Back on track. Bernie Shakeshaft and James Knight. 2019.

Bernie Shakeshaft is a man making a difference. Always the wild one growing up, it took him a while to find his place. A trip to India at seventeen saw him cross paths with Mother Teresa, stints as a dingo trapper and a ringer on a cattle station gave him insight into Indigenous culture -all of it gave him an education about people and what matters most.

Working in youth welfare in the Northern Territory, Bernie saw first-hand what wasn’t working and what was precious. Visiting too many kids in prison and going to too many funerals showed him that the system was letting kids down. Always one to think outside the square, Bernie started BackTrack in Armidale, a groundbreaking youth program with three aims: to keep them alive, out of jail, and chasing their hopes and dreams.

For most kids, BackTrack was their last chance. They needed connection with life, their families, education and their communities. And, most importantly, with themselves. But Bernie threw in something unexpected: dogs! It worked. Fourteen years later it is still working, and the juvenile crime rate in Armidale has dropped significantly. With the help of these working dogs, the lost boys (and girls) are finding their way back on track.