Australia’s youth are at risk with deteriorating health and wellbeing results, according to the Australian Youth Development Index 2016, seeing them falling behind globally. The deterioration in the health and wellbeing domain is driven by increasing mental health issues and drug abuse issues in Australia’s youth population.
Teen Challenge Tasmania (TCT) has recognised this at a ground level and has been taking action to help Tasmanian youth through its Connections Mentoring and #NotEvenOnce, drug demand reduction projects since 2013 and seeing positive results.
The success of its #NotEvenOnce project delivered into schools, communities and sporting clubs, since 2015, has gained the attention of the Tasmanian State Government and NSW Police. As a result TCT has been invited to NSW to deliver the educational program to just over 3200 year 7-10 students in the Hawkesbury region, in November this year.
“Youth are particularly vulnerable to alcohol and drugs and are placing themselves at risk when using” states Tanya Cavanagh, Executive Director of TCT. “Developmentally, they are just trying to find their identity and their place in the world. For some, drug and alcohol use connects them into a group and for others, it masks pain.” she explains “They really don’t understand the impact upon their physical and mental wellbeing with choosing to uptake. That’s why it’s so important to give them the facts, current evidence, causation issues and real life journeys. It provides a foundational context for their future choices in this area”. As stated on the ‘Raising Children and ‘Australian Drug Foundation’ websites, “there is no safe level of alcohol use for children… because their brains and bodies are still developing” and “There is no safe level of drug use”.
“In line with the ‘Australian Youth Development Index 2016 and National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2013’, we see a large portion of students attending not likely to use, which is fantastic. We just need to help them reinforce their choices.” Tanya stated “Our results show 15% of students indicated they would be likely to use prior to the seminar. After the seminar we have seen a 21% shift away from the likelihood of using…and that’s what’s important for our future generations.”
The #NotEvenOnce project is a collaboration with the Dalgarno Institute and utilises material in alignment with the national standards of the Australian Curriculum.
As specialists in AOD Rehabilitation, Teen Challenge is able to incorporate valuable coalface experience. TC graduates share their personal stories within addiction. “It’s real life, it’s peer teaching peer, it’s powerful and impactful” says Tanya “We have had kids come up after the seminars in tears seeking help, as they recognise where they are right now and don’t want to take that same path.” she explained.
“We connect them with services within the school and community, aligning them with the help they so desperately need, right now. We can’t give up on these kids – they are too precious. We have to make a difference today.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Mr Jeremy Rockliff, recently recognised and commended the valuable work TCT are doing within the schools and communities, with #NotEvenOnce and its Mentoring programs “It is also encouraging to note that your organisation seeks to continue the support provided in school based programs by combining with sporting clubs and community programs. All too often issues related to drug use permeate across a variety of social dimensions. Isolating programs to schools and educational institutions alone can be very restrictive.” Mr Rockliff stated in a recent letter to Teen Challenge Tasmania on its #NotEvenOnce project, “I congratulate you on the #Not Even Once project and encourage you to continue your work with high schools across Tasmania”.
Earlier this year, TCT was invited to speak about #NEO with Principals and Police representatives of the Hawkesbury Region. This meeting resulted in the project being funded and implemented within the region. The partnership with the NSW Police is exciting and we are having discussions with Police, Local Government and Principals in QLD in December also. TCT hope to have similar discussions here in Tasmania with Tasmanian Police.
A media statement by Hawkesbury Local Area Commander, Superintendent Steve Egginton states, “Police from Hawkesbury Local Area Command and Teen Challenge are excited to be working together to deliver an approach that aims to protect the developing brains and future potential of our young people. The #NotEvenOnce program will be presented to six of the local Hawkesbury High Schools. This program educates students in years 7 to 10 of the risks of taking drugs, causation issues and how to say no. This will be the first of this type of education program in New South Wales. Windsor RSL, through Club GRANTS, have committed to funding the program over the next three years.”
With the upcoming end of year, #NEO Project delivery into Tassie schools and clubs continues particularly with school holidays and vulnerable youth during “leaver’s” parties on the horizon.
Feedback from Teachers and students speaks for its impact “The information and data were spot on and age appropriate” and“… the young man (Teen Challenge Graduate) spoke from his heart, his part was very powerful”. One year 10 student commented “I thought the info about drugs and alcohol was good and it told us about the dangers of both” and another wrote “I was always against drugs and this has furthered my beliefs”.
In a letter of recommendation from the Latrobe Football Club, U14 Coach Tim Hutchins writes “The evening was truly incredible with the concentration and questions from the children and adults a true reflection of just how well received the program was .The message was put across in both an educational way but also had a real human element to it with Darcy’s story. This inspired many of the children and they still speak about it to this day. This made us realise the importance of the senior people at the club and the influence they have as role models to our youth. As a result our club is now reviewing many of its policies and procedures moving forward.”
Schools, community groups, sporting clubs and funding bodies interested in finding out more about #NEO are invited to contact TCT via their website www.teenchallengetasmania.org.
Download letters of support …
2016_09_05_-_Letter_from_Jeremy_Rockliff.pdf
2015_12_14_-_Letter_of_Support_-_Natalie_Odgers_-_Scottsdale_High_School_Reference.pdf
Tanya Cavanagh Executive Director Teen Challenge Tasmania Inc.
