The Worldview Engage Program has commenced for Semester 1 of 2026, launching on Wednesday 11 February in Cooma. With 19 of 20 students in attendance, it’s a great indication of early engagement and buy-in from participants.

Co-facilitated with the NSW Police Youth Command, with support from PCYC Queanbeyan, Keystone Australia, and other community partners, the Engage program is designed to bring together education, law enforcement, community, and youth specialists to provide a safe, structured environment where students receive 1 on 1 and group mentoring, develop resilience, leadership, and communication, and learn practical skills for future pathways.

Intentionally designed, Engage is aimed at re-engaging disengaged and at-risk young people, providing them with the tools to explore alternative education and employment pathways, and helping them build emotional awareness, resilience, and leadership skills.

Week 1

In Week 1 of the program, the focus was on building culture, accountability, and setting the foundations for leadership. During the first day, the focus was:

• Setting clear behavioural and participation expections
• Establishing group norms built on respect and accountability
• Building early peer and mentor relationships
• Introducing structured reflection and goal setting

Students participated in structured ice-breakers and team building challenges that included cooperative problem solving games design to promote good communication, trust and leadership under pressure. And immediately, leadership began to emerge within the group with several students stepping into supportive and directive roles during the group challenges.

Daily Culture and Wellbeing

A key part of the Engage program is the daily, consistent structure. Providing this consistent structure gives students a place to relax and feel supported, because they know what’s expected of them.

Each session starts off with a well-being check-in. This is a short exercise where each student ranks how they’re feeling out of five. Something like the well-being check-in is simple in practice but it sets the tone for the program – that this is a safe place for participants to share with their peers and begin learning emotional awareness. It also allows for early intervention – any student ranking themself below a three is discreetly and privately followed up with by a mentor throughout the day.

The day then moves onto the formal session start routine – the Opening and Closing the Gate Ritual. Two students create a physical gate, shaking hands before welcoming each person individually into the space. At the end of the day, this ritual is repeated to close out the day. Like the well-being check-in, this is a simple ritual but it builds belonging, confidence, communication skills, and reinforces that Engage is a safe, shared, and accountable space.

Practical Responsibility in Action

Part of Week One’s activities was a shared BBQ lunch, planned and executed by the students. Students were responsible for the BBQ from start to finish – cooking, organisation, and clean up. It wasn’t just a meal, it was a structure opportunity for students to practice teamwork, delegation, leadership, communication, hygiene awareness, and shared responsibility.

Students also took part in physical challenges designed to foster an environment of communication and teamwork.

Throughout the day, students were encouraged to reflect and identify:

• What to sustain,
• What to improve,
• What to fix.

These reflections form another core aspect of Engage and this reflective framework continues through the semester, helping students build self awareness and personal accountability.

Goal Setting

Another activity in week one was goal setting. Students were introduced to the SMART goal framework and several participants voluntarily began identifying personal development goals, including:

• Improving physical fitness
• Increasing school attendance and effort
• Gaining employment related qualifications
• Strengthening behaviour and mindset

These early conversations demonstrate willingness to think beyond the session and toward long term outcomes.

The Path Ahead

Over the coming weeks, students will take part in a variety of activities aimed at leadership development, facing challenges with resilience, communication, emotional awareness, and teamwork. They will get to enjoy utdoor challenges and nationally recognised vocational training, including White Card, Asbestos and Silica certifications.

The Engage program isn’t a one day intervention. It’s not a classroom lecture. It’s a structured pathway with the opportunity to learn practical skills and for interpersonal growth, that is specially designed to:

• Re-engage young people in education
• Build leadership and resilience
• Provide practical employment readiness skills and,
• Strengthen the ties between community, schools, and police

Week 1 was a resounding success and established a strong cultural foundation built on respect, accountability, connection, and shared responsibility. The tone has been set for a purposeful, meaningful, and impactful semester ahead.