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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (6 November) . . Page.. 3831 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

Teachers from every high school and college attended courses about drug education in 1996. Professional development sessions were also held in 1997. The focus for these courses was on the prevention of alcohol abuse using the professional development kit, Rethinking Drinking.

(1) (b) School programs are run by school staff. There are also agencies that support teachers in the classroom or with school delivery of drug education. Some agencies include Life Education, Family planning, Drug Referral Information Centre (DRIC).

(2) Programs which are run by outside agencies are designed in conjunction with the schools drug education curriculum in consultation with classroom teachers and where appropriate, students.

One such drug education program is being piloted at the Canberra College Woden Campus. This program involves a seven week trial where a representative from Drug Referal Information Centre (DRIC) will spend one half day a week on the campus offering peer education and advice to students.

Other programs involving outside agencies such as that run by the Erindale Police with Year 9 students from Caroline Chisholm High School include an element of drug education.

Life Education ACT (LEACT) offers drug education for students at the primary school level and in Years 7 and 8. Primary school students visit the centre for a classroom session of approximately 90 minutes while the secondary program involves educators from the Centre conducting lessons of 60 - 90 minutes at the participating school. Their programs offer student activities, professional development for teachers at staff meetings, participation in parent meetings and follow up activities for students.

Officers from the Department of Education and Training are involved in programs offered by outside agencies. They provide support and monitor the progress of the programs on a regular basis.

Programs that are run in the school by teachers and outside agencies are in line with the goals of the ACT Drug Strategy 1995-97 which are to:

. minimise the harm relating to drug use;

. reduce the uptake of tobacco and illicit drugs;

. identify and reduce the incidence of drug-related criminal activity and violence;

. increase public knowledge and skills in relation to:

- all drug use and its effect on individual and the community,

- safer use of alcohol and other drugs, and

- availability of resources and services that assist in reduction/ minimisation of harms;

. enhance drug education programs in schools and colleges and for young people who have left education; and

. provide a range of services which are based on good practice, that aim to reduce drug related harm, ensuring accessibility and appropriateness of service delivery to the key population groups identified in the Nation Drug Strategy.

Curriculum officers have contributed to the focus groups concerned with the evaluation of this strategy.

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