Man funds academy to help at-risk Cairns youth
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Rob Hodge of Cairns, Australia, used his life savings to establish Fresh Start Academy, a program designed to help young people develop skills and change their futures.
After working for decades with at-risk youth through government departments, Hodge believed existing systems focused too much on containing risks rather than providing opportunities. He left his job and built the academy with his own resources, offering courses in trades like barbering and mechanics to students aged 15 to 17.
The academy currently serves 24 students each semester, with half considered disengaged from school or at risk of involvement with the justice system. Hodge and his son, Traye, who coordinates the program, accept donated cars for students to practice mechanics, providing a free service to the community while giving the teens hands-on learning. Since its start, four students have moved into apprenticeships and another four continue studying at TAFE, a vocational training institution.
Katherine Hayes, chief executive of the Youth Advocacy Centre, praised programs like Fresh Start Academy for building essential skills like accountability and confidence. The Queensland government has provided $300,000 in funding through its Kickstarter program to support the academy until January of next year, and Hodge hopes to secure long-term funding after a successful first semester of the mechanics program.
