Life Skills

These programs help young people develop skills which will help them in adult life. This may include, healthy eating/cookery, personal hygiene, drug and alcohol misuse and social skills, applying for learner’s permits and driver training.

 Ice Breakers WA PCYC®

Ice Breakers WA PCYC® is a 12-week non-residential rehabilitation program, which focuses on education and cognitive behavioural therapy, by offering sessions and support to a range of individuals at different stages of addiction. The program also provides a support group for parents and families of individuals battling ice addiction.

The program currently delivered at Albany PCYC, runs over 12 weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am – 2.30pm, while the support group meets on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 7:00pm. The program was developed by Margaret Gordon and her grandson Jamie Coyne, whose past experience with drug abuse helped develop a program that connects with recovering addicts.

The program is also delivered at Bunbury PCYC holds regular meetings Bunbury PCYC on Monday’s and Thursday’s,  and at Jobs South West on Wednesday’s and Friday’s  from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

Project Full Throttle™

Project Full Throttle™ is a bike rebuilding diversionary program, that engages youth and youth at risk ages 12-18 years. Young people are taught about bike maintenance and repairs, and once the bike is restored to a roadworthy condition  it is then donated to charitable organisations or families in need. The ethos behind this is to teach young people the value and importance of volunteering and giving back to the community.

The program engages young people, whilst providing a safe and controlled environment to learn new skills. It aims to increase self-confidence and self-esteem along with other life skills such as budgeting, healthy eating, and social skills. It helps participants understand the consequences of actions and aids in helping them to make positive life choices.

This program is delivered at Gosnells PCYC and has been piloted at Geraldton PCYC and Northam PCYC. The program has also been delivered in Merriwa as part of the WA PCYC North West Metropolitan Outreach Program.

Drive to the Future™

The Drive to the Future™ program gives Prolific and Priority Offenders (PPO’s) the opportunity to attain their motor vehicle licence. Partly funded by WAPol, the course is delivered by a Youth Crime Intervention Officer (YCIO) and targets Youth at Risk in the South East Metropolitan District.

Primarily delivered at Kensington PCYC, Drive to the Future aims to have a positive impact on the driving skills, attitudes and behaviours of youth and in turn, helps to reduce and prevent criminal activity relating to motor vehicles and traffic offences. It also aims to reduce criminal anti-social behaviour, by enhancing employment or apprenticeship opportunities and by improving the psychological well-being of the participants.

Off the Rails™

Off the Rails is an intervention program that aims to reduce antisocial behaviour on train lines and in Perth City by providing youth aged 10 -18 years with  something to do on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights between 6:00pm and 9:00pm. The program focuses on helping at-risk youth build confidence and social skills and is important in helping guide them towards a brighter future.

The program is delivered at Gosnells PCYC on Friday nights, where qualified Youth Workers provide local youth with transport to the centre. The program is also due to commence in Armadale as part of our Outreach Services.

Keys 4 Life™

The Keys for Life™ program engages young people to assist them in gaining their Learners Permit and also incorporates Defensive Driving Skills. On completion of the course, participants are issued with a Keys for Life™ certificate stating they passed the theory test which they then take to the Department of Transport to be issued with their Learner’s Permit. This program is aimed at Young Offenders over the age of 15 years and helps to create behavioural change, a reduction in traffic-related offences and enable youth to make positive life changes.

Delivered at Albany PCYC, Keys for Life is designed for young people aged 15 – 16 years (pre-drivers or novice drivers) entering the licensing system and is facilitated by a trained person.  The main aim of the program is to develop positive road user attitudes in young people.

One of the program incentives is that students can start the Learner’s Permit application process and redeem their Keys for Life certificate then attend the local Department of Transport office to obtain their Learner’s Permit. They achieve this by sitting the legitimate Learner’s Permit Theory Test at WA PCYC rather than at a licensing centre.