.
On arrival in the City, the participants are issued with a Blue Light City Safe Walk kit which includes an introduction sheet and a map marked with six different locations. It will also contain an Instruction Sheet which guides each group on a different path around the city, visiting all six locations marked on the map.
The Instruction Sheet guides the group around and includes questions which are to be answered along the way.
Once all the locations have been visited and all questions answered the group will then walk back to the nominated pick up point.
There will be a debriefing where each group findings will be discussed in relation to the Instruction and Location Sheets.
The concept of the Blue Light City Safe Walk Program is to:-
Highlight safety issues in the City area
Highlight the location of city Police Stations where they may need to go for assistance
Foster group work and cooperation
Provide orientation of the City area
Visit a University, main shopping/entertainment/eating precincts around the City.
Provide all of the above in an entertaining and enjoyable manner.
Blue Light currently operates a drop-in centre at Leigh Creek.
It provides young people in an isolated area, the opportunity to meet and interact with their peers in a safe environment.
The centre is a supervised environment free from alcohol, drugs, smoking and violence.
The centre is largely volunteer-driven. Community volunteers identified that the needs of young people were not being met by the community or their environment. The result was the establishment of the drop-in centre in 1994 to meet those needs.
The activities at the centre are financed through the fundraising efforts of the local Blue Light Branch. Facilities offered are table tennis, billiards, indoor cricket, wide screen television, computers, music and a lounge area to recreate in.
Activities such as pancake nights, barbeques and sports nights are a regular occurrence.
The centre provides an alternative activity base for young people who might otherwise come into contact with the Juvenile Justice System.
Police Link is a joint initiative between South Australia Police and the Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Police officers visit children who are confined to Hospital either as short term or long term patients. It is a registered Blue Light Community Policing Program, managed through the combined efforts of many committed police officers.
The Police:
interact with young people
deliver personal safety and crime reduction messages
reinforce messages young people would receive if they were attending their regular school
provide entertainment and ‘brighten up’ the day for young people confined to hospital for extended periods
Police are assigned to specific wards and attend at weekly intervals and in addition, Blue Light sponsors two special events, one at Easter time and a Christmas Party. Patron for the program is Channel Nine weekend weather presenter, Xavier Minnicon.
The Blue Light Basketball Program is a five week training program involving approximately twenty young people who have been identified as being ‘at risk’ of offending. The training program is designed to give the young people some basketball skills and to assess their commitment to playing in a team environment.
Upon completion of the 5 week program the participants are divided into individual teams and encouraged to continue as a team in local competition.
The program has been designed to offer the participants ownership. This is done by fostering positive relationships with the participants with the aim of creating mentor relationships amongst the participants. The older participants are encouraged to take on the role as coach of the teams after the initial 5 week program has ended. They then have the opportunity to be role models to the younger participants as well as take responsibility for the future success of the group.
This program is a crime prevention initiative. It aims to engage young offenders and young people at risk of offending in a sporting activity to relieve some of their boredom which can lead to inappropriate behaviour.
Part of Blue Light’s success comes from continually developing programs and initiatives that gain and hold the interest of young people.
The inaugural Blue Light Skate Competition was held in March 2004 and is now an exciting addition to the Blue Light calendar of events.
The Blue Light Skate Competition is a demonstration of Blue Light’s commitment to providing meaningful activities for young people. It further demonstrates how Blue Light has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of young people’s interests.
The competition is open to all young people aged between 9 and 17-years.
Competitors cannot be sponsored skaters, this ensures entrants are neither disadvantaged or favoured. This encourages young people who would not ordinarily enter a skate competition to enter and compete against established skaters.
The wearing of helmets is a non-negotiable condition of entry. This highlights Blue Light’s commitment to providing a safe environment for young people.
Competitors are divided into age categories and exciting prizes are awarded to the winner and place-getters in the various age categories.
Judging is by accredited judges and a DJ plays the latest music from the skating genre.
By providing such a skate board competition for young people it is envisaged that parents of prospective competitors will be more comfortable about allowing their child to participate in the sport, knowing that it is an event provided and supervised by Blue Light.
It is hoped that the competition will have a two-fold effect. Firstly, to assist in raising and improving the image and reputation of the skating fraternity and secondly by providing a lawful and respectful environment for young people to participate in a much loved and enjoyed recreational activity.
Noorla Yo-Long and Errappa campsites operate corporate programs run by personnel trained to deliver a detailed program for corporate groups.
The program establishes group cohesion through team building and encourages joint problem-solving methodologies that can be transferred to the work environment. Objective-driven activities include a range of indoor and outdoor activities.
The focus is the importance of working together as a team while recognising that individual skills and abilities are required to achieve a shared goal.
The ultimate goal is to recognise individual strengths that:
Improve performance and productivity
Increase personal and team effectiveness
Achieve greater commitment to organisational goals
Identification and acceptance of personal responsibility
Maximise competitive advantage in the market place
Improve channels of communication throughout the organisation
“Our corporate programs offer your organisation a powerful and
effective means to invest in the development of your most significant asset –
your people.” – Noorla Yo- Long Camp Manager.
Blue Light Club
<TOP>
<HOME>
The Blue Light Club has been developed for young people who want to belong to a 'club with a difference'.
Objectives of the Blue Light Club are as follows:
|
|
|
|
The achievement of the first 2 of the above objectives will come about simply by a young person being a member of the Blue Light Club and enjoying the benefits offered exclusively to members - for more information about those benefits click here.
The benefits on offer that have been arranged for the members of the Blue Light Club will see the 3rd objective achieved. The young people who regularly patronise our discos deserve to be rewarded for their strong patronage - being a member of the Blue Light Club will do this.
The 4th objective will be achieved
through the online competitions that are available to the Blue Light Club
members. These competitions are based around crime prevention themes aimed at
provoking thoughts with respect to crime that will work towards making young
people more responsible and ultimately safer in their daily lives.
<TOP>
<HOME>