Caboolture PCYC and Queensland police are delivering a Domestic Violence Program on Bribe Island.

The initiative is an extension of a successful PCYC program and has been introduced to the island through support from Councillor Brooke Savige and, local community organisations Busy Fingers and the Bribe Lions.

Senior Constable David Dodsworth, of Bribe Island Station, recently undertook a period of relief as Youth Club Manager at the Caboolture PCYC where he came across the program and saw a need for this to be delivered on Bribe to support the local Community. “RUBY, (Rise Up Be Yourself) is a free, confidential program aimed at improving health, and support to those affected by domestic and family violence”, said Senior Constable Dodsworth

Senior Sergeant Tracey Meyers, Zone Coordinator said, “The uniqueness of the Rise Up, Be Yourself Program (RUBY) is that there will always a QPS Officer present, either facilitating or participating in the class which opens a different level of communication with victims, often leading to additional support and ongoing referrals”. Providing localised support to women who are socially isolated is vital if we are to break the cycle of domestic and family violence within our communities. The partnership with QPS and PCYC has been ongoing for the past 75 years delivering Crime Prevention Programs and support to local community which now has extended its reach from the Caboolture PCYC to Bribe Island as one of the first satellite programs”

To ensure these weekly sessions are comfortable for women who may have experienced trauma, privacy is maintained, and they are facilitated by a female group fitness trainer and a female police officer, Constable Janet Stuart from Bribe Police Station. The program is designed to empower women by building physical strength and contributing to general well-being, emotional resilience, self-esteem and confidence through physical exercise in a violence free and safe environment.

Sessions are held each week, however as this is a referral-based program, anyone interested in participating in the program are asked to contact Acting Sgt Bob McDonald at Caboolture PCYC on 5495 7143 or Constable Janet Stuart at Bribie Island Police Station on 3410 9222 for further information about the program.