Over 70 young people at the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre (BYDC) had the opportunity to learn about road safety from the perspective of first responders, and understand the impact that dangerous driving can have on the community.
Delivered by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, the Road Attitudes and Action Planning (RAAP) program involves firefighters talking about the difficulties they face when responding to motor vehicle accidents.
RAAP forms part of the syllabus at the Brisbane Youth Education and Training Centre (the school inside BYDC) and is designed to teach young people about the rules and responsibilities of getting behind the wheel. Listening to first responders sharing their passion for their work has led young people to reflect, share their own stories and become more aware of the lives they could be putting at risk if they commit motor vehicle offences.
One BYDC staff member commented: "The fact this program is delivered by real first responders has a big impact, and complements other programs we run."
Staff have also noted the genuine empathy and gratitude that the young people show others during their sessions.
As part of the program, a group of young people, teachers, firefighters and members of BYDC's cultural unit worked together to create a piece of art. The art sessions were guided by Uncle Greg from the cultural unit and the school's art teacher, Megan.
The artwork tells the story of the young peoples' educational journey and what they learned during the program. It features a red centre representing a stop sign and is layered with First Nations star symbols. There are 52 stars representing the weeks in the year and each star has 6 black dots, representing the people who die in car accidents each week. Other elements of the artwork represent our never-ending journey of learning and growth and the community.
The artwork has been donated to the Camira Fire Station and will be on display from June 2024.
Pictured: Representatives from Brisbane Youth Education and Training Centre, Camira Fire Station and Brisbane Youth Detention Centre with the artwork created as part of the RAAP program.
Last updated 11 July 2024
