YEAR 10 students at Bathurst High School are "fit to learn" after completing a PCYC program which teaches skills for both their senior school years and the workforce.
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The term-long program sees participants learn a range of skills including resume preparation and first aid before graduating with a white card.
Senior Constable Rikki Bowden from Bathurst PCYC said the course was about getting students job-ready by allowing them to further develop intellectual and social skills.
She said the program encourages participants to explore their strengths in building respectful relationships within the school environment while also developing emotional intelligence skills.
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Bathurst High principal Ken Barwick described the program as fantastic and said the impact it had on students was obvious.
"This is the feedback I was getting. Every Tuesday afternoon one of the kids would walk into my office [after attending the PCYC] and thank me for giving them the opportunity," Mr Barwick said.
"I'd ask them what they were getting out of it, and they said, 'a plan'. They'd say 'we've got our first aid, our white card and resume ready to go'."
Mr Barwick, who did the PCYC program himself as a student, said being part of the program had changed the perspective of the students.
"They're talking about looking for work experience, and talking about looking for casual work," he said.
"They all now have that mindset about what they want to achieve and how they are going to do it."
Mr Barwick said Bathurst High has an amazing relationship with the police and the PCYC.
He also said people need to get past that mindset that principals and the PCYC only dealt with "naughty" kids.
They all now have that mindset about what they want to achieve.
- Bathurst High principal Ken Barwick
"The PCYC and principals deal with all kids, and they have really great programs that are beneficial to all students," he said.
Chifley Police District Chief Inspector Glenn Cogdell congratulated the program's 11 graduates.
He said it was an "excellent" program that gave students a "step up" to apply for meaningful employment opportunities.
Senior Constable Bowden thanked the graduates for their hard work and all the mentors who were involved in bringing the program to the students.
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