CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Mr CONAGHAN (Cowper) (16:24): Going into the last election, I made election funding promises to my community that I am determined to see come to fruition, despite our being unsuccessful in taking government. I'd like to take this opportunity to highlight two important youth programs that in every way deserve to have that funding delivered and should have unquestionably received bipartisan support to continue.

They are Shore Track in Macksville and the Rise program in Coffs Harbour. With the issues that we are seeing among our youth right now across the country, it's important to recognise and safeguard the organisations that are actively building a sense of support and belonging. Shore Track's aim is to ensure that our young people, often after a background of trauma, start believing in themselves.

Without positive intervention, these young people would stay disconnected and vulnerable to isolation and negative behaviours. Over the past six years I've been lucky enough to witness this amazing venture go from strength to strength. The training courses they provide not only equip our young people with important skills for future employment but also provide a support system that enhances self-worth and confidence in student-age children that have fallen through the cracks in our traditional education systems.

Their success rate says it all: 93 per cent of students who complete ShoreTrack training end up gainfully employed, which is absolutely incredible. They are deserving of the $600,000 they need to guarantee that their program continues. Then there's the RISE program.

RISE provides a structured curriculum that trains youth in technical football and teambuilding skills and teaches positive values, including trust, respect, discipline and patience. This well-loved program runs almost entirely on donations and volunteers, with training sessions operating five days a week and catering for 40 kids each day. They're picked up in buses, taken to training and provided with breakfast—all before school.

The program has increased school attendance significantly, especially within the refugee community in the Coffs Harbour area, and it prepares kids to have a positive mindset and be ready to learn and engage. While RISE uses football as a unifier, it is more than just a sports program. RISE is a youth, social cohesion and wellbeing program that creates a sense of community and belonging.

I implore the new government teams: please, when you see these applications for funding come across your desk, give them the consideration they truly deserve, because my community needs them.