Risk-taking is an essential part of learning and personal development for young people. Teenagers need to explore their own limits and abilities, as well as boundaries set by others. They also need to express themselves as individuals. It’s all part of their path to becoming independent young adults, with their own identities.
Unfortunately, the risk involved in different activities and settings can often be poorly judged by young people and they are over-represented in every category of risk-taking resulting in injury and trauma. For more information about the different types of risks for young people, see http://www.kidshelp.com.au/grownups/news-research/hot-topics/risk-taking.php .
Shearwater's year 11 students will be taking part in the RRISK Program later this month, aimed at reducing risk-taking behaviour associated with alcohol and drug use, driving and partying. Attending RRISK extends the school-based drug education and road safety curriculum, by providing opportunities for senior High School students to further develop knowledge, attitudes and skills to reduce risk-taking, and develop safer celebrating strategies.
Over 4,300 students from more than 62 high schools from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads will be involved in the program this year. If you have a year 11 student in your family, encourage them to attend. Research shows that RRISK is effective in reducing young driver crashes (by 44 per cent), by equipping young people with strategies and practical skills to manage risks in their social lives, and on the roads, as drivers and passengers.
Look for information about the RRISK Program on the RRISK website www.rrisk.com.au
Shearwater will also be hosting a free parent workshop by Paul Dillon, one of Australia's leading experts on youth drug and alcohol use. Paul will discuss the latest research, statistics and trends, with an emphasis on:
The workshop will be held on Tuesday November 20 in the Shearwater Hall from 6.30-8.30pm. Tea and coffee will be provided. To secure a place please contact information@shearwater.nsw.edu.au.
For more information on workshop presenter Paul Dillon click the 'Read More' link.
Unfortunately, the risk involved in different activities and settings can often be poorly judged by young people and they are over-represented in every category of risk-taking resulting in injury and trauma. For more information about the different types of risks for young people, see http://www.kidshelp.com.au/grownups/news-research/hot-topics/risk-taking.php .
Shearwater's year 11 students will be taking part in the RRISK Program later this month, aimed at reducing risk-taking behaviour associated with alcohol and drug use, driving and partying. Attending RRISK extends the school-based drug education and road safety curriculum, by providing opportunities for senior High School students to further develop knowledge, attitudes and skills to reduce risk-taking, and develop safer celebrating strategies.
Over 4,300 students from more than 62 high schools from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads will be involved in the program this year. If you have a year 11 student in your family, encourage them to attend. Research shows that RRISK is effective in reducing young driver crashes (by 44 per cent), by equipping young people with strategies and practical skills to manage risks in their social lives, and on the roads, as drivers and passengers.
Look for information about the RRISK Program on the RRISK website www.rrisk.com.au
Shearwater will also be hosting a free parent workshop by Paul Dillon, one of Australia's leading experts on youth drug and alcohol use. Paul will discuss the latest research, statistics and trends, with an emphasis on:
- Parenting in relation to alcohol and other drugs - how do we keep our young people as safe as possible
- A look at the most recent Australian Secondary Students' Alcohol and Drug Survey and the National Drug Strategy Household Survey
- Other current hot topics in youth alcohol and other drug use
The workshop will be held on Tuesday November 20 in the Shearwater Hall from 6.30-8.30pm. Tea and coffee will be provided. To secure a place please contact information@shearwater.nsw.edu.au.
For more information on workshop presenter Paul Dillon click the 'Read More' link.
Paul Dillon has been working in the area of drug education for the past 25 years. Through his own business, Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA) he has been contracted by many agencies and organisations across the country to give regular updates on current drug trends within the community. He continues to work with many school communities across the country to ensure that they have access to good quality information and best practice drug education. An ex-school teacher, Paul has an interest in working with young people, and regularly provides drug information sessions and workshops to students across the country. He has also written a best-selling book for parents titled ‘Teenagers, Alcohol and Drugs‘ which was released in 2009.
Paul has worked internationally, presenting workshops and training seminars in countries as diverse as the UK, the Philippines and Indonesia, on topics such as methamphetamine, drug prevention and performance and image enhancing drugs. In the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics Paul worked with the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) to develop training programs for coaches around athletes and responsible partying. Since that time he has worked with a number of sporting organisations including the Australian Cricketers Association, the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) and Football Federation Australia (FFA) to deliver training to players around alcohol and other drug safety, as well as to assist in the development of alcohol policies for the respective sports.
Paul was also the Project Officer for the “SpeedWise SpeedSafe” campaign, an initiative by the NSW Drug and Alcohol Directorate. The campaign, originally intended for use only in NSW, was finally adopted by Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.
Employed by the Centre for Education and Information on Drugs and Alcohol (CEIDA) since 1991, Paul was seconded to write the draft of a manual for the NSW Police Services on alcohol and violence and was also the Project Officer for ‘Stay in Control’, a campaign targeting teenage binge drinking. He was also a Community Programs Officer at CEIDA and has written for the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse’s projects designed specifically for primary school children.
Paul has also been involved in the interviewing of key informants for the World Health Organisation (WHO) Cocaine Study as well as the National Survey of Ecstasy and Other Party Drugs. He has also acted as a consultant for the United Nations, developing and trialling a UNODC Global Youth Training Workshop preventing amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) among young people.
Due to the research he has conducted in the ecstasy and related drugs area, in 2002 he was invited to be a member of the International Steering Group for the Club Health International Conference and continues in this position today.
With a broad knowledge of a range of content areas, Paul regularly provides media comment and is regarded as a key social commentator in Australia, appearing on a wide range of television programs including Sunrise, TODAY and the 7PM Project discussing topical issues. He has had many media interviews on the subject of drug culture, and his current areas of interest are drug education, youth issues, and ecstasy and related drugs. Paul also had a regular spot on a national radio program for seven years where he dealt with current youth drug issues. Paul also has a blog where he discusses topical issues of the day, as well as addressing some of the questions and queries he is regularly asked by those attending his presentations.
Paul has worked internationally, presenting workshops and training seminars in countries as diverse as the UK, the Philippines and Indonesia, on topics such as methamphetamine, drug prevention and performance and image enhancing drugs. In the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics Paul worked with the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) to develop training programs for coaches around athletes and responsible partying. Since that time he has worked with a number of sporting organisations including the Australian Cricketers Association, the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) and Football Federation Australia (FFA) to deliver training to players around alcohol and other drug safety, as well as to assist in the development of alcohol policies for the respective sports.
Paul was also the Project Officer for the “SpeedWise SpeedSafe” campaign, an initiative by the NSW Drug and Alcohol Directorate. The campaign, originally intended for use only in NSW, was finally adopted by Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.
Employed by the Centre for Education and Information on Drugs and Alcohol (CEIDA) since 1991, Paul was seconded to write the draft of a manual for the NSW Police Services on alcohol and violence and was also the Project Officer for ‘Stay in Control’, a campaign targeting teenage binge drinking. He was also a Community Programs Officer at CEIDA and has written for the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse’s projects designed specifically for primary school children.
Paul has also been involved in the interviewing of key informants for the World Health Organisation (WHO) Cocaine Study as well as the National Survey of Ecstasy and Other Party Drugs. He has also acted as a consultant for the United Nations, developing and trialling a UNODC Global Youth Training Workshop preventing amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) among young people.
Due to the research he has conducted in the ecstasy and related drugs area, in 2002 he was invited to be a member of the International Steering Group for the Club Health International Conference and continues in this position today.
With a broad knowledge of a range of content areas, Paul regularly provides media comment and is regarded as a key social commentator in Australia, appearing on a wide range of television programs including Sunrise, TODAY and the 7PM Project discussing topical issues. He has had many media interviews on the subject of drug culture, and his current areas of interest are drug education, youth issues, and ecstasy and related drugs. Paul also had a regular spot on a national radio program for seven years where he dealt with current youth drug issues. Paul also has a blog where he discusses topical issues of the day, as well as addressing some of the questions and queries he is regularly asked by those attending his presentations.