Media coverage - West Australian: Call to give kids drug/alcohol lessons

The WA head of Mission Australia wants more comprehensive drug education in primary schools as children as young as 10 dabble in alcohol and cannabis.

Acting State Director Carmen Acosta said better programs and delivered at a younger age could help the small number of children vulnerable to such drugs in primary school. It would have the more widespread benefit of fortifying students against peer pressure in high school.

Ms Acosta said young people were growing up faster but drug education in primary school appeared ad hoc and in some cases absent or ineffective.

Some children relied on inaccurate information from the internet.

"There is most certainly evidence to show children are dabbling as young as 10," she said.

"The biggest risk time is the first year of high school. We need to fortify them with appropriate information before that."

Ms Acosta said the impact of cannabis and alcohol should not be underestimated. About 80 per cent of people using Mission Australia counselling and rehabilitation had cannabis and alcohol problems.

This compared with only 30 per cent in 1999.

Heroin and amphetamines were bigger problems back then, accounting for half their clients, she said.

"Violence fuelled by alcohol and binge drinking is extremely concerning among young people," Ms Acosta said.

"We are seeing many more young people coming to us concerned about their alcohol use than we have ever seen previously."

Ms Acosta said most children would never have problems with drugs and alcohol but would benefit from getting accurate and age-appropriate information in primary school.

Story originally published in The West Australian on 15 August 2011

Media Release: Help needed for kids from disadvantaged families to make successful transition to school

Disadvantaged families with complex needs require a range of supports to assist their children make a successful transition to school according to a new report.

The report, Facilitating children’s transition to school from families with complex support needs – a joint publication between Charles Sturt University, University of Western Sydney, Mission Australia and the NSW Department of Human Services – says transition to school programs and third parties acting as mediators between families and schools are among the keys to getting children from disadvantaged families off to a successful start in education.

According to Mission Australia spokesperson, Paul Andrews, families with complex support needs are less likely to have positive relationship and engagement with schools because of cultural and language differences, poverty, unemployment, dislocation, violence, illness or disability and this can impact on their child’s transition to school.

“For families with complex support needs the transition to school for their child can be a time of great difficulty and vulnerability but it’s also an opportunity to get things right,” according to Mr Andrews.

“There is compelling international evidence that the early years of a person’s life establish the foundations for adulthood. If there is upheaval during this time – particularly during the transition from preschool to school – there is a greater chance a person will experience difficulties, including poverty, unemployment and engaging in criminal behaviour, in later years.

“This report worked with 44 families across NSW – more than half from non-metro areas – to understand what they needed for their kids to start school as successfully as possible.

“They identified supports including establishing ‘transition to school’ programs, providing information for families about schools and enrolment, and professionals acting as links between families and schools.

“Other supports identified by families as helpful include services that can adapt as family needs change and continuity of support.

“In terms of continuity, many early childhood programs cease as children begin school – despite it being a time of great anxiety and uncertainty within these families. Having programs continue while the transition takes place is extremely important.

“The main concerns for the families participating in the report regard their children’s behaviour at school, family engagement with school and the financial pressures of having children at school. Parents were also keen to have an ongoing relationship with their child’s school but were unsure how to go about doing that.

“If services and supports can address those challenges then we’re well on our way to giving kids from struggling families the best start to their education possible,” said Mr Andrews.


The report, Facilitating children’s transition to school from families with complex support needs, is available to download at missionaustralia.com.au/downloads/19-social-policy-reports

Back by popular demand - Mission Australia's Winter Sleepout

Mission Australia Winter Sleepout 2010:  2-8 August

Australians have been supporting the Mission Australia Winter Sleepout for over 20 years.

Ever since our first Winter Sleepout in 1988, thousands of people across the nation have shown support for homeless Australians by giving up their own warm beds in the height of winter to raise funds for homeless services.

The Winter Sleepout has proven to be an easy, interactive and fun way to raise awareness and much needed funds to support Mission Australia’s homeless services.

While there will be no ‘public event’ this year, we are encouraging Australians to get a group together and organise their own individual sleepout and be rewarded with sponsorship from family and friends.


While we are encouraging sleepouts to take place during National Homeless Persons Week, August 2nd - 8th, participants may choose to sleepout at any time during winter.

Why not get a group of co-workers, family and friends together and sleep-out in your office or back yard?

There are 105,000* homeless Australians who could do with your support, so call (07) 3394 8136 or email PerovicP@missionaustralia.com.au to order your ‘Winter Sleepout Toolkit’ or check out our website at www.wintersleepout.com.au and start organising your own sleepout today!

*ABS 2008. Counting the Homeless, 2006. Australian Census Analytic Program. 

Youth think outside of the box with Artstart 2009

As part of the NSW Government's Artstart 2009 initiative, Mission Australia has provided school students across the Kiama region with the opportunity to provide Mission Australia's Donation Bins an artistic 'makeover'.

Artstart 2009 is managed through local councils and aims to encourage youth aged 12 to 24 to design and direct creative projects with the assistance of community service organisations like Mission Australia.

The students involved used Mission Australia's donation bins as the 'canvas' for their designs. Kiama Municipal Council's senior youth worker, Andrew Chatfield, said as part of the creative process, teachers at each school integrated the project into visual arts studies, enabling them to completely manage the project's design.

The students have redecorated the bins following the theme of Mission Australia's Big Heart Stores - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - and have come up with some fantastic murals and designs to emphasise the theme.

"The project gave the young people taking part an opportunity to express their creativity, build self esteem, and develop leadership and teamwork skills, while being involved in a worthwhile cause to promote and educate people of all ages on the importance on recycling, reducing, reusing," Mr Chatfield said.

We hope that the Kiama community will support the project by helping us fill the six bins before they are collected by Mission Australia and distributed throughout the region.

The students' artworks/donations bins are on display in their usual locations for anyone donating unwanted clothing, shoes and blankets to Mission Australia.  Check out our bin locations at his link