By Renee Wood
A program that’s run at Mount Evelyn YMCA Camp is throwing youth offenders a lifeline to turn their lives around after learning ‘the ropes’ with local police officers.
The ‘Ropes Program’ is run by Leading Senior Constable Kevin Bridle who recently took over from its founder Senior Contsable Mick O’Meara in 2019.
Ld Snr Const. Bridle works in the Proactive Policing Unit at Knox Police Station and jumped at the opportunity to lead the program to help local kids bounce back from troubled times.
“I’ve always had an interest in working with the youth because some people don’t have a role model in their life, so if they can find one, it’s a good thing,” Ld. Snr Const. Bridle said.
It’s been running for 22 years and started after Snr Const. O’Meara was at court with a youth offender and noticed how unfair it was that children didn’t have a ‘diversion’ option to squash a criminal record.
Snr Const. O’Meara developed the initiative which now allows young people the opportunity to have their conviction wiped and move on with their lives, if they successfully complete the Ropes Program.
Ld. Snr Const. Bridle said the one day program includes the physical rope drill elements while developing problem solving and leadership skills.
Ld. Snr Const. Bridle also provides examples of how criminal convictions can affect your future life.
“Andrew Krakouer, played for Collingwood – as a 17 year old he got into trouble he pinched a car, got into an assault, he did time. When he played football, the club wanted to take all their players overseas for training courses in the States – he couldn’t go because of a criminal conviction.
“Those are the sorts of things we tell the kids – a silly thing you do can come back later in life, that spur of the moment decision can affect you. So Ropes today is about learning to stop and think about it, is it really worth the risk?”
Generally, it’s held once a month with up to twelve participants who have been deemed suitable by the Magistrate after meeting specific requirements, which includes no extensive criminal history and the offence is minor.
The youth has to admit the guilt and the defence and prosecution have to both agree to it before putting a submission to the Magistrate.
The course hasn’t been running during lockdowns and restrictions but now it has resumed this year.
Ld. Snr Const. Bridle is grateful for its return and said it’s a vital service steering youth back in the right direction.
“We expect children to push boundaries and have a bit of fun – that’s part of growing up, and making mistakes is a great way to learn.
“But this is your chance, this is where it stops. You do the ropes course, learn by it and move on.”
Everything on the schedule has strong meanings behind them.
Group problem solving activities are held to allow the participants to build some confidence among their peers and promote leadership skills, while the low ropes course, will see groups working together as one person climbs and the other two support.
“I relate that back to in life. Sometimes when you’re at a party or something like that, and things are getting out of hand, your friends are there to support you.”
The high ropes course is conducted later in the day with the leap of faith and giant swing also having strong connections to everyday life.
“The idea of these type of things is to face their fears… pushing the young people to participate in something outside their comfort zone.”
Weaved through the physical activities is a main diversion talk.
“One of the things we’ll talk about in the talk is to learn how to say no – so if you’re in a peer group pressure, be the one that has the confidence to say no I’m not going to do that or no I don’t want to be involved.
“You might be pressured to get into a stolen car or something – if one person says no that’s dumb, you’ll be surprised how many other people will say yeah that is a dumb idea.”
The participant will either pass or fail after completing the day, with the majority passing, while others may fail for various reasons including showing poor behaviour.
It’s a one chance opportunity that’s seeing less youth follow a path of criminal activity, while providing an opportunity to move forward into society.
One of the participants under Snr Const. O’Meara was a young offender who contacted him concerned his passed offence would jeopardise his goal of getting into the army.
Mick assured him that due to the ropes program he would be cleared, and sure enough the man is now in the army in a high ranking position – an example of just how ropes can start a better chapter for young people.
Ld. Snr Const. Bridle said 15 per cent of the participants reoffend.
“Jails are full of people that broke laws within the community, and as a community we all have to live together and get along so we need to take consideration with the things that we do.”
