TESTIMONIALS & OLLIE’S STORY
Background
A Promising Case Study of Empowering Troubled Youth.
(Note: The names and locations have been changed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the individuals involved.)
Age: 12-14 years old previous involvement with law enforcement, at risk of academic disengagement and prone to antisocial and criminal behaviour.
Ollie, a troubled young individual with anger issues and a history of domestic violence, was referred to our organization by the police. Recognizing his potential, we believed that he would greatly benefit from participating in our Horse Whispering Program, which aimed to enhance his emotional regulation and overall well-being.
Ollie’s Story
I am Ollie, and I’ve been through some tough times in my life. I grew up in a difficult home journey where I experienced domestic violence and verbal abuse. This made me feel scared and angry, I found it hard to communicate my feelings. I started to hang out with older people and I started staying away from home for a while and from school too.
I got into trouble with the police. It felt like they saw past my anger and wanted to be there for me, it was them who recommended this program to me, they said that it uses horse whispering to help young people like me develop better emotional control and self-esteem. At first, I was hesitant to participate, but I decided to give it a try.
The program’s facilitators were nice, and I felt safe and comfortable around them and the horses. I was able to build trust and rapport with the horses, which helped me form stronger emotional connections with my family, I think it even helped them a little with the tools I learned. I shared my workbook with my younger siblings, and now we all do the ABC exercise.
Looking back, it is great how over the 10 weeks, my communication skills improved, and I learned how to express myself more effectively and less aggressively. I learned how to regulate my behaviour and respond to challenging situations in a more positive way.
The equine-assisted program had a big impact on my life, giving me the tools that I needed to overcome some of my struggles. I was able to re-engage with my school and even make some new friends. I feel hopeful about my future now and know that I have the skills and support I need to achieve my goals.
Click Here for the Transformational Outcomes from Senior NSW Police Constable & Measured Outcomes of success.
Testimonies of Support
HWYP Collaboration with the Robina Adolescent Day Program. “We have been lucky enough to have been attending the HWYP for a year. In that time, we have had numerous children from our program engage in the program with amazing results.”
Krurungal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Corporation for welfare resources and housing is a community run organisation providing culturally appropriate support services to local ATSI people in the Gold Coast/Tweed LGA.
“Having the HWYP as an option for young
people has been a huge advantage to the work that we do at Youth Support Services,.”
“In my experience, the 10-week early intervention program has proven highly capable in quickly engaging troubled youth, diverting them away from anti-social/ criminal behaviour, helping them to
engage positively with others and build self-confidence and resilience.”
“We support HWYP’s unique approach to addressing the diverse needs of youth & families. Their equine-assisted programs enhance the personal growth, well-being, and overall development of participants in a safe, natural, and outdoor environment.”
“The Program was a great success for our students in 2023. Their overall confidence and ability to communicate positively with others grew dramatically throughout the program.”