Students at Hastings Secondary College Port Macquarie Campus are reaping the benefits of a fully functioning PCYC in their school grounds.

It is the first PCYC (Police Citizens Youth Club) to run in partnership with the NSW Department of Education, a concept championed by Hastings Secondary College Deputy Principal Geoff Duck.

“The new Hastings Secondary College Port Macquarie PCYC provides a fantastic facility, enabling talented students to meet their sporting aspirations, while increasing sport and recreational opportunities for the entire college,” Mr Duck said.

“Working alongside the PCYC creates an incredible opportunity to enhance positive community connections and the benefits we know come from this.

“We are very proud to be part of this lighthouse model.”

The new shared use multi-sports facility, on Birpai Country, includes sports courts, gymnastic facilities, weights rooms, a PCYC office, multipurpose rooms, youth hub and staff kitchen facilities.

Teachers have been running personal development and physical education classes in the new space, along with other extracurricular activities.

Year 9 student and NSW Country representative basketball player Jack Rumble has been using the new facilities to get in extra practice before and after school.

“It’s been amazing. It’s actually felt like it’s made a difference in my game already,” Jack said.

The state-of-the-art building also includes a purpose-built room for Hastings Secondary College’s Clontarf Academy.

Academy director Charlie Maher said students were thrilled with the space.

“They’re so happy. They’ve got big smiles on their faces,” Charlie said.

“They’ve got a place of their own.”

PCYC Chief Executive Officer Ben Hobby, Deputy Commissioner of the NSW Police Force Paul Pisanos and Birpai Elder Uncle Bill O’Brien were among those in attendance at a community event to officially open the new facility last month.