4. We work to develop
healthier attitudes to
alcohol in the home,
workplace and in sport.
Geoff Munro
National Policy Manager
5. It takes a village...
“ Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that
ever has.” – Margaret Mead
6. Local Learning Networks
“The name Kids With A Voice says it
all. James has gone from being bullied and getting into
fights at school to really enjoying having the extra
responsibility of looking after the needs of Miners Rest kids.
All of his sentences either start with KWAV or cricket!!
Family, friends and locals all want to know what the next
project is. It’s given him so much more confidence and self
belief.
This is just what James needed.”
Highlands LLEN May 2014 newsletter.
http://www.highlandsllen.org/site_images/Publications%20/LLeN_Newsletter_July2014.pdf
7. Over 6,500 community sporting
clubs
Nearly two million participants
Reduces excessive drinking by 30%
8. Local Health Promotion programs
Healthy Together Victoria
Communities that Care
Community Drug Action Teams
o Byron Bay Cringe the Binge campaign
10. Big Brother Big Sisters website
http://www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au/
11. Individuals making a difference
o Bruce Clark
o Tony Brown
o Samantha Menenzes
o Rosie Batty
12. What can I do?
o Promote Good Sports to all clubs
o Partner organisations that are tackling risk
factors upstream
o Support those organisations
o Find the local champion swimming upstream
Editor's Notes
Opening: Imagine yourself standing on the banks of a fast-flowing river. The water is full of children, women and men who are being swept along, in danger of drowning. You and others are working yourselves to a state of exhaustion, trying to haul them to dry land before they are carried out of reach. It is unrelenting hard work and more and more of you are needed because more and more bodies are caught in the current, hurtling past. You are all so preoccupied with the task that you can barely think. But at some point, someone must surely ask – what’s going on upstream? Shouldn’t we find out why all these people are falling in and try to stop it happening? (New Economics Foundation, 2012)
Opening: Imagine yourself standing on the banks of a fast-flowing river. The water is full of children, women and men who are being swept along, in danger of drowning. You and others are working yourselves to a state of exhaustion, trying to haul them to dry land before they are carried out of reach. It is unrelenting hard work and more and more of you are needed because more and more bodies are caught in the current, hurtling past. You are all so preoccupied with the task that you can barely think. But at some point, someone must surely ask – what’s going on upstream? Shouldn’t we find out why all these people are falling in and try to stop it happening? (New Economics Foundation, 2012)
“I don’t think one parent can raise a child. I don’t think two parents can raise a child.
You really need the whole village.”
Toni Morrison, understood to be an African proverb
Benefits of sporting clubs and participation in communities
Catalyst for community gatherings
Creates social capital = collected benefits that come to individuals and a community
For the individuals – improves physical and mental health
Improve education and training pathways in areas of local need
Working with disengaged young people to re-engage with education, training and employment
Goal 4: Improve pathways for disadvantaged young people with emphasis on those with disabilities
Goal 5: Improve employment and education outcomes for young Koorie people
Goal 6: Improve the capacity of parents and families to engage with education, training and career decision making
The Australian drug foundations good sports program has seen the effect first hand when you break the nexus between alcohol and sport. People are coming back to their sporting clubs, memberships and sponsorships are increasing in some cases threefold.
Right now, more than 6500 community sporting clubs and nearly two participants are involved in the Good Sports program across Australia. In short, Good Sports reduces excessive drinking. Research shows that risky drinking among club members drops 22% on match day, short-term risky drinking drops 15% and long-term risky drinking drops 14%. Overall, research suggests that Good Sports clubs have 36% less people drinking at risky levels, compared with clubs not involved in the Good Sports program.vii
Good Sports clubs also report a reduction in drink driving and aggressive behaviour. They enjoy a boost to their income streams, attracting more sponsorship and more members (particularly juniors, females and families) as a result of changing their club’s culture. More importantly, Good Sports club members report a higher level of connection within their community and say they are proud that their club has become the heart of the community
The Byron Shire, especially Byron Bay, is confronting a real crisis. Alcohol-related violence and associated harms are severely damaging our young people, our community and the lifestyle we love. We’re facing a problem that’s changing the very nature of our town.
Ugly drunken brawls have become a constant feature of weekend nights. People are seriously hurt, sexual assaults regularly occur and older residents, some who’ve lived here all their lives, are afraid to go into town on weekend nights.
The statistics tell a terrible story: Byron Bay is the third most violent place in NSW as far as alcohol related street violence is concerned. The number of assaults is three times the State average. The number of young women being sexually assaulted is double the average. People are having their young lives ruined by actual and feared violence, injury and criminal convictions.
What is Cringe the Binge?
Cringe the Binge is a grass roots initiative that aims to reverse youth binge drinking by supporting individual and community action. We promote discussion amongst young people, parents, teachers, community partners, share the latest information & research about the issue, support & promote alcohol free events & activities - and encourage young people to Binge on Life NOT Booze! Based on Byron Bay
What does the Cringe the Binge crew do?
National Weekend of Action - Each year we hold a Weekend of Action in November to draw attention to the issue of youth binge drinking - the issues, and the solutions - and we ask everyone to stop and think about their relationship with alcohol. We also ask people that if they are concerned about the impact of binge drinking and alcohol on our young people to donate what they would normally spend on alcohol to Cringe the Binge via our website.
Music Events -BluesFest, Splendour in the Grass, Boomerang Festival, Falls Festival - Our Cringe the Binge info stall provides free breathtesting service, information & education that supports festival goers to make good choices.
Info Stalls at Local Community Events - We've attended CrankFest, the Living Earth Festival, TEKSTAR, and a range of other local events to promote young people making positive life choices.
Fundraising events - Join our annual Donate & Win prize draw and you might end up enjoying a fabulous weekend in Byron Bay with great food, accomodation and healthy experiences.
Youth Events & Activities - We organise and support skate events, music events, youth driven activities that promote safe and healthy alternatives - particularly for underage young people.
Byron Schoolies Blow Zero Competitions - Each year Cringe the Binge participates in the Byron Schoolies Safety HUB at main beach. We offer schoolies the chance to take home a signature Cringe the Binge Schoolies Singlet if they BLOW ZERO on our breathalyser three nights in a row, delaying their consumption of alcohol.
Competitions & Community Engagement - in 2012 we designed a set of AWARD WINNING cheeky posters to capture young people's attention on a range of issues associated with binge drinking.
Conferences, Forums, Workshops & Submissions - We attend and participate in forums, workshops and conferences to help community efforts to tackle binge drinking issues. We also participate in key decision-making processes regarding youth & alcohol issues and have made submissions and presentations to a range government inquiries.
Lastdrinks21 Our aim is to reduce alcohol-related violence, sexual assault, anti-social behavior and youth binge drinking by engaging the Byron community to take effective action to tackle a serious social crisis.
“I don’t think one parent can raise a child. I don’t think two parents can raise a child.
You really need the whole village.”
Structure of the Illegal drugs policy package
This package contains more than a policy
Introduction include an overview of the package and points out the process for developing a policy is critical if it is to be a live policy
outlines why a club policy is valuable
Across alcohol and other drug use, we focus on providing quality information and resources to support healthy and safe decision making.
We take the position that ‘that there is no safe level of drug use’, especially for young people under the age of 18 years.
We take the position that for young people under the age of 18 years; avoiding alcohol consumption altogether is the safest option.
For adults who choose to drink alcohol, our position is to recommend they do so within the recommended National Health and Medical Research Councils (NHMRC) guidelines.
Parents are the biggest influence on their children’s behaviour and attitudes.
We take the position that illicit drug users must be aware and understand the harms associated with drug use.
We support and encourage those organisations and people that have the opportunity to influence others in regards to AOD behaviour, either through direct intervention or the provision of safer settings.
“Whole-of-organisation” – the work we do must impact on the whole organisation and ‘all people all places’.
Personal Welfare – in-line with the ADF’s primary objectives, all our work should be conducted in an ethical, non-judgemental and supportive manner including links to relevant treatment services.