Hamilton's Story

"I was actually signed to the Rabbitohs when I got locked up for armed robbery. It ended up being three years inside...but like

Joe Kwon

always says it was a part of my life and I can now use that to create an impact for others."

The sergeant at the police station said he had to make a phone call to my Mum. I was heartbroken and I shitting myself. The last thing you wanna do is let your parents find out. And then when my Nan jumped the phone, she couldn't talk, she was lost for words and that absolutely broke my heart.

I remember the first day they came and they visited. As much as I wanted them to come...just seeing the look on their faces when they walked in...it was hard to control the emotion with tears just pouring out of their eyes out.

That moment changed my mind forever. I have so much love for my grandmother and putting my family through what they had to go through was a pivotal reminder of what I needed to do. More than the punishment - this moment was the push I needed to change.

You can always see the potential in the boys. You look at a few and they need a little bit more work but we always have hope for them. Getting out and going back into the same environment is just straight hard, some of them have very little choices.

We tell the boys...at the end of the day it's really up to you. If you want to make a change in your life, to get out of the environment and choose a different path...we can be a part of that. We provide them with informed pathways, education or whatever they want to do in life too."

The raw emotion and stark reality of Hamilton's experiences serves as an important reminder of the collective responsibility we hold. It's our duty to extend a hand, to offer pathways that lead away from the precipice of reoffending and towards a horizon of possibilities. The

ConFit Pathways

program embodies this mission, providing a compass for young souls navigating the tumultuous seas of the youth justice system.

Hamilton is one of my heroes and I want to share more of these stories. Sometimes I am not sure of posting these on something like LinkedIn, but if it sparks just ones persons interest in helping out a young person with a criminal history, it will be worth it.

More

ConFit Pathways

stories coming soon.

A Curious Tractor

is working on a storytelling platform to celebrate the amazing work happening in the community to drive change and build across all areas of the youth justice system.