“There is no more effective neurobiological intervention than a safe relationship.”— Dr Bruce Perry

That idea has always been at the heart of what we do through Beyond Boxing and it’s also the foundation of our ongoing partnership with Barwon Community Legal Service (BCLS).

Because in our experience, the pathway to support doesn’t begin with a referral form. It begins with relationship.

Why Relationships Come First

For years, Steve and I have been working directly with young people across Geelong through Beyond Boxing in schools, youth centres, and at the gym.
We see what’s happening beneath the surface: boys who are carrying stress, girls who are navigating complex family dynamics, young people who are trying to stay afloat in systems that don’t always feel built for them.

They don’t often reach out for help, not because they don’t need it, but because they don’t yet trust that it will help.

That’s where we come in.

The relationships built in our boxing gym through sweat, consistency, and genuine care create safety. That safety becomes the bridge. Once trust is established, young people are far more open to conversations about support, options, and next steps.

That’s why our partnership with Barwon Community Legal Service makes so much sense.
It allows us to connect trusted relationships to professional resources closing the gap between young people and the services designed to help them.

Turning Connection Into Access

Barwon Community Legal Service (BCLS) is known for their accessible, community first approach to legal support. But for many young people, the idea of walking into a legal service can still feel intimidating.

Through our partnership, we remove that barrier.

Sometimes that means bringing information sessions directly to the schools we work in.
Other times it means quietly guiding a conversation when a young person mentions a challenge at home, school, or work.
And often, it’s simply about making introductions that feel safe not clinical or formal, but human.

This is what social prescription looks like in real life: Building on the relationships that already exist, and gently connecting young people with the right people at the right time.

The Power of Community Collaboration

At Geelong Boxing Club, we’ve always believed that wellbeing is multi dimensional, it’s physical, emotional, social, and often, practical.

Our collaboration with BCLS is a clear example of what happens when organisations work with each other, not in silos. We’re able to meet young people where they are in a space they already trust and link them into broader support systems that can truly change their trajectory.

Together, we’re showing that legal, mental health, and wellbeing frameworks don’t have to exist separately.
 

They can overlap, and when they do, young people get better outcomes.

What Makes It Work

Our approach is grounded in:
✅ Relational trust connection before correction, always.
✅ Positive Youth Development building strengths, not labels.
✅ Community collaboration bringing services to young people, not expecting them to come to us.
✅ Consistency and care showing up, week after week, with the same safe adults.

These are simple ideas, but in practice, they’re powerful.
When a young person knows they can talk to someone who won’t judge, they’re far more likely to reach for help, and to believe that support can actually work for them.

Moving Forward

Our partnership with Barwon Community Legal Service continues to grow and with it, so does our commitment to supporting young people in every way possible.

Beyond Boxing has always been more than a fitness program.
It’s a model for what’s possible when we prioritise relationships first and use them as the foundation for connection, collaboration, and change.

Because as Dr Bruce Perry reminds us: safe relationships heal the brain, the body, and the future.