OPERATION FLINDERS

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:50): Recently, I had the opportunity to tour the Operation Flinders Foundation's Yankaninna Station in the Northern Flinders Ranges. I met with the executive director, John Shepherd AM, and other Operation Flinders staff and volunteers and discussed what the organisation is all about.

Operation Flinders is a South Australian charitable organisation that provides a unique program for young people who are at risk. The program that Operation Flinders provides is unique. It consists of an eight-day trek through Yankaninna Station in the Northern Flinders Ranges, which is located 65 kilometres east of Leigh Creek. The purpose of the program is to offer young people who have been identified as being at risk a chance to improve their perceptions on life, their self-esteem, their teamwork skills and responsibility, so that they may better contribute to society and the community.

Each team consists of between eight and 10 young men and women, a team leader who is skilled in wilderness survival and navigation, an assistant team leader and two counsellors who provide additional support. The total distance for the trek varies from program to program depending on the challenges and tasks the group has to accomplish along the way; however, the average distance sits at around 100 kilometres over eight days.

Over the eight days, each participant is required to carry all their own gear, from spare clothes to shelter to sleeping gear, weighing up to 15 kilograms. Food, water and cooking equipment are supplied and delivered to night stop locations throughout the trip; however, food preparation and shelter assembly are the responsibility of the participants.

Throughout the hike, the participants are faced with problems that need to be solved before they can proceed. These problems range from working together to abseiling down rock faces. Whilst on that, I did participate in some abseiling and, at one stage, ended up upside down, but that is another story.

Teamwork and support are essential to complete these tasks. The participants learn to work as part of a team and rely on each other's strengths and help support other's weaknesses. The program also teaches them how their decision-making and behaviour not only affect them but their peers and teammates as well.

Being in the middle of nowhere, participants are not able to turn around and run away from these difficult situations: they are forced to face up to them head on. It is the intention of the program to teach and show these young people that they are indeed capable of facing these issues and living full and productive lives while providing a safe and fun environment in which to learn.

The Operation Flinders program costs around $1.6 million a year to operate, most of which comes from council grants, fundraising and donations. Unfortunately, even this, at times, is not enough. This year's program has received incredible interest from parents and groups across South Australia and, sadly, has already been fully booked, with already 130 people booked in next year's program.

In 2002 and 2004, an independent review stated that the program was leading the world in positive outcomes and that young people who were initially considered to be at risk were significantly more likely to take the skills they had learnt and apply them to their day-to-day lives restoring faith in themselves. This year the Operation Flinders program has had more than 400 participants.

I would like to thank John Shepherd and his team for giving me the opportunity to see Operation Flinders in action. It was also great to see and hear from a number of the young participants. I would also like to take the time to thank the many volunteers who use their precious time, away from their families and lives, to assist in running the trek that helps so many young participants. Finally, I would also like to thank everybody who has assisted and donated to keep this remarkable organisation going.