Victoria

Student support and development

• Drug Education
• Drug Education for Koorie Students - A Local Community Response
• Framework for Student Support Services in Victorian Government Schools
• Koorie Educator Program
• Koorie Open Door Education (KODE) Campuses
• Multicultural Education Aides (MEAs)
• Old Treasury Youth Forums
• Student Action Teams
• Student Leadership Councils
• Victorian Youth Development Program

Drug Education

The Individual School Drug Education Strategy (ISDES) project is the central platform for the development and implementation of effective drug education in all Victorian schools. Drug Education aims to increase the knowledge and skills of young people to contribute to the minimisation of harm which may arise from use or misuse of legal and illegal drugs.

The four goals of an ISDES are to:

• implement relevant and comprehensive drug education as an ongoing core component of the curriculum
• provide each student with appropriate drug education prevention and intervention programs
• develop and review drug-related school-based policies
• provide a supportive environment that involves parents and the wider school community in drug-related curriculum and welfare issues.

The quality standards for drug education which form the basis for schools to review their drug education programs, embed cultural diversity into the planning, implementation and reviewing of drug education programs. A school ISDES should ensure that drug education programs are designed to be culturally and linguistically sensitive and inclusive.

Drug Education for Koorie Students - A Local Community Response

The Department of Education & Training (DE&T) funded Palm Lodge, Horsham conducts an outdoor education program for Koorie students in Years 7-9 from Horsham Secondary College and Mildura Koorie Open Door Education Campus. The program aims to develop and enhance work previously undertaken in the Adventures Unlimited Program to:

• empower Koorie young people to make positive choices and decisions
• increase the self-esteem of young people
• encourage teamwork, peer and community support, and
• enable young Koorie people to set goals and have the skills and confidence to achieve them.

Features of the program were workshops at the school, a five day camp, two follow-up workshops and an evaluation session.

Framework for Student Support Services in Victorian Government Schools

Introduced at the beginning of 1998, this framework outlines a comprehensive conceptual and operational framework for the provision of student welfare that supports schools in responding to the wide variety of issues facing young people such as depression, self-harm, drug misuse as well as suicide prevention. Research indicates that a similar core of underlying factors may lead an individual to be vulnerable. Thus, the response is a multi-faceted one that acknowledges the complexity of the issue and ranges from prevention to intervention through to restoring well being.

The framework is underpinned by four major concepts:

• four levels of activity - primary prevention, early intervention, intervention and restoring well being
• continuity of care
• partnerships between schools and the community
• accountability.

The major emphasis is on prevention with the goal of providing population based strategies as well as targeted programs to provide young people with skills and strategies to enhance their resiliency. The framework affirms diverse student needs by recognising that students differ widely in their abilities, cultural and language backgrounds, interests, experiences and preferred learning styles. The framework states that diversity needs to be acknowledged, valued and incorporated in all school programs and activities.

Koorie Educator Program

Fifty-six equivalent full-time Koorie Educators are employed to provide support to Koorie students in schools with a high number of Koorie enrolments.

Koorie Open Door Education (KODE) Campuses

Three KODE campuses have been established. They are located in Glenroy, a suburb of Melbourne, and in the rural centres of Morwell and Mildura. The campuses are open to primary and secondary students and place particular emphasis on delivering Koorie inclusive curriculum and teaching and learning programs.

Multicultural Education Aides (MEAs)

Funding is provided to schools with significant numbers of students from language backgrounds other than English to employ MEAs. MEAs provide assistance to students from language backgrounds other than English, support teachers in the delivery of classroom programs and assist with communication between the school and parents from a language background other than English.

Old Treasury Youth Forums

This initiative involves the trialling of a series of youth forums for students in Years 7-9. Selected students are encouraged to come together to discuss issues which affect them and their peers. During the half-day forums, students listen to and ask questions of one or more speakers with expertise or a special interest in pre-selected issues of concern. They then consider the issue further, suggesting possible solutions and strategies to redress the issues. This information is directed to an appropriate government body or organisation.

Racism, harassment and bullying have featured prominently as areas of concern in these forums.

Student Action Teams

Student Action Teams have been formed in 20 government secondary colleges. Through this project students are encouraged to develop leadership skills by working with local agencies to identify local issues that effect community safety. Recommendations about how to address these issues are then formulated and acted upon.

Student Leadership Councils

Student Leadership Councils provide students with the opportunity to develop leadership skills at the local school level and through regular statewide cluster meetings. Students deal with issues such as how to help overcome or prevent racism, harassment or drug taking; and issues of youth health and well being.

Victorian Youth Development Program

This program provides teenagers with opportunities to develop skills in teamwork, leadership, community service, individual responsibility and self-discipline through contact with relevant community organisations.

© Conference of Education Systems Chief Executive Officers 2000
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Racism, No way! is an Australian anti-racism education initiative managed by the Department of Education and Training on behalf of education systems nationally.