Key to positive life
FROM getting high with car thieves to working towards an automotive career, a Townsville teenager who turned his life around has a strong message for kids on the wrong path.
Just over a year ago Logan Heathcote was, in his own words, on a track to nothing and nowhere.
He had dropped out of school, was smoking marijuana and hanging with kids whose idea of a good time was breaking into houses and stealing cars.
Logan was close to joining Townsville’s list of young criminals, but one phone call changed his life.
“You’ve just got to look at yourself in the mirror and think ‘ do I want to be one of them kids getting put into ground at a young age because I’ve stolen a car and crashed it and now family has to bury me’ or do you want to change your life around and go get a job,” Logan said.
“I came home one day and mum said she had spoken to Troy ( Buchanan from the Transition to Success Program) and was telling me about what the program was all about.
“Troy got a hold of me and ended up getting me enrolled in a course, a certificate II in engineering pathways and ended up helping me get a few different jobs.”
Queensland Government’s Transition 2 Success ( T2S) program is an alternative education and vocational training program aimed at improving outcomes for young people in the youth justice system.
Yesterday, 13 young people graduated with a certificate II in automotive vocational preparation as part of the T2S program.
Logan was a T2S graduate last year and now has employment with Pickerings Auto Group, detailing cars with an opportunity for career progression.
His bother Ethan also works with Pickerings and encouraged him to get involved with the business.
Pickerings HR manager Jaret Grant said the company would encourage other businesses to support youth from the T2S program.
“We’ve been employing people and selling cars for 40 years now and something that we value as a business is to do everything that we can to give the youth of today an opportunity to gain successful employment,” he said.
“This program has helped us to determine the right type of fit for our business.”
The Heathcote brothers both want to pursue a long- term career at Pickerings and are thankful for the opportunities they have been given.
T2S senior transitions officer Mr Buchanan said they were always on the lookout for more businesses to jump on board and support young people in gaining employment.