Building an Aboriginal bark canoe from scratch is not usually in a Wollongong police officer's job description but on Monday many did just that.
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They joined young Aboriginal people and two canoe builders to transform pieces of stringy bark wood into a traditional floating vessel.
The canoe, which took one day to create, will be presented to the NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller at the end of a new term-long program held at Bulli Police Citizens Youth Club.
Fit Together, which falls under the umbrella of the Rise Up initiative, was launched on Monday and aims to prevent and reduce reoffending, as well as encourage positive relationships between police and the Aboriginal community.
Hopefully the eight Aboriginal participants, aged 10 to 17, will gain confidence and self esteem by the time they graduate.
Youth and Crime Prevention Commander, Superintendent Mark Wall said elders and community members would talk to participants about their culture during the program's sessions.
"Studies have shown young Aboriginal people can have trouble identifying with their culture, so through this program we are trying to engage them with their elders, teach them about their culture and give them a sense of pride and identity," Supt Wall said.
"It is also about building relationships between Aboriginal young people and the police by working together."
One participant, Shahani Donovan, is already involved with the Rise Up program through PCYC's weekly Fit for Life sessions.
Shahani said she got involved because she was Aboriginal and excited to make a bark canoe for the first time.
"It will be a challenge making a flat piece of bark and turning it into a canoe," she said.
The Maritime Division of Transport for NSW provided materials to build a bark canoe.
John Kelly, an Aboriginal man from Kempsey, is one of only a few people on the Australian east coast who knows how to make a traditional bark canoe.
"The canoe is the earliest known floating vessel in the world," he said. "It is important to keep the practice alive. The kids get some satisfaction in peeling off the bark and doing the work."
Mr Kelly said building the canoe helped young people learn about their Aboriginal culture and heritage.
He was pleased to see the police get involved and hoped the program rolled out to other police clubs.
Building the canoe involves peeling back the bark from the wood, making the bark into string and using it to tie the canoe together.
Then the wood is put over a fire to warm it up so it can be shaped into a canoe.
Southern Region Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Craner said he looked forward to seeing it finished.
"There are cops mucking around with the kids peeling bark for a canoe. They are engaged," he said.
"It will be donated to the NSW Police Force where it will be put up loud and proud at the headquarters."