General News
4 August, 2022
Blue EDGE program a positive experience for students
Local Highview and Maryborough Education Centre students are taking part in the eight-week Blue EDGE program, designed to build positive relationships between young people and local police. Blue EDGE (educate, develop, grow, empower) is a free...
Local Highview and Maryborough Education Centre students are taking part in the eight-week Blue EDGE program, designed to build positive relationships between young people and local police.
Blue EDGE (educate, develop, grow, empower) is a free program run by Blue Light Victoria and Victoria Police focussing on fitness, team building and personal growth and development.
Taking place on Monday and Thursday mornings before school, the program sees up to 20 year seven to nine students take part in fitness training run by Penny Rendell from Funky Fitness, a shared breakfast and life skills sessions.
This week, participating students were able to get hands-on with police equipment and vehicles, with a number of members from the Maryborough Police Station attending the morning session.
Students were also able to ask local officers a number of questions, ranging from the weight of the equipment they carry and the licenses they need to drive police vehicles, to the training and processes behind joining Victoria Police.
Maryborough Police Sergeant Gary Walter said the program was a great way for local police and youth to build positive relationships.
“It’s very important to have these interactions and build relationships with young people,” he said.
“It’s a really positive learning experience too, these students get to see us in a different light and we’re also able to show them what we’re all about.”
Local program facilitator Joyce Sedunary said the program was worthwhile and very successful.
“The program is really well structured, it’s about building positive connections for students with police and the community and it’s about teamwork, collaborating and growing,” she said.
“The students are challenged each week around issues of diversity and decision making and the program and their interactions with others during those eight weeks supports them to realise their potential which is great.”
Ms Sedunary encouraged businesses to get involved and back the local program, which she is hopeful will continue to go from strength to strength.
“I think it’s really great to get this program out into the community so people know we are actually running a really positive community fueled program,” she said.
“If there are any businesses or organisations that would like to come on board in any way, then we would love to hear from them.
“We’re really keen to see this program built up in the community and continue to grow because it has such a positive impact.”
The eight-week program concludes with an all-day celebratory excursion called the Longest Day as well as a graduation ceremony for participants.
