Colin Barnett

Colin Barnett

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Rhonda Parker

Rhonda Parker

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    More resources to help schools give support to students exposed to drugs

    18/11/1999 9:15 AM
     
    18/11/99

    SCHOOL COUNSELLING

    Schools will receive more resources and programs to help them support students who have been exposed to drugs under a new counselling program focusing on prevention and intervention.

    The Minister Responsible for WA Drug Abuse Strategy, Rhonda Parker, and Education Minister Colin Barnett, announced the new project today as part of a comprehensive school drug education plan included in the State Government’s second two-year Together Against Drugs strategy.

    The action plan puts education at the top of its list of strategies to prevent drug abuse.

    The Ministers said effective drug education would continue to be supported by the School Drug Education Project’s establishment of regional networks and a new school grants program.

    The school grants program, with funding from the Commonwealth Government, will enable schools to build on their core drug education work with local projects.

    “This will be particularly helpful in strengthening schools’ links with parents and the community,” Mr Barnett said.

    Mrs Parker said she was particularly pleased that schools would be supported through the School Drug Counselling Project.
    “It is essential to ensure that young people using drugs and drug abuse incidents receive appropriate intervention, pastoral care and treatment,” she said.

    “This includes support for families, developed in conjunction with Community Drug Service Teams, as part of the School Drug Education Project.”

    These new developments build on the School Drug Education Project’s work, which has established the essential elements of school drug education. These will also be further developed with:
    • regional as well as ‘whole of school’ professional development programs;
    • regular updates to the published curriculum materials and resource index for teachers, parents and students;
    • drug policies and protocols in all schools;
    • involvement of parents and the broader community; and -
    • and monitoring of implementation and evaluation of outcomes.

    School and community education would also continue to receive important support from the Police Service’s alcohol and drug advisers, and school based and crime prevention officers using the GURD drug education materials and program.

    Media contacts: Owen Cole: 9481 7810 / Justine Whittome: 9222 9699