During the April school holidays, the smell of sawdust and the sound of drills filled the air at our much-loved Teen Woodshop Program, a long-standing collaboration between the Children and Young People QLD team and now the Greater Brisbane team. This hands-on workshop is a regular feature every April, June/July, and September break, and once again, it delivered a powerful blend of fun, skill-building and confidence.
Guided by expert woodworking instructors, and supported by occupational therapists, teenagers took on a range of woodworking challenges with enthusiasm.
Preparation and planning
Before the teens arrived, instructors prepped the workshop with care, sourcing and cutting wood pieces to manageable sizes and setting everything out on benches to streamline the day. This helped ensure participants could dive straight into their projects and focus on building both skills and confidence.
What the teens achieved
Participants were trained to perform several tasks independently, including:
- Confident use of a battery drill.
- Mastery of the orbital sander.
- Setting up and using a drill press.
With verbal instructions, they successfully:
- Measured wood pieces using a talking tape measure and sliding square.
- Marked measurements accurately with pencil.
- Sanded wood pieces evenly and safely.
With some support, teens also:
- Set up and used the table saw safely, using push sticks effectively.
- Used the drop saw to cut support pieces and adjust lengths with growing confidence.
Beyond the tools: teamwork and independence
This wasn’t only about the creative endeavour of making things from wood - it was also about building life skills. Clients worked semi-independently to meet their personal goals and teamed up with peers to problem-solve and plan their next steps. Throughout the two days, there was clear evidence of:
- Initiative and persistence.
- Peer collaboration.
- Great engagement in positive social conversations.
This program continues to provide a supportive environment for teenagers to explore practical skills, build independence and connect with others in meaningful ways. They walk away with a functional and beautiful piece that they have made themselves - a reminder of the concrete skills they can build and tasks they can achieve in the world.
