Sparking potential: How TRACTION is changing young lives

Sparking potential: How TRACTION is changing young lives

You’ve probably seen it: young people struggling at school, often losing direction. Too often, the support systems around them fail to keep pace with the complexity of their needs. When help is fragmented or inaccessible, young people are left isolated, their strengths overlooked, and their futures can quietly slip away.

Across Australia, the scale of this challenge is significant. One in ten young people are disengaged, one in four faces a mental health challenge, and tragically, suicide claims more young lives than any other cause.

TRACTION, a not-for-profit, provides a proven early intervention response that tackles this head-on. Founded by Sandy Murdoch to create safe, inclusive spaces where young people can reconnect with learning and themselves, TRACTION delivers evidence-based, hands-on, relationship-led mentoring programs. These programs are designed to build confidence and resilience, and support positive pathways from an early stage.

The challenge

“Too many of our young people today are facing challenges that can derail their futures before they’ve even begun,” Sandy said.

Across Queensland alone, around 70,000 young people are currently disengaged from school – a number projected to rise to 283,000 by 2030. Children as young as 10 are already slipping away from learning. 

Disengagement rarely happens in isolation. It leads to very predictable and avoidable negative outcomes for the young people who disengage, and the broader community. And the impact goes well beyond youth crime we see in the headlines.  

“Without early support, the path from school to trouble is all too real,” Sandy said. “With the right guidance at the right time, change is possible.”

TRACTION mentors build trust and role-model healthy relationships, creating spaces where young people learn new skills, gain confidence, and make new connections. 

“We believe every young person has the right to imagine and build their own future,” Sandy said.

Once a week, participants attend off-site workshops or community locations, completing meaningful projects, learning practical skills, and growing confidence.

Helping young people thrive

At the heart of TRACTION is a simple but powerful idea: young people thrive when they are seen, heard, and supported by trusted adults in safe, inclusive environments. It’s about more than support; it’s about sparking potential, purpose, and self-belief. 

Small-group programs, from a one-day bike build to a nine-week program or the boom box development project, give young people hands-on opportunities to discover what they’re capable of. In a safe, supportive environment, they build resilience, practical skills, and confidence.

“The trajectory for those who disengage is entirely predictable and often tragic. That’s why we step in early, before anyone falls through the cracks. This isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s a smart investment in our young people and our community.”

By partnering with schools, community organisations, and local businesses, TRACTION equips 10-16-year-olds with the confidence, skills, and hope to succeed.

“When our young people thrive, we all do,” Sandy added.

The heart of mentorship

“The heart of TRACTION is in our mentors,” Sandy said. “Through genuine rapport and trust, they keep young people engaged, open doors to possibility, and role-model healthy, respectful relationships.”

Mentors guide participants in weekly workshops, where young people complete meaningful projects – like bikes they get to keep – while learning practical skills, building confidence, and forming lasting friendships.

“Young people don’t just learn in isolation. They grow together, complete meaningful projects, form lasting friendships, and build confidence and practical skills that open pathways to employment,” Sandy said. 

“Most importantly, they discover their sense of belonging and wellbeing.”

Creative pathways

Before founding TRACTION, Sandy wondered how vulnerable young people navigate a world stacked against them. Determined to make a difference, he leveraged his corporate experience, mentoring skills, and a bold idea: create a learning environment modelled on a real workplace.

Here, young people uncover talents, grow confidence, and start to see future possibilities.

"We design hands-on, project-based group environments where young people collaborate with mentors, build practical life skills, and achieve tangible successes that boost their confidence and ignite positive change across all areas of their lives," Sandy said. 

Take Rahni: she joined TRACTION at 14 through the Bike Build Program and returned as a Student Mentor, sharing her skills with new participants. 

Brothers Mitchell and Logan faced disengagement and bullying, but through TRACTION’s Bike Build and Small Engines programs, they developed teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. Today, Mitchell is a qualified mechanic, and Logan is completing his apprenticeship as an auto electrician.

“Helping young people discover purpose doesn’t just change their lives. It shows what’s possible and inspires them to mentor others. That’s the real momentum of TRACTION. It can even transform future generations,” Sandy explained.

Building momentum

Early intervention prevents cycles of crime, unemployment, poor health, and welfare dependency, saving society billions each year. TRACTION breaks that cycle, creating lasting benefits for individuals, families, and communities.

Young people, schools, families, and communities consistently highlight TRACTION as a turning point:

• 81% of young people report improved engagement at school
• 71% improved readiness for High School
• 100% increased motivation to complete school and consider future goals
• 93% developed better teamwork skills, and 79% developed their leadership skills.
• 81% report improved wellbeing and mental health.
• Independent evaluation of the BUILD program shows every dollar invested returns $3.39 across health, education, and employment metrics, generating $6.95 million in community impact in 2024 alone.

“TRACTION is a vehicle for transformation that ripples outwards, creating enduring opportunities across generations,” Sandy added. 

Now, Friendship Tree is thrilled to list TRACTION as a trusted charity on the platform. 

“TRACTION is creating real opportunities for young people to discover their potential and build brighter futures. When a charity like TRACTION is making such a tangible difference, we want to make it easy for the community to get behind them,” said Adam White, Founder of Friendship Tree.

Join the movement

By equipping young people with resilience in an environment that nurtures their social and emotional wellbeing, TRACTION empowers them to re-engage with learning, build meaningful connections, develop skills for healthy relationships, explore future employment pathways, and better navigate life’s challenges.

TRACTION’s programs thrive thanks to the generosity of the community. Even small contributions add up, giving young people the skills, confidence, and opportunities to thrive.

“To those already backing us, thank you. Your support makes transformation possible,” Sandy said.

“To those discovering TRACTION for the first time, we invite you to join us. Together, we’re not just delivering programs. We’re building human momentum that will uplift communities for decades to come.”

You can support this life-changing organisation via the Friendship Tree, making it simple to support their work.

A recent independent evaluation conducted by Torch Advisory Group provides a robust, evidence-based assessment of TRACTION’s impact, demonstrating the tangible economic, health, and educational benefits of our work. The findings of this evaluation report that TRACTION’s activities generate an estimated $6.95 million in positive economic impact annually across these sectors. Additionally, $1 invested into TRACTION has a $3.39 return of positive impact into the community. 

This December, we’re giving you $20 to support the charity of your choice. That means you can donate $20 to TRACTION, on us!

Sign up to Friendship Tree today and make your first $20 donation on us.