They have tackled an arduous trek through the outback and confronted their personal demons, but now a group of Operation Flinders graduates have taken on the challenge of being an urban firefighter.
For years, troubled teens from South Australia and the Northern Territory have been sent on eight-day boot camps in the rugged Flinders Ranges to help keep them out of trouble.
Graduates of the Operation Flinders program are now learning what it takes to be a firefighter with SA's Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS), as they prepare to return to the Flinders Ranges to mentor new participants.
"It's a really good leadership opportunity and I haven't done anything like it before," Operation Flinders graduate and mentor Zosha Camac said.
"Physically, I'm a bit sore and I struggled to get up the stairs a bit, but it's been really fun."
Ms Camac said she had grown as a person since taking on the trek.
"The first time I did it, I was very angry. I didn't think I was a very good person, but I guess I've earned respect and I respect a lot."
The group has abseiled from the Adelaide Fire Station tower, tested a high-pressure hose, crawled through dark tunnels and ascended the MFS' 37-metre tall aerial fire crane.
MFS commander Michael Shepherd said the activities centred around leadership, teamwork, positive role-modelling and community service.
"At some point in time, the group will be put back into the wilderness to mentor new participants, so we feel the emergency services are good role models and we can help them with their roles as leaders into the future," he said.
He also hoped the group would consider careers as firefighters, police officers or paramedics.
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