More Than Support: How One School Rep Sees TRACTION Changing Lives

Jack Cassimatis, Student Support Officer at Emmaus College with a Young Person participating in the BUILD program.

On any given TRACTION day, you’ll likely find Jack Cassimatis - Student Support Officer at Emmaus College - not behind a desk but immersed in hands-on learning alongside students. Whether it’s offering quiet encouragement or sharing a laugh during a bike build, his role goes far beyond support. It’s about connection, patience, and a belief in what young people can achieve when given the right environment.

Jack has been involved with TRACTION since Term 1 of 2024, though the school itself has been engaged for at least three years. “I think at least three, possibly longer,” he says, reflecting on how ingrained the program has become in the school’s culture. For him, stepping into the role was initially uncertain. “I didn’t know what to expect, honestly,” he admits, “but I realised that it’s what you make of it - and if you’re willing to participate and engage. That is the same for the kids as well,” 

“I’ve loved it from day one,” he says. “I had no idea what I was walking into, but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s been consistently brilliant.”

TRACTION offers a learning experience distinctly different from a conventional classroom - and that’s the point. A typical day, Jack explains, involves hands-on work, personal check-ins, and sometimes, redirection when focus strays. “It’s hard work,” he says candidly. “But the staff are brilliant. They don’t just redirect behaviour - they try to understand it. They ask, ‘Where is this coming from?’ Then they help the young person channel that energy back into something productive.”

The benefits, in Jack’s eyes, are deeply practical. “So many students ask, ‘Why am I learning this?’ in school,” he says. “TRACTION shows them that hard work pays off — that the skills they’re learning are real and useful in life.”

But perhaps the most striking transformation Jack has seen is in the students themselves.

“I’ve seen kids come alive at TRACTION,” he says. “Some who won’t make a peep in class are suddenly chatty and confident here. I’ve seen students let their guard down - that’s huge.” Jack believes, that for young people who usually feel misunderstood or disconnected at school, this is invaluable.

The program’s small group environment plays a big role in this. “At school, there just isn’t always time for real one-on-one interaction,” Jack explains. “Here, you can build relationships. I’ve had students who didn’t initially have a good relationship with me - now they do, because it’s an opportunity to support those who need more attention, and the environment allows them to voice their opinions.” Jack admits this isn’t always possible in a busy classroom.  

Asked to pick a single standout moment, he hesitates. “Every group is great,” he smiles. “But I do love the celebration days. Watching them ride the bikes they’ve worked so hard on, getting their certificates - it’s just great to see them genuinely enjoy a school day.”

Jack’s conviction in the value of TRACTION is unwavering. “I would absolutely recommend the Build program to other schools,” he says. “There are so many kids at my school I wish could do it. It’s beneficial to such a wide range of students - it gives them a break, a check-in, a reminder that school doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. I appreciate how much of a contrast to a school day TRACTION provides. The program doesn’t try to be like school, it provides an alternative, and that’s where its value lies.” 

He says it best with this statement, “TRACTION works because the Mentors care. They put in the effort to make it fun and rewarding. And that makes the young people want to be here - want to work. It’s a community where everyone wants what’s best for the kids. That’s what makes the difference.”