In its six years of development, Armidale’s unique, homegrown BackTrack youth program has achieved real outcomes. Yet, it is in desperate need of some degree of recurrent funding, according to Jen Kealey, a BackTrack Co-ordinator who runs one of the ‘host training farms’.
“We had three boys come and stay with us on our farm near Walcha for three days a week, doing workplace training,” said Ms Kealey. “It’s been incredible to see the personal and skills development in the boys. Their get-up-and-go work ethic improves alongside their self-esteem.”
BackTrack has a maximum capacity of 35 participants. It takes youths with a troubled past and helps them to see a future by giving them skills, purpose and respect – for themselves as well as others. These skills have included metal work, with one off-shoot from the program called ‘the Iron Man Welders’. BackTrack has also helped the boys to develop skills as dog trainers within the Paws Up dog jumping team, which was invited to perform for four days at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and has taken out the Australian dog jumping championship. The initiative attracting national interest is the AgLads programs, which has provided training and work experience for youths on farms. Three host farms are currently involved.
The honest, hands-on approach of BackTrack has been developed and refined for the past six years by Program Founder and Manager, Bernie Shakeshaft. Piece-meal funding grants and generous support from the local business sector have kept the program going. Now, BackTrack organisers are seeking recurrent base funding or enough to get the program to a self-sustaining level. After six years, they are clearly weary of the annual fight for funding and inability to plan.
Now, a top level national organisation offered its expertise. The Canberr-based CEO of AgriFood Skills Australia, Arthur Blewitt, and regional colleagues paid a visit to the BackTrack base on the eastern edge of Armidale recently. “These are young people coming off a low start in life. Thanks to this program, they are now becoming very good contractors, for example,” he said. ‘They are related appropriately and effectively within this program. There is a re-engagement with society.”
Fencers from BackTrack were presented with a State Government Community Service Award for their flood relief work at Bonshaw and Mingoola in August.
“If you have skills and the right attitude, you can get jobs – BackTrack is equipping these youths with both,” Mr Blewitt said. “AgriFood industries throughout the regions are crying out for skilled workers and you’ve got an under-utilised resource in local young people in need of skills.”
Mr Blewitt said that AgriFood Skills Australia cannot supply funding but it can help to lobby State and Federal Government Departments to chip in. Staff from AgriFood Skills and local consultant, Don Tydd, have been working to develop and refine the essential elements of BackTrack into a model than can be rolled out and adapted to other rural and regional centres nationally. This could well be the key to financial sustainability.
Principal of Innovative Regional Solutions, Don Tydd, introduced AgriFood Skills Australia to the BackTrack Program and has been assisting it building its organisational model or blueprint. “This program is unique. It has been a huge success and will be expanded with the support of AgriFoods. Together with two other innovative regional programs in Narrabri and the Gwydir Shire, BackTrack should find it easier to attract funding as a ‘regional solution’ model,” he said.
Story: Gary Fry
