National Drug and Alcohol Awards

Celebrating Australian achievements to prevent
and reduce alcohol and other drug use and harm

Principal Sponsor

Major Sponsors

Supporter

Collaborating organisations

Local school ‘finalist’ in National Award for Excellence in Drug Education

Saint Francis Xavier College in Latham is a finalist in the Excellence in School Drug Education section at the 2007 National Drug and Alcohol Awards.

Young people, parents and staff at St Francis Xavier College have implemented ‘Living and Celebrating Safely’, an innovative four-stage peer drug education project. Its purpose was to educate primary and secondary students about the safer use of alcohol. After initial workshops, 17 high school students visited and educated primary school students at six local Belconnen schools about alcohol use. They developed wristbands and other materials using the slogans ‘Drinking: it’s your choice not theirs’ and ‘Keep your drink close, and your mates closer’.

Paul Dillon, from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, led two workshops as part of the program, the first with 13 senior students and then with 12 parents and staff from the schools. Both workshops created messages about safe drinking, encouraging the view that adolescent drinking not be seen in isolation to that of the adults around them. After workshops at Saint Francis Xavier College, education sessions were conducted by the Peer Educators at Saint John the Apostle — Florey, Saint Monica's — Evatt, Saint Michael's— Kaleen, Saint Thomas Aquinas — Charnwood, Saint Matthew’s — Page and Saint Vincent's — Aranda.

The National Drug and Alcohol Awards are a collaborative effort of the Ted Noffs Foundation, the Australian Drug Foundation, the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia and the Australian National Council on Drugs. They aim to support and encourage people working to prevent drug problems in Australia. It is estimated around 10,000 Australians now work directly in drug and alcohol treatment across Australia, with a further 8,500 in associated sectors. Winners will be announced in Sydney on Friday 22 June 2007 at a gala dinner to be held at the Four Seasons Hotel.

“Every day of the week I see the ravages of drug and alcohol abuse on good Australians and their families. As a nation we lose about $1.2 billion and 7.5 million working days due to the effects of alcohol abuse alone. The emotional cost of drug and alcohol abuse to families includes domestic violence, suicide, depression, plus health issues such as brain, liver and heart damage. To meet the devastation brought on by drug and alcohol abuse are thousands of dedicated professionals, researchers, organisations and volunteers doing work that is world leading throughout all States of Australia. These Awards go some little way to recognizing the fantastic, innovative work they do with such passion and conviction. We applaud them,” says Wesley Noffs, Chair of the NDAA 2007 Awards.

Sponsors of the awards are the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (Principal sponsor), the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (major sponsor); Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (major sponsor) and NSW Health — ActNow (supporter)

“It is a great privilege to support the national alcohol and other drugs sector in celebrating the achievements of their unsung heroes, said Daryl Smeaton, CEO of the AER Foundation. As the major sponsor of these awards, AER congratulates all the winners, finalists and nominees.”

To interview the finalist please contact Charlotte George or Johanna de Wever on (03) 9278 8122 or (0432) 915 383. For more information about the National Drug & Alcohol Awards go to http://www.drugawards.org.au/