Frequent Asked Questions
RuffTRACK is an awesome youth program based at the RuffTRACK Farm at Londonderry NSW. A fully registered charity, we take on young people (12-17 years old) who have disengaged with school and the community to give them skills, education, a sense of self-worth and reconnecting them with their community. We work closely with Hawkesbury police and the incredible Back Track Youth Works to make a real change in young people lives.
Each young person bonds with a dog in their first days. That partnership takes them on a journey of learning responsibility, caring for others, and communicating without violence. The team then travels the country demonstrating their skills and giving them purpose and a reason to give life a serious go.
We have two programmes at RuffTRACK
-First one is our foundation program called Round Yard Project.
Our foundational course is run in conjunction with young people's current schooling and aligns with each 10-week NSW School Term. Attendance is 9:30-3:00pm Tuesday and Thursday at RuffTRACK Farm.
This programme aims to engage young people in learning in a fun environment on our RuffTRACK farm with our adult trades leaders and peer supports. We cover a broad area of engagement with a vast range of animals, horticulture, mechanics, woodwork, metal work, education around healthy relationships, arts and crafts, capacity building, assistance with schoolwork and dog training.
The main idea is to teach our young people the skills to use their inner, Communication, Consideration, Commitment, Consistency, Companionship, Compatibility, Cohesion, Compassion, Competency and Career Drive.
-Second is Core Programme
The RuffTRACK Core programme runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between the hours of 9:30am through to 3pm. The young people are picked up in the RuffTRACK bus in the Hawkesbury area from 8am to 9:30am and dropped home 3:00-4:30pm.
The core programme includes a wide variety of educational activities that aim to give our young people skills in;
- Literacy and Numeracy
- Animal husbandry
- Sustainability, both in land management and household management
- Mathematics
- Science including biology and Ag Science
- Public speaking, confidence building, vocal coaching, and articulation
- Performing arts
- Computer skills
- Horticulture
- Metal and woodwork
- Small and large engine mechanics
- Construction
- Budgeting
- Landscaping
- Engagement and interaction within the community
- Food Technology
- Plumbing
- Arts and Crafts
- Working cohesively and successfully in groups
- Indigenous culture appreciation.
The costs to attend our programmes are $200.00 a day Monday-Friday, $250.00 on weekends when workshops are available and $300 a night for camp overnights.
We are located on Londonderry Road, Londonderry NSW
Go to our website rufftrack.com and click on apply for an intake, fill out all details about the young person and the person referring.
First process is to fill out our intake form, we then will reach out with some info and costings about RuffTRACK within a couple of weeks via email, the intake officer will then call you to discuss a tour of the farm. It will be up to the programmes manager if the young person will be accepted into
the program. We do have a lengthy waiting list to participate in the RuffTRACK programme.
office@rufftrack.com for any queries regarding the programme or wanting to volunteer.
At this moment we are at capacity and do not provide onsite crisis accommodation.
We sure are. We are a Fully Registered Charity ( ABN: 16 637 113 896) with ATO, ASIC and with the NSW Government Department of Revenue so if you want a tax deductible receipt please send a copy of your donation and an email with your full name and address to office@rufftrack.com and we will send you a Tax Receipt.
Easy just head to our website rufftrack.com and click on donate button to make your taxable donation.
12-17 years of age. Any young people who turn 18 in our programme must have a WWC number.
By filling out our volunteer form and letting us know how you can help us out! Must have a WWC and police check done within the last 6 months.
No, we are not a registered educational school, we work alongside schools and tafe pathways to ensure they are attending and engaging in a programme that helps kids that have fallen through the cracks and skill them up for a an employable future.