Spinifex Residential in Mount Isa is where some of our toughest kids end up. These are young people who've been removed from home, who've been through the justice system, some of them multiple times. They're angry, they're hurt, and most of them don't trust adults.

When we first started going in there, the staff were sceptical. They'd seen programs come and go. The kids would test us — not listening, walking off, trying to get a rise. But we kept coming back.

After about the fourth session, something changed. The kids started waiting for us at the gate. They'd have their shoes on, ready to go. One boy who wouldn't even look at us in week one was leading the warm-up by week six.

The residential staff told us the kids are calmer on the days we come. There's less incidents. They sleep better. It's like they need somewhere to put all that energy and emotion, and the gym gives them that.

We don't lecture them. We don't ask about their charges or their history. We just train with them. We treat them like young athletes, not like problems. I think that's what makes the difference.

One of the boys there, he wants to get into boxing. We're trying to connect him with a boxing gym for when he gets out. That's the pathway — not just keeping them busy while they're inside, but connecting them to something on the outside.