Bundaberg Police welcomed the announcement by the State Government on 14 June, that significant new and permanent funding support to youth support organisation Blue Light as the organisation celebrates 40 years of helping Queensland’s young people.
Queensland Blue Light Association is a not-for-profit organisation run by Police and civilian volunteers that has been helping young Queenslanders for 40 years.
Blue Light’s vision is for every young person to reach their potential and live free of crime.
It’s about police, community and young people achieving positive outcomes through early intervention.
While the first official Blue Light Disco in Queensland was held on the Gold Coast in 1984, since then, Blue Light has developed into a crime reduction initiative, which aims primarily to identify and address the needs of young people at risk.
There are currently 77 affiliated branches across Queensland servicing a diverse range of communities and one of those is Elevate in Bundaberg.
This Domestic and Family Violence Primary Prevention Program is a whole of class program targeted at high school students and focused on teaching students to expect respect and give respect in their relationships, realising sadly that every young person is at risk of domestic and family violence.
Delivered as sessions at school within school hours, these educational and interactive sessions are designed to help students learn to identify various forms of DFV and develop tools to respond to it, while also being provided advice on seeking help for victims and offenders.
It also is designed to build resilience and confidence in students to expect and give respect in their relationships.
Add to that Bundaberg Police also deliver Think U Know which is a cyber safety-based program delivered to schools from Prep to year 12.
This program engages influencers in young people’s lives including parents, carers, educators and police to raise awareness and deliver education about preventing online child sexual exploitation.
Bundaberg Patrol Group Wide Bay Burnett District Chief Inspector Grant Marcus said when it came to any of these programs, it was all about respect.
“We are wanting to educate the younger members of our community about respecting themselves, each other and their property and to do that we need to be active in schools and promoting this form of education,” Chief Inspector Marcus said.
“Sadly, in our communities we are coming up against some poor role models both in their own circles but also on social media, so it is important to clarify and correct this type of messaging.
“We also have programs coming to our region such as Mason Black’s Betterment Project with a mission to help boys become better men and speaks to these students on their level in a language that they understand.”
Chief Inspector Marcus highlighted that in local schools things like Adopt A Cop and school-based police officers were engaging with students, staff and parents to develop a rapport and break down the barriers that might have previously existed when they saw a uniform.
“By being able to remove this stigma and really connect with these students, these officers are able to get a good idea of where the support needs to be provided and we can identify trends and address areas that need more resources and provide guidance and advice.
“We want students to feel comfortable to report behaviour they might feel is unacceptable including online bullying because it is important for perpetrators to be stopped.
“For us we appreciate that all people are different, but one thing is clear for everyone, through awareness and education that this terrible domestic and family violence in the home, workplace and community can be eradicated because ultimately that is our goal.”
