WHEN the kids from ShoreTrack aren’t out on mowing jobs, or making cement steps and pavers for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service or restoring the odd vintage car, you’ll probably find them tackling the intricacies of welding, carpentry or engine maintenance in their ‘classroom’ on the Macksville Industrial Estate.

These are youngsters who don’t take well to sitting in classrooms, writing essays and following timetables, but ShoreTrack training programs are helping them re-engage with education, as well as offering training in hands-on, trades-based programs and linking them with local employers.

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Right now, under the direction of Darren Haigh, Amy and Geoff Batten, the team is busy working on creating Christmas trees, reindeers and Christmas bells for the Valla Beach Community Market on Saturday, December 3, using skills such as welding, carpentry and painting to turn offcuts into decorative items.

ShoreTrack is a registered not-for-profit company founded by Jillian Ashley and Paul Ireland, and supported by a Board of experienced business owners, educators, behaviour specialists and executive officers of community services organisations.

They recognise that some kids have trouble coping with school, and that they are the ones most likely to become disengaged, high-risk and vulnerable.

Each week about 45 boys and girls, from primary-schoolers to 21-plus, spend days at ShoreTrack learning skills from qualified tradesmen and finding out what they can do, and what they are good at.

“While mastering skills gives them confidence, they also learn resilience and experience the strength that comes from failing at something and getting up again,” said founder Jillian Ashley.

“Our staff are fantastic, all highly skilled and passionate about helping kids.

“We follow a model based on collaboration and we never have behaviour problems; the kids want to learn and they do that by watching and being hands-on.”

Each day staff members pick the kids up, do hands-on activities, listen to them, and provide meals – with the local Macksville CWA doing the cooking one day a week.

The ShoreTrack mowing team – Darren Haigh, Jb Edwards, Joeli Bula, Yamaan Seccombe, Taejarn Inglis, Pat Carmody and Bruce Carmady – is a good example of introducing kids to real-life work experiences and they’re getting a great reputation for their work ethic.

Along with mowing skills, they are also learning responsibility, work-safe procedures, care and maintenance of equipment and small engine skills.

Local MP Pat Conaghan was instrumental in obtaining a grant for some equipment, and the Siddle Family Foundation has also been a generous supporter.

In all the training the focus is to instill confidence and get young people work-ready, so while qualified tradespeople introduce students to a range of trades and crafts such as carpentry, painting and welding, there are also training courses in skills where jobs are available such as nursery work, cooking and barista work.

ShoreTrack recently applied for a grant to conduct a beauty course, and thanks to funding from Sony Foundation, there will soon be courses in film-making, music and podcasting.

It may take a village to raise a child, but it sometimes takes an organisation like ShoreTrack with its supported pathways to help kids achieve their goals and independence.

By Susan KONTIC