Senior Constable Sharon Radau with the boys from YMCA’s Disability Services. 69913 Picture: VANESSA CHIRCOP
By Vanessa Chircop
A YMCA program is helping to change the lives of a group of men with disabilities through work experience at Altona North police station.
Over the past year, the men from YMCA Disability Services in Avondale Heights have been taking part in the work experience program, which involves them working alongside a washing contractor to clean the fleet of police vehicles every fortnight.
YMCA Disabilities Educator Adrian Thomas said the program taught the boys how to hose down and clean the cars using the specified equipment, occupational health and safety standards as well as helped develop their skills.
Since starting the program 12 months ago, Mr Thomas has seen the boys develop and improve, become more proactive, more empowered and given self-worth.
“They enjoy it and are enthusiastic about coming down here,” he said.
The young men particularly get a thrill out of spending time with the police officers and interacting with staff at the Altona North station.
“Any opportunity to have some of the officers turn the sirens on,” Mr Thomas said.
The program also teaches the group gardening skills, literacy and computer skills.
Mr Thomas said the boys’ behavioural and team work abilities have significantly improved through the program.
“It encourages their positive attributes,” he said.
Senior Constable Sharon Radau, the Community Liaison Officer at Hobsons Bay, said the work experience program helped the men learn time management skills and how to work in a team environment.
