Truancy Boost For Beenleigh

TRUANCY is a Beenleigh PCYC initiative in achieving success by lowering the incidence of truancy in Beenleigh, South Eastern Region.

The Beenleigh Together Against Truancy (BTAT) program is the first of its kind in Australia, and is run in partnership with the QPS, Beenleigh Yatala Chamber of Commerce, Beenleigh Marketplace, Beenleigh State High School and Davbridge Constructions.

BTAT has been operating since the beginning of the 2009 school year. Those people involved in the program work closely with the schools to address their truancy rates, and seek to reduce police service calls for truancy and juvenile related offences.

Beenleigh PCYC Branch Manager Sargeant Mark Dufficy said the programs success relied on the cooperation of the local community.

"The response from local businesses has been outstanding," Sargeant Dufficy said.

"Some 135 have signed on to the program. They play an important role in ensuring truant students are not served in their shops during school hours, unless they can produce a valid 'ID attend card'."

Sargeant Dufficy said the Beenleigh PCYC Truancy Officer's car could be seen daily patrolling the streets of Beenleigh and Windaroo between the hours 8.30am and 2.30pm.

"The local police and the School Based Police Officer at Beenleigh, offer great assistance to the Truancy Officer,"
he said.

"Current figures indicate the program is working, with a significant drop in the rate of truancy at Beenleigh High since the start of the program. It allows us to continue to use a number of initiatives when addressing the local truancy problem."

Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association.

To read more about the involvement of Beenleigh against
Truancy please click here.