Feb 14 • 21:04 UTC 🇦🇺 Australia ABC News AU

The Qld farm putting troubled youth on the straight and narrow

A Queensland farm program is successfully helping at-risk youth divert from crime by providing supportive rural education.

Woodstock Farm in Queensland is dedicated to helping troubled youth who are at risk of criminal behavior or have already had negative encounters with the law. This program is tailored for older teenagers, such as 17-year-old Malachi Tawhiti, who are finding it difficult to participate in traditional education systems. Instead of attending regular school, Malachi and his peers are taken to the rural farm, situated near Mount Tamborine, where they receive support and guidance in a more accommodating environment.

Malachi explains that he struggled with daily school attendance, often losing focus and skipping classes due to various health issues. The Woodstock Farm program offers a unique setting that aims to engage these young people, allowing them to learn and grow at their own pace while addressing their personal challenges. Case manager Setu Naseri interacts with the participants to gauge their well-being, emphasizing meaningful connections and mental health support as crucial aspects of this intervention.

The initiative highlights a broader need for alternative education solutions for at-risk youth in Queensland, aiming to break the cycle of disadvantage and lead them towards a more positive future. The success of such programs showcases the potential for rural education to provide tailored approaches that better serve the needs of young individuals who struggle within conventional educational frameworks.

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