Welcome
Welcome to our 2023 Annual Impact Report.
The quality of the outcomes that TRACTION achieved during 2023 continues to paint a compelling picture for mentoring as strategy for early intervention and prevention Mentoring relationships can be the vehicle through which interventions can be developed to address identified issues and challenges as well as act as a preventative strategy to support the healthy development of young people
TRACTION’s program platform offers an integrated solution to prevent issues from arising as well as address early signs of less than optimum wellbeing, learning engagement, social and emotional skill development, and for our First Nations participants, strengthen cultural identity and connection to community
During 2023, we built relationships with 291 young people. We engaged with approximately 43 referral agencies/schools across South East Queensland to assist young people identified as requiring additional support for their mental health and wellbeing, their engagement with learning, and to develop the skills and attributes to manage better emotionally and socially. In determining our impact across these areas, we surveyed and/or interviewed 171 young people, 109 parents /guardians and 15 representatives from referring schools
Our impact in 2023 clearly demonstrates that when we actively engage young people with their learning, and when we assist them to participate and connect with their families, school community and peers, they are more likely to achieve better educational, social, and emotional outcomes
Feedback from our stakeholders constantly reaffirms that the reason why TRACTION makes a difference is because of our safe and welcoming learning environments and our engaging mentoring strategies and that these actively assist young people to recognise their strengths which in turn boosts confidence, wellbeing, skills and capabilities, sense of belonging and connection
At TRACTION, we have a culture of taking our own learning, growth and development as seriously as we take young people’s In 2023, we stretched our program offering and developed, piloted and evaluated two additional initiatives to better support our young people.
Our leadership program, Take the Lead and our First Nations bike build program Building Deadly Riding Deadly demonstrated excellent results and we very much look forward to extending these offerings to more young people in the future. Many opportunities are evolving through the delivery of these projects. These include strengthened relationships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sector, program improvement and expansion, internal knowledge and capacity building, and improved outcomes for Indigenous young people.
As always, our work would simply not be possible without our dedicated and generous sponsors, funders and donors backing our committed and talented team members To them and to the young people that teach us every day, many thanks for entrusting us to help you make a difference during 2023.
Heartfelt thanks,
Eleesa Johnstone Impact & Capability Manager
Sandy Murdoch Founder & Chief Executive Officer
TRACTION for Young People Ltd (“TRACTION”)
Our Program Approach
TRACTION’s approach to promoting young people’s holistic positive development is informed through best practice literature and research that establishes that wellbeing, connectedness and learning engagement are strongly linked.
Strategies which build competence, confidence, connection, character and caring enable young people to stay healthy and build resilience enabling them to cope with challenges they may face
Positive relationships and connectedness and feeling a sense of belonging are essential for wellbeing Wellbeing is linked to improved academic achievement, enhanced mental health and responsible life choices.
Connectedness with school and engagement with learning are important predictors of academic performance and a strong sense of emotional wellbeing while poor connectedness, wellbeing and engagement are more highly associated with the uptake of risky health behaviours and poorer mental health
Behind each of our program offerings is an intentional program structure that reinforces the interdependent and mutually reinforcing nature of health and wellbeing, relationships and connections, and learning engagement and that these are essential for building the positive development of each individual young person we connect with.
Bea Learner Be Influential Be Connected
Provided 13,307 hours of mentoring to young people
Supported 291 young people
Worked with 43 referral agencies across 7 SEQ regions
Donated 245 bikes to young people
Achieved a 98% satisfaction rating from young people
To measure impact, TRACTION interviewed 109 parents/guardians (65%), 15 (31%) school representatives and extensively surveyed 171 (59%) young people.
Why Schools Refer Young People to TRACTION
Over the course of 2023 schools were required to provide reasons for why a referral for each young person was made to TRACTION in accordance with three categories: wellbeing and resilience, learning engagement and social and emotional skill development Some young people were referred across more than one category alone.
2023
Referral Reasons
Learning Engagement
Social & Emotional Skill Development
Wellbeing
Over half (54%) of the young people referred to TRACTION in 2023 were experiencing challenges effecting their overall wellbeing. Wellbeing indicates that young people require support with social connections and participation at school to cope with the demands of school, mental and/or emotional health, support to enhance their sense of belonging and safety at school, support to express their identity and/or culture, support to cope with challenging homelives and support for self-esteem and confidence. There are concerning results in these categories including 59% of young people are not participating as well as they could in the school community and 48% are experiencing challenges in feeling as though school is a place where they belong, are valued, and feel safe.
A total of 41% of referrals were for support for the development of skills for social and emotional learning This includes teamwork (44%) and leadership (38%) skill development and for the development of prosocial skills necessary for successfully transitioning through high school.
Finally, 38% of young people were referred for support and assistance to enhance learning engagement Indicators for learning engagement included behavioural challenges, attendance concerns and learning support. Interestingly less than one fifth or 21% of referrals were due to concerns about levels of school attendance and just over one third or 35% for behavioural challenges
These results paint a worrisome picture and are aligned with findings from state and national data, that indicate that social disconnection and isolation from the school community is contributing to challenges for wellbeing and learning engagement
Making a difference for young people
Data from 2023 strongly indicates that TRACTION is having a significant and positive impact on young people’s wellbeing, social and emotional skills, and engagement with learning.
I In relation to wellbeing, 100% of schools, 74% of parents/guardians and 85% of young people agree that wellbeing and resilience improved after completing a TRACTION program
Learning engagement also improved with 70% of young people, 82% of parents/guardians and 67% of schools indicating that attendance and behaviour at school had improved after completing a TRACTION program
TRACTION also had a positive influence on young people’s social and emotional skill development with 87% of young people, 70% of parents/guardians and 76% of schools indicating improvements in these areas
The following sections of this report evidence these outcomes in further detail.
Dashboard One: Enhancing Learning Engagement
There is no doubt that young people who are actively engaged with their learning, who participate and are connected with their school community are more likely to successfully complete school and achieve better social, emotional, and lifelong financial outcomes.
Unfortunately too many young people in SouthEast QLD, actively or passively disengage from school. Data from the 2021 census estimates this figure to be 9% or 40,985 young people aged 1524 nationally The reasons for early disengagement are complex and diverse Barriers to school engagement and completion can include poor mental health, family breakdown, homelessness, and poverty Additionally, many young people experiencing disadvantage, including Indigenous young people, young people living with a disability and young people in care, are further marginalised educationally and have higher rates of suspension and expulsion at earlier ages than average
What does the data tell us?
In 2022 across South East Queensland:
Less than half (47.7%) of fulltime students attended school 90% of the time.
8.3% of students had disciplinary absences, which is above the QLD average of 7 3%
Personal challenges at school impact 38.9% of students.
78.4% of students stay enrolled at school between year 10 and year 12.
What does the research tell us about what works?
Clearing the path for learning requires a targeted and early intervention approach to learners not meeting early educational milestones. This is said to require more attention on wellbeing, engagement, and non-cognitive skill development in the early and middle years of school and during important transitions. A young persons sense of safety, belonging, purpose and sense of self can be enhanced with a focus on the development of qualities and skills underpinning persistence, conscientiousness, and self-efficacy , or in other words, social and emotional skill development
Increasing incentives to attend school and introducing inclusive special programs and supports offered through the community to support schools in delivering their core business are attainable and achievable through early intervention programs such as TRACTION It is well documented, most notably in the past 12 months in Queensland, that interventions that disrupt patterns of school disengagement are increasingly associated with decreased involvement with the youth criminal justice system
Our 2023 Impact Learning Engagement
Our results during 2023 confirm that TRACTION is a mentoring and hands on learning program that successfully switches on young people’s confidence, motivation, capacity, and skills for re/engaging with their education
TRACTION helps motivate young people to attend school and develop behaviours that will support their learning instead of disrupt it Young people that attend TRACTION learn to recognise that with the right resources and support and the willingness to ask for help they learn ways to cope more effectively and find ways to persevere at school and achieve identified goals Importantly, TRACTION helps facilitate supportive connections between young people and school staff, breaking down feelings of loneliness and lack of connection to the wider school community
MEDIUM TERM IMPACTS SHORT TERM IMPACTS
LONGER TERM IMPACTS
Referral Reasons:
In 2023, 38% of young people were referred to TRACTION for support to engage with learning and meet their learning goals.
Schools identified that they were concerned about the attendance of 21% of young people and 35% who were demonstrating behaviours that challenge
Outcomes
Learning Engagement
Outcomes for Young People
79% of young people are getting along better with teachers
67% of young people are more positive about going to and being at school.
69% of young people have improved ability to manage school demands
84% of young people are more comfortable to ask for help from teachers.
The mentors were very helpful and handson when it came to learning something new and I could understand like I usually wouldn't in school. At school there is way less teachers to help out kids whereas here there is more to help you learn.
- Young Person
Outcomes for Parents/Guardians
67% of parents agree they have seen improvement in how their child engages with school
67% of parents agree their child is better able to cope with the demands of school
His overall engagement with school has improved - he's had no incidents in 3 months. He's like a different kid. TRACTION came along at a really good time for him - it allowed a partnership to form between school and for him to form friendships/connections. It helped keep him engaged.
- Parent
Outcomes for Schools
57% of young people improved rates of attendance
61% of young people improved behaviour
63% of young people improved effort at school.
69% of young people improved interactions with teachers.
We had to learn time management, responsibility, and to take ownership. The method of how things were taught was just spot on. TRACTION really shifted my mindset and I discovered that I actually did really like school, especially science because it involved the hands on learning elements like TRACTION did. TRACTION helped break me out of a bad habit of missing school. The more I missed the harder school became, I wasn't understanding things.
Success Story: Leila Love of Learning
Leila completed two TRACTION programs in 2018 and 2019 while she was in Grade 8 and Grade 9 at Glenala SHS.
Leila admits she wasn't the best student in Grade 8 and 9 and started not liking school and disengaging. A teacher from school selected her for the program if she promised to attend school for the remainder of the week Leila described how she loved the program and started going to school every day.
Leila recalls how patient and understanding the mentors were. They would explain expectations and consequences and knew how to connect with the students and bring everyone out of their shell in order to relax, open up and have fun. Leila explained how the biggest problems for lots of kids is related to just sitting in the classroom but for TRACTION, being in a different environment and learning by doing was a game changer.
“TRACTION helped me become more confident in asking for help and that then helped me feel better about asking for help from teachers at school I am grateful that I changed my mindset from Yr 9, TRACTION definitely helped me to change that, I was on the way to dropping out of school but now I can proudly say, I am the first in family to graduate from Yr. 12.”
Leila also explained how TRACTION gave her a taste of public speaking and leadership and in Yr 12 this led to her becoming one of the school’s Indigenous leaders Having now successfully finished Yr 12, Leila is looking forward to further study through TAFE and plans to use this as a pathway to achieve her dream of studying Marine Biology at University
Dashboard Two:
Wellbeing and Resilience
Childhood wellbeing can be understood and measured by looking at a range of interrelated factors, some of these being socioeconomic, educational attainment and family and community connectedness.
Disadvantage across any one or more of these domains can carry significant and lifelong social, emotional, and financial costs Wellbeing and learning outcomes are interdependent and mutually reinforcing Positive mental health and wellbeing is a crucial foundation for broader efforts to lift achievement, engagement, and attendance outcomes. Poor learning outcomes can also cause poor mental health and wellbeing at school and beyond
What does the data tell us?
In 2023 across South East Queensland:
37.8% of young people nominated mental health and suicide as issues of greatest concern.
34.6% of young people and young adults report high to very high levels of distress
20 young people died by suicide in 2021-22.
50% of young people have accessed mental health support
28.6% of young people feel lonely most or all of the time
58% of children and young people rate their health as excellent or good.
What does the research tell us about what works?
Early intervention, place-based initiatives informed by local need and access to quality learning translates to improved childhood wellbeing outcomes. A positive sense of belonging and the extent to which students feel part of their school, feel valued and cared for by the school community has flow on benefits for learning and engagement with school. Positive school environments, high-quality teacher-student relationships, supportive peers and learning environments as well as peer mentoring are associated with improved wellbeing for students and arguably also for teachers Improving young people’s health and wellbeing in school would have an immediate effect on a student’s quality of learning in school
Our 2023 Impact
Wellbeing & Resilience
TRACTION’s referral data indicates that schools are seeking additional supports to strengthen the wellbeing status of young people in schools. TRACTION offers an opportunity for young people to build confidence, develop supportive connections with peers, to experience the benefits of help seeking and develop strategies to cope with stress, overwhelm and anger.
As a result, our young people develop stronger connections to their school community reducing a sense of isolation and loneliness and experience a greater sense of wellbeing necessary for active engagement with their education and learning.
SHORT TERM IMPACTS
Young people experience success.
MEDIUM TERM IMPACTS
Young people have improved wellbeing and resilience.
LONGER TERM IMPACTS
Young people have enhanced community engagement, health, and wellbeing.
Referral Reasons:
54% of young people were referred to TRACTION for support to improve wellbeing.
59% of young people were referred to enhance their participation in and connection to the school community.
48% of young people were referred to enhance a sense of safety, value and belonging at school.
Wellbeing & Resilience Outcomes
Outcomes for Young People
87% of young people feel more confident and positive
84% of young people are getting along better with peers.
69% of young people learnt ways to deal with feeling stressed, upset, or angry.
79% of young people are making healthier and safer choices.
80% of young people are more willing to seek support from adults
TRACTION has taught me to communicate with others and ask for help which I've found helped a lot. It’s a place that helps make young people feel safe and secure.
- Young Person
TRACTION was giving me a break from the toxic side of school. I learnt skills at TRACTION such as resilience and I had help from mentors with the issues I was having at school and I made a lot of new friendships. I also learnt how to build a bike which I am very grateful for.
- Young Person
Outcomes for Parents/Guardians
95% of parents agree their child has improved confidence and feels more positive about themselves.
63% of parents agree their child has improved their capacity to cope with feeling stressed, angry or upset
74% of parents agree that their child’s wellbeing has improved
Outcomes for Schools
100% of young people improved levels of connection and participation in their school community.
100% of young people improved levels of wellbeing.
84% of young people improved interactions with peers.
87% of young people improved confidence at school
Success Story: Riley
Confidence to pursue his dream
Riley completed the TRACTION Bike Build program as a student at Wynnum State High School in 2020 TRACTION gave Riley the confidence to pursue his dream of a career in the Defence Force.
In January 2024, Riley visited TRACTION and shared his reflections of his time at TRACTION with his Mentor, Oscar
“I really enjoyed TRACTION I started focusing more which really helped me at school. I put my head down, did the work and now I know I can complete things. The TRACTION Mentors are really good people. They understand us. They are helpful and flexible and there to support you.”
Dashboard Three: Skills for Lifelong Learning -
Social & Emotional Skill development
Social and emotional skills and pro-social behaviours shape the way young people view themselves and perceive themselves in relation to others.
These skills are central to self-esteem, healthy relationships, self-control and managing behaviours and emotions During the ages of 4 and 12, most children’s inclination to develop pro-social behaviours increases However, this tends to rapidly decrease around the age 13 and remains relatively low until age 17; at the same time levels of poor mental health symptoms can increase each year of development. At the age of 13, if a child becomes more prosocial emotional and clinical symptoms of overwhelm, worry and unhappiness can reduce by 11%.
What does the data tell us?
In South East Queensland:
40% of young people are worried about school or study problems
42.2% of young people are confident in achieving study/work goals.
72.7% of young people can talk to their teachers about their concerns.
43.8% of young people aged 15-19 reported having barriers to achieving study or work goals after school.
What does the research tell us about what works?
Successful transition from childhood to adolescence and adulthood requires the support of caring adults and role models combined with healthy learning environments and engaging learning strategies. Achieving this means building and recognising a range of skills and capabilities in young people It means improving young people’s sense of belonging by recognising learning attained in activities that matter to them, and building on their individual strengths
When mentors help participants realise their own capabilities and help develop coping skills to deal more effectively with social situations and strengthen their social networks and connections, feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression can decrease and self-esteem and self-confidence can increase. Social and emotional learning paves the path for better engaged lifelong learners and future work-based success.
Our 2023 Impact
Skills for Lifelong Learning: Social & Emotional Skill development
TRACTION is engaging with young people at the right time of their development to boost social and emotional or prosocial skills.
Our workplace-oriented learning environments supports young people to identify strengths and attributes and develops skills, behaviours and attitudes that not only can help protect them from experiencing adverse mental health challenges but also represent critical soft skills necessary for workplace success.
SHORT TERM IMPACTS
MEDIUM TERM IMPACTS
LONGER TERM IMPACTS
Referral Reasons:
55% of young people were referred for support to enhance self-esteem and levels of confidence.
44% of young people were referred for support to develop teamwork capability
38% of young people were referred for support to develop leadership potential
Social & Emotional Skill development Outcomes
Outcomes for Young People
87% of young people feel more confident and positive
81% of young people are more confident communicating with adults
92% identify they are more respectful and think about how their choices and behaviour affect others
95% identify improved skills for teamwork and 90% for leadership
85% of young people believe they can make a positive contribution to community
82% agreed TRACTION assisted helping them to consider future career choices and 85% agreed they developed practical job skills
It helps boost your confidence and shows you, you can do things yourself. It teaches you how to be a leader and how to use teamwork skills.
- Young Person
It gives young people a sense of the real world and works on skills such as communication, emotional regulation, and socialisation - skills you don’t receive at school at this age.
- Young Person
Outcomes for Parents/Guardians
73% of parents agree their child thinks more about how their choices or behaviours affects others
66% of parents agree their child has improved skills to communicate with adults
77% of parents agree that their child has improved practical skills for daily living.
87% agree their child has improved skills for teamwork and 64% for leadership.
It helps the young people to work on confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. It helps them to communicate with each other, adults and share their experiences throughout the program It's hands on, engaging, and helps young people find direction in a very supportive environment with mentors who meet the young people where they are and get on their level. It gives the young people role models or people to look up to; something they may lack in their home
- Parent
TRACTION works because it helps the participants obtain self-respect and improve communication skills. Students gained the confidence to achieve personal goals, obtain positive outcomes, be part of a team and have access to staff that understand the students' strengths and weaknesses This assists each student to feel important each week.
- School
Outcomes for Schools
Schools agreed that 87% of young people improved teamwork skills
Schools agreed that 63% of young people improved leadership potential
Schools agreed that 77% of young people improved practical skills
TRACTION works because it offers students a platform to learn both practical and social/emotional skills that are often not taught within the classroom setting.
- School
2023 New TRACTION Programs and Approaches
Be Influential: Take the Lead
With the invaluable support of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, TRACTION has added a leadership element to our program platform.
In 2023, we trialed our program, called Take the Lead The Take the Lead program has produced excellent results in skill development, social and emotional learning and confidence and self-efficacy for our young participants.
We delivered and evaluated Take the Lead in four pilot programs over Term One and Term Two of 2023 The outcomes confirm that the program was influential in developing participants’ leadership and teamwork skills The way the program was delivered provided young people the opportunity to consistently practice qualities that we discovered supported leadership growth in young people, such as acceptance, respect, connection, influence, conflict resolution, teamwork and help giving. It provided the chance for young people to lead themselves and also influence others.
Our evaluation results confirm that Take the Lead influenced the development of leadership, teamwork, and practical skills to a greater degree than for participants not in the trial groups. As depicted by the summary graph below, young people, their parents/guardians and referring schools agree that Take the Lead stimulates and improves the growth and development of leadership capability as well as teamwork and practical skills.
Take the Lead Outcomes 2023
It gave her confidence, but also showed her an outcome of effort, hard-work and dedication. It showed her that it was better to get attention for the right reasons. She is thinking more and not acting on impulses as much.
- Parent
It gave her the confidence but also showed her when she put in the effort, the outcome of her hard-work and dedication. It showed her that it was better to get attention for the right reasons. She is thinking more and not acting on impulses as much.
-Parent
TRACTION helped me gain confidence in talking with my peers, adults, and teachers. It also taught me an important skill in life which was leadership.
- Young Person
TRACTION has provided my son with additional leadership skills along with a positive attitude.
- Parent
Connecting to Culture and CommunityBuilding Deadly Riding Deadly
Building Deadly Riding Deadly (BDRD) is a culturally safe and inclusive version of TRACTION’s core Bike Build program for First Nations young people. BDRD was developed in consultation and partnership with Gunya Meta under the stewardship and guidance of Aunty Faith Green. The program aims to empower First Nations young people to build connection to culture and their community and through this, enhance their engagement with learning. The development and implementation of BDRD is funded by the Sisters of The Saddle (SOTS) Foundation.
BDRD focuses on helping young people feel safer, accepted and more connected to their culture and school community and to enhance their sense of wellbeing and confidence or self-belief It was anticipated these outcomes would have a flow on effect of helping young people feel safer to attend school and engage with their learning. Families and carers of the young people and the school’s cultural liaison team are involved in the program, and it is co-facilitated with First Nations staff alongside TRACTION mentors The program is designed around the TRACTION Bike Build program structure with techniques, strategies and activities that also build curiosity, awareness, and knowledge of First Nations culture.
Building Deadly Riding Deadly Outcomes 2023
During 2023, three pilot BDRD programs were delivered with 23 young people at Park Ridge State High School with 100% completion rate Of the 23 young people that have completed the program to date, 94% were referred to facilitate connection to culture and community, 68% to support the development of social and emotional skills, 65% for reasons associated with wellbeing and mental health and 37% for enhancing engagement with learning.
Cultural Connection and Identity Social and Emotional Skills
Consistently the greatest enhancements offered through BDRD was enhanced cultural connection and identity with 93% of the young people and 93% of their carers agreeing improvements were identified. The cultural liaison staff member agreed that 68% of young people had improvements in this capacity
BDRD is helping young people consider their future plans for education and beyond through strengthening skills for teamwork, leadership and day to day living. 90% of young people and 79% of their parents and guardians agreed improvements were gained and the school representative observed positive changes for 65% of the young people.
Enhanced Wellbeing & Resilience
The school representative identified that 58% of the young people had improved levels of wellbeing and resilience, while 87% of young people and 72% of carers noted improvements in this area
Improved Learning Engagement
Carers noted strengthened improvements with school and learning for 84% of the young people and 80% of the young people agreed The school representative identified that for the one third of young people referred to the program for improvements in this area, 55% had improved.
