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A Current Affair - Inside Ice School

This recent A Current Affair exclusive provides an overview of AAIC's In School Education Workshop Program:

Watch our feature on A Current Affair

The Star: Ice education breaks through

By Sarah Vella

THE Australian Anti Ice Campaign (AAIC) presented its first Victorian workshop at the Chairo Christian School last Thursday, to students in years 7 to 10.

The workshop was funded by the Leongatha and District Community Foundation and chair Rob Bacon said it was important topic for young people.

“We were hoping all the secondary schools in the town would run the program,” he said.

So far, Chairo was the only school to take on the program, however Mr Bacon said another was keen to hold a workshop in term three.

The workshop was delivered by people who have successfully rehabilitated from an ice addiction.

The presenters graphically conveyed the harsh reality of ice addiction and were uniquely positioned to break through peer influence with total honesty from personal experience.

Student Testimonials

"The seminar provided an understanding of the issue that made sense of its importance."
"I personally enjoyed the workshop as it felt very real. The people running it were former addicts."
"Highly recommended for next year's Year 10s"
"It was scary!"
"I learned that ice is made from household products like battery acid"
"The message was from the heart."
"I was interested and shocked to find out some of the ingredients of ice. But I also found it really helpful and necessary, especially hearing from people that have experience with it."
"I was impressed with how honest and real the speakers were. I feel like people with real experience have a greater effect on me 'saying no' to drugs."
"Ice is addictive! You get a high the first time but after that its not so fun."
"I've learned more about how to help people who may be affected by ice."

"The anti-ice campaign was extremely helpful and taught me a lot about ice I wasn’t aware of. The presenters communicated the message clearly and I think it really put a perspective on how bad the drug is and how common it is in our lifestyles."
"The presentation was interesting and educational. I learnt a lot and was surprised by many things. The presenter was interactive with the audience. Maddison Straton TRHS"
"It was effective in educating us about ice and told us how it affected his life and listening to him makes us think twice about drugs."
"It was very educational. Not only about how bad the drug ice is but how it impacts on one’s family and friends."
"I found Michelle was amazing. We had a chat after the talk and she helped me out with a few things. I learnt a lot about ice that I didn’t know and found it was very interesting. Loved the way she spoke to us. Sarah McRae Yr 12 2016/2017 TRHS"
"I was very touched by the whole presentation. I found it very amazing how someone could turn their life around. I think this program should run in all schools to educate all year groups on the dangers of doing illicit drugs. I found it very informative. Vanessa Smallwood TRHS"
"I think that this program was really beneficial for the young people of this generation because of how much they are into having parties and doing drugs. It informs us what is in it this might help people understand what they would be putting into their body by using this drug. Also by the effect of having it once is really important. I like that the presenters were once users…. This gives it reality and how ordinary people can fall under the addiction. Chloe Ardill TRHS."
"Excellent program with strong messages…. Very connected."
"Program 10/10. Excellent and thank you."
"Confronting"
"I think this program was great. I do believe by having ex-ice addicts present and share their story certainly made it more real. I think kids in younger years need to see this as the age people start taking drugs is getting younger and younger. Our youth are making bad decisions and need to be informed to prevent any harm to them. I am grateful to have had this opportunity and I applaud them for starting this program. Thank you. Emily Atkinson TRHS."
"I was on SRC amp during this program but when I returned I was involved in many conversations with other students regarding how good the presentation was. Many students said they found the program very eye-opening and surreal as the presenters were ex- users. I wish I had the opportunity to see this program and that younger grades such as yr 9 and 10 get the chance to see it and hear it. Tarryn Aiken TRHS"
"The AAIC was valuable to me because before the presentation I had no idea what it was made from or how common it is or how easy it is to get. Now I do. Thank you to the AAIC. Mekayla."
"I had no idea or knowledge about this drug before the presentation. All students should be presented with this information at our school to keep them safe from the harms of this drug. Drew"
"The campaign clearly addressed the harmful impacts that ICE has, not just on an individual but the family. It showed us the harmful things it is made from and I respect the presenters for sharing their story. It made it very meaningful. Scott."
"It was one of the better drug programs as you learnt more about what the drug does to your body with the presenters being genuine in sharing their personal experience."

"The feedback from our Year 12 boys was that they found it very insightful, incredibly inspiring (in terms of those who have overcome their addiction) and very informative. It was certainly time well spent."

Teacher Testimonials

A.B. Paterson College

Our students were still talking about the session in their next class which was fabulous. My response to the students was I hoped they scared you enough to stay away from drugs, which they agreed. Thank you!

Mareeba State High School

Again these workshops impacted our students. The presenters Ester and Mimi were excellent, they were able to answer curly questions and were really relatable to the students. They also were able to manage the group when they became talkative and pulled the kids back into the presentation. We also had technical issues with the videos in the first presentation and Mimi handled it so well and completed the presentation.

I’d personally like to thank both Ester and Mimi for the personal investment in helping our students. Their passion and care came through in not just their presentation but their entire interactions with our students. During their lunch break they spoke to students and this impacted positively on students who this time did not participate in the sessions. I wish them both the best.

Parklands Christian College

It was a very worthwhile presentation. Our presenter, Esther was absolutely fantastic. She presented very well and had a connection with the students from the beginning. We liked how open Esther was in talking about her faith and making direct references about hope in God while discussing drugs and addiction.

I also think it was great having someone present on the topic of drugs who has been through the addiction (and how she acknowledged that when she was at school she was 'just like us' [our students]), rather than someone completely clean-cut who talks from a very protected experience.

We will book in again, thank you! 10+/10

Gold Coast Christian College

AAIC brought a powerful message through their well thought-out program. All students (Year 7-12) were able to not only see the effects of this dangerous life-taking drug through the informative multimedia presentation, they heard it first hand from the presenters having lived the nightmare of being ICE addicts themselves. The presenters were able to be real and honest about their tragic journey, which made a greater impact when the main message, 'NOT EVEN ONCE' was constantly reinforced. This same message was strongly continued with the post-presentation activities, such as sport with Kevin Campion and the musicians from VIBE. This enabled the students to continue the conversation in a less formal way. I applaud Andrea and the AAIC team from getting this important message out there effectively to the young people, so they know never to try ICE, 'NOT EVEN ONCE!'

Tweed River High School

"An excellent, very worthwhile presentation."

"Students have continued to speak about the program and made comment about the fact that the presenters were ex-users."

"The presenters gained credibility with the students through the sharing of their story."

"Engaging, well presented information including factual information."

"Well organised in their approach."

"Thank you for Advocating for our Youth."

"This needs to be a program that is delivered each year to our student body."

Mareeba and Dimbulah High Schools

It has been a week since AAIC was at the schools. It has been amazing the response we have received by students and staff plus public including Paramedics and police, who attended the presentations.

As part of my role is health promotion, organizing programs for harm minimization and awareness of dangerous drugs, and this program fits every avenue of this.

The AAIC were accommodating for the schools providing 13 sessions within the week to the entire school students. Information was not just informative from personal accounts of the presenters, but engaging, students’ participation was important. The message resonated to students and staff.

Staff also requested their own session early before school started on Wednesday morning, just to hear and take away so much information for themselves and their own personal lives to assist them in understanding the grip of the ICE epidemic in the area and Australia.

Students talked and asked questions, gave their own personal accounts on family situations, opened up conversations with family members. We as support team at the school have been amazed the continual discussions within the school community.

Even the sponsors (Hansen Ford Mareeba) for our area have had people from the street walking into the business and congratulating the sponsors for taking the time and effort to help our local towns.

The positive message was there - DO NOT TAKE IT NOT EVEN ONCE and there is hope if help is sort as soon as possible with understanding and support.

I cannot thank the AAIC enough for being there for our young people and staff, educating and supporting to spread the message of the dangers of ICE.

Please continue to support and spread the message.

Regards

Chris Gray

School Base Youth Health Nurse.

Tweed River High

Year 11 into 12 students witnessed a highly beneficial program “Put the Freeze on Ice” presented by the AAIC (Australian Anti-Ice Campaign). Overall this program was extremely valuable and I would like to advocate for the additional running of this program for this for the Junior grades and the 2017 seniors. In this program we were provided with information equipping us with knowledge – unknown to many of the students present – about the dangers and risks associated with the specific use of Ice and other drugs.

I know I was not the only student who saw this program as beneficial which lead me to thinking. How often is it that a program comes along in which nearly every ear in the room was engaged giving entire attention to the presenter, has students informing absent students how much they missed out and students saying how much grade 9 and other students need to see this presentation?

One of the key facts presented was as follows, 29 young people pick up Ice each day with a single encounter standardly leading to an addiction. Statistics shown only 2% of users walk away from this drug a survivor. This should be a wakeup call – that education and other programs need to be implemented for young people in the school, going further then the Board of Studies ‘dot points’.

Action must be taken further than just grade 11 students. I believe having “Put the Freeze on Ice” presented by the AAIC for other grades in the school is a great start.

I completely understand everything costs money and funding can only be spread so far therefore; I would like to express my gratitude for the program running at Tweed River High School last week as well as the contribution by the school and community made, to ensure it happened. I highly believe however, that there is a need for more education and more support.

I would be interested in talking further with the Executive Council and Welfare team further on this topic and opportunities for fundraising so as a whole school community we can take action against this epidemic.

Cairns State High School

"The program and your presenters were excellent. The Year 10 students gained a great deal from the experience."

"Presentation overall was very confronting for our students but effective ... Would recommend to other schools - well done!"

Tweed River High

In 2016 your representatives came to our school. Your program was so powerful that I have had teacher's ask me if I was going to organise this presentation again this year.

Kind regards, Bronwyn

Lindisfarn Anglican College

Wow! The presentation to Year 11 was excellent and very effective. Mike and Mel were genuine and engaging and certainly held the attention of everyone there. Added to this, the boys in the band were great – so very talented. I'm going to get further feedback from some of the students but I am predicting it to be very positive. There is no doubt that the message was clear and confronting but it needed to be.

So this brings me to me next question. I would very much like Year 12 to see the presentation prior to them leaving, particularly as 'Schoolies' is just around the corner. Problem is, they finish school on the 21 September. Is there any chance of a return visit on either Monday 19 or Tuesday 20? I completely understand that it probably can't happen but if it could, it would be excellent. Also, for next term, I'd like to book in presentations for Yr 9 and Yr 10. Again I understand that you may be booked out but if you give the OK, I can send in a number of dates for each grade. Again Stephanie, please pass on my congratulations to the team for a job well done.

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