National Advisory Committee on School Drug Education (NACSDE) Media Releases
"On behalf of the Government, I congratulate the members of the National Advisory Committee on School Drug Education on the work they have done and their contribution to the development of the first truly national approach to combating the growing drug menace in our schools," Ms Worth, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs and Member for Adelaide, said today when she released the National School Drug Education Strategy.
The issues surrounding drug misuse are complex. After careful consideration and consultation by the National Advisory Committee on School Drug Education, Committee Chair, Ms Karyn Hart submitted the Strategy to the Government in March, 1999. Since then, the Commonwealth has awaited outcomes from The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to bring together the goals of the Strategy with firm commitments by the State and Territory Governments to strengthen their response to illegal drug use in schools.
"I am delighted with the subsequent agreement of State and Territory Education Ministers at the recent Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) meeting to establish a Taskforce to facilitate aspects of the COAG commitment through the development of enhanced national protocols for the management of drug issues and drug related incidents in schools."
The goal of the National School Drug Education Strategy focuses on the prevention of drug use through enhanced educational programs and strong educational outcomes. This will be complimented by the initiatives announced by Heads of Government which focus on early intervention and referral.
"This is the first time a national, coordinated approach reinforced with expert advice and supporting funding has been initiated in the area of drug education in our schools. It will send a clear and consistent message that illicit drugs have absolutely no place in schools. Strategies in schools will be aimed at preventing the uptake of harmful drug use, including abstinence-oriented strategies to reduce drug use and the associated impact on individuals and their families," Ms Worth said.
Under the National School Drug Education Strategy the Commonwealth will provide new and innovative drug education programmes for students and training for teachers. The Commonwealth recognises the messages delivered by schools need to be reinforced by parents and the wider community. To support this the Commonwealth will lead the development of strong school/community partnerships and the provision of information to parents. This will be funded by the $7.5 million announced last year for the National School Drug Education Strategy and the additional $10.5 million announced in the Budget.
Effective and timely intervention and referral will be based upon the development of appropriate national protocols to ensure all schools are better informed and have consistent, graduated responses to drug related incidents in schools. An additional $9.3 million over four years was committed in the Budget to strengthen the partnerships between State/Territory and Commonwealth Governments to help develop these national protocols including a satellite broadcast for principals and staff. Key information will be provided including counselling and referral strategies and development of interactive CD Roms and videos. Local drug summits will also be supported to strengthen community responses to the challenge of illegal drugs.
This additional funding brings the total funding for drug education initiatives for schools to $27.3 million within the National Illicit Drug Strategy, Tough On Drugs, which has total funding of over $500 million.
"Schools are a critical place to educate young people about the harm of drug abuse and for early intervention if they do become involved with drugs. School communities clearly have a role to play in prevention, intervention and referral. Every student who comes to light as having a problem should receive a timely and appropriate response."
"The consultation process also highlighted the need for a continued emphasis on the dangers of unsanctioned as well as illicit drugs."
Recent research has shown that 55 % of 17 year olds have tried marijuana and the potential for disruption to families, academic performance, physical development and social integration into the world of adult life is most apparent during the school years.
"In the case of the 14 % of 17 year olds who have tried hallucinogens and 4 % who have tried ecstasy or opiates, the repercussions of drug taking can be far more serious and life threatening. If young people can be educated against experimenting with drugs or encouraged and supported to stop taking drugs the benefits to the community will be enormous," Ms Worth said.
The Strategy document is available at the following internet website:
http://www.detya.gov.au/schools/publicat.htm
Media contact: Paul Evans (Ms Worth's Office) 0412 544 202 or 02 6277 4337
Page currency, Latest update: 30 May, 2006
