The Coalition Government today promised funding of $200,000 towards ‘Boys to the Bush’, a local non-profit organisation which assists disadvantaged young males from the Albury- Wodonga area.

Announcing the grant at her campaign launch in Albury on Friday, Ms Ley said the program “had a fantastic track record of connecting adolescents at the cross roads, getting them back on track, back to school and making better life decisions”.

“This funding over the next two years will allow the organisation to hire a full-time staff member
alongside new part-time local employees to develop and deliver programs to disengaged youth.”

Liberal candidate for Indi Steve Martin said “males in our border region are behind on many social indicators such as education and employment, making it all the more important for us to invest in early intervention”.

“The Boys to the Bush cause is one I’ve been proud to champion – it’s a local organisation achieving so much good in our community by getting alongside disadvantaged boys and offering them community, self-worth, and positive role models.”

“I’m committed to ensuring no section of our community is left behind, which is why I’ll stand by organisations like Boys to the Bush who work at the grassroots to combat disadvantage and offer hope.”

Boys to the Bush fills a gap in assistance provided to at-risk males who are struggling with family or personal situations. It is achieved through a camp program that exposes participants to new environments, relationships, and skills.

The school holiday camps for youths aged ten to sixteen years old are based around three core principles: Engagement, Resilience and Community.

The program has received generous support from the Albury Wodonga community, business sector and Albury Wodonga Health. As support continues to grow Boys to the Bush aims to increase its capacity to meet an ever present demand.