A Cairns community program is helping young people gain practical trade skills and reconnect with education through hands-on training in mechanics and barbering.
Fresh Start Academy founder Rob Hodge told ABC Far North he invested his own money in the program after working with at-risk young people for almost three decades. The academy now has 24 participants attending each semester.
The mechanics course allows teenagers to work directly on vehicles while completing a Certificate in Automotive Vocational Preparation. ABC reported that four participants moved into apprenticeships after the first semester and another four continued their studies at TAFE.
The program has received $300,000 in Queensland Government Kickstarter funding until January 2027. Its organisers hope longer-term support can follow the trial period.
Source: ABC Far North, 20 September 2026.
Image disclosure: The featured image is an AI-generated editorial illustration using fictional people. It is not a photograph of Fresh Start Academy, its staff or participants.
