Struggling to leave his room and not going to school, Levi Dajcic was at a low point before being given a helping hand by an organisation most known for hosting discos.
“I was not in a good state at all. I was not going out, [I] wasn’t going to school,” he said.
“I was barely leaving my room.”
He joined Blue Light Victoria’s 1:1 Positive Pathways program and became “eternally grateful” for the support.
“If any kid is in trouble or something like that … I would suggest it 10 times out of 10” “It’s such a good organisation. [It’s] helped me so much.”
A slightly different tune
Most Victorians associate Blue Light with discos, which started in the late 1970s as a place for young people to go where it was supervised, drug and alcohol-free and designed to be fun and inclusive.
Their discos became a cultural phenomenon as generations of Victorians attended over decades, but now the organisation has moved to play a different track.
Blue Light Victoria now delivers prevention and early-intervention programs to support young people such as Levi through community or school-based programs.
The 1:1 Positive Pathways program was first developed by Blue Light Victoria’s Bendigo branch five years ago.
A young person, aged 10 to 21 is paired with a police mentor and is supported by a Blue Light Victoria youth worker.
Results from programs such as 1:1 Positive Pathways show 73 per cent of participants have no further contact with police and a 95 per cent report of improved school attendance.
Alongside their police mentor and youth worker, they participate in weekly gym sessions with a personal trainer while receiving support and check-ins.
Levi had weekly ju-jitsu sessions. He came to love everything about the martial art.
“I met Dave [on] day one and I didn’t know if ju-jitsu was what he was teaching so I had to ask and he seemed really excited about that because it’s one of his favourite martial arts,” Levi said.
“We kind of clicked instantly.”
The pair began meeting twice a week.
“It’s very technical; it’s such a mental sport and it’s a sport where you have to be thinking all the time,” he said.
“It’s also extremely fun.”
Completely changed
Levi said what he has learned going through the program will stay with him.
“It’s so nice, especially in this town. Blue Light puts you around such welcoming, nice, humble people and it’s just [refreshing],” he said.
His mother, Sharna Loveland, said Levi had “grown so much in the last 12 months,” and had become a “different young man.”
“He’s become a lot more confident. He actually gets out of the house a lot more now,” Ms Loveland said.
“I know he’s formed a lot of close bonds with a few people that will last him a lifetime.”
Levi has been recognised as the Bendigo Blue Light Young Person of the Year 2026 to acknowledge his determination, engagement and growth.
“This award recognises a young person who has shown real commitment, resilience and willingness to make positive changes in their life,” Blue Light Victoria chief executive, Elissa Scott said.
“We’re incredibly proud of what Levi has achieved.”
