In Armidale, the BackTrack program has seen high levels of success, and now a similar program will be starting in Moree.
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The FlatTrack is an activity based learning program that will teach at risk youths who have dropped out of high school skills that will lead to employment.
It was founded by Geoff Dunlop and his son-in-law, Krist Grasnick, and now Moree Plains Shire Council has given them $20,000 in funding from the Moree Community Safety Committee Budget to help get the program up and running.
Mr Dunlop has a strong background in agriculture and has been involved in TAFE agriculture courses, where students would learn key jobs on the farm.
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Mr Grasnick has spent some time with BackTrack founder Bernie Shakeshaft and has been closely mentored by him.
"We're focusing on activities that lead to potential vocational activities, even in our community first, so that's why we've got a heavy agricultural point," FlatTrack founder Geoff Dunlop said.
"So any starting skills that feed potentially into agriculture is the way we go.
"So that's why we're going mechanical, metal, building industry and even equipment use and operation."
Mr Dunlop said they focus on "education in reverse", away from what schools and even TAFE can do.
"Traditionally, education loves having a big theory lesson and now we'll go out and practice," he said.
"And for a whole lot of reasons, basically because of generational disconnection and unemployment and all the rest of it, that doesn't work because there's no concept of the end if you haven't played at the end.
"You've got to start at the end and work backwards."
Not only will FlatTrack aim to educate and prepare young people for potential jobs in the future, it also aims to provide mentoring.
"There's a lot of mentoring and life support time with these students because they generally come from a pretty busted up world and they're really powerfully controlled by peer groups," Mr Dunlop said.
"We've got to try and break a lot of those cycles subtly, and in the end they break it themselves because they get more dignity when they see their own value."
The focus is going to be on 16 to 20-year-olds, "before they become really socially destructive for themselves."
Mr Dunlop said it's important to keep the number of young people lower to allow more personal time with each person.
"It's a bit like the old fashioned way of the master and apprentice," he said.
"You just work alongside someone who can do things and just slowly join in to what they're up to and we get a bit imaginative and mix it up so they can try things that have an instant obvious connection."
Another main focus is to ensure these young people aren't being overworked.
"From the reality that these kids don't come from what I would call a conventional work-oriented family, you can't expect them to do big hours of the program," Mr Dunlop said.
"The out for us is going to be the PCYC. We're linking with the afternoon programs there and obviously anything they do at night so that's the major supporter."
Councillor John Tramby OAM spoke in full support of the program at council meeting on Thursday, January 23, where the recommendation to provide financial assistance was voted for unanimously.
"I've been a supporter of this for the last 10 years," Mr Tramby said.
"It has to happen. It must happen. It gives the children a status, it gives them confidence, it gives them ability. It gives them assurance that they can do something."
The plan is to get the program started in February this year for a group of around four young people, with one person already locked in.