Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to again find a solution to the youth crime surge in the electorate of La Trobe. Together with Pastor Larry Sebastian from Casey City Church and Mr Beram Kumar, chairman and CEO of Strategic Missions Partnership, I'm working with the Tour of Hope project, where Brazilian soccer players come out to help disadvantaged kids. I'm also working with Dr Thomas Edwards, director and co-founder of Natural Intelligence and former senior lecturer in psychology, and Dr Cosimo Chiera on the proposal to facilitate behaviour change in that high-risk group through the development of hope, as people with high levels of hope also tend to demonstrate increased levels of wellbeing. I've met with Brazilian soccer players, including world champion soccer players. They've come out to the electorate, including Paulo Sergio, a 1994 World Cup winner. They're so excited about helping young people in my electorate—in particular the Sudanese youth. Many of the Brazilian soccer players, I was told through their interpreters, had very tough childhoods, and all they want to do is give back to those who experienced the same problems. I'm working with Larry and Tom on a two-year proposal, and I very much want to thank Minister Paul Fletcher for the work he has done trying to obtain this funding.