TROUBLED teenagers from the South East will conquer their inner demons when they embark on a mental and emotional challenge across the outback this week.
Ten students from the Millicent Community Learning Centre (MCLC) will take part in the fully-funded Operation Flinders program, which aims to provide direction for young people at risk.
As part of the program, participants will spend eight days trekking 100km through the rugged Northern Flinders Ranges and will be given the opportunity to “turn their lives around”.
MCLC manager Gemma Winterborn said the program would be a huge turning point in the teenagers’ lives.
“Our most at-risk students within the community have the opportunity to go on a program that is therapeutic and not just an army-run kind of routine,” she said.
“We are in a community where our families cannot afford to send their kids to rehabilitation centres and we do not have access to any,” she said.
“We have been working with Drug and Alcohol Services Australia (DASA) and they have helped the kids get their medical clearances, which means they will go into this program completely drug-free.
“There will be many positive outcomes coming out of this program and students will be able to make positive choices and reflections about themselves, their abilities and what they can achieve.”
In the lead-up to Operation Flinders, the students, aged 15-19 years, have been undertaking wellbeing and adventure therapy and staff have already recognised improvements in their behaviour and schooling.
“Since they have been invited, each of these students have been excelling in their school work,” Ms Winterborn said.
“They feel included, wanted and like people care and they see this as an opportunity to change”.
The MCLC’s involvement in the program was made possible through $16,500 worth of funding from Engie, a natural gas distribution company, and $500 from the Millicent Rotary Club.
As well as being given the chance to “turn their lives around”, participants will receive a Duke of Edinburgh bronze medallion and 20 SACE points.
