Boys to the Bush (BttB) was founded in 2017 by three NSW school teachers who saw too many boys from disadvantaged backgrounds slipping through society’s cracks.
In just five years BttB has impacted thousands of lives of regional youth in Albury-Wodonga, Forbes, Bathurst, Leeton, Wangaratta and Young; and we know we’ve saved lives too. At risk male youth aged 8-22 years is our primary focus, but community development and connecting all strata of regional communities is critical feature of our successful model. Our programs provide a platform of involvement and mutual benefit for communities - through farm/workplace visits we connect boys to good people in their local community; showing them they have a thriving support network.
BttB uses an unique approach that combines early intervention, diversion and prevention in complex youth, and it works - producing off the scales reintegration/rehabilitation rates of 99.4%. Our diverse programs cater for different ages/stages; and we’re constantly revising and developing programs in consultation with caseworkers, families and individual boys
Our organisation is strengthened by high numbers (approx. 25%) of staff who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Furthermore across our programs around 50-60% of our young participants are First Nations youth at varying stages on their journey of identity and connection to culture.
With the support of Waratah Education Foundation BttB have created a new position to embed First Nations cultural safety and program content across our organisation