CTC Newsletter !December 2013

Launch of the 2012 Healthy NeIghbourhoods School Survey data.

The 19th November 2013 marked an important date for Communities That Care (CTC) with the public launch of the 2012 Healthy Neighbourhoods School Survey data. The newly designed data reports, of which there are 7, were available hot off the press and received by those present. Attendees were also able to register their interest in joining LAG groups that will be formed in the New Year. !The launch took place at the New Peninsula Baptist Church in Mount Martha with

over 50 people in attendance, representing a cross section of the community from schools to local agencies/organisations and community members. !

Committee CTC Chairperson Anne Shaw emceed the event and Dr Bosco Rowland, Research Fellow School of Psychology Deakin University, presented on the data findings and the positive outcomes that continue to be achieved through CTC on the Mornington Peninsula. Mayor Cr Antonella Celi spoke on her long term involvement and experience of CTC and the positive change the community had created for young people residing on the Mornington Peninsula. Kelly Allen, psychologist, Toorak College, spoke on the Mornington Peninsula Parents’ Alcohol and Other Drugs Resource Booklet now in it’s 5th edition, whilst Sam Hearn spoke on community support for young people. !If you would like to obtain a copy of any of the CTC data reports, please contact David Conley on 5950 1642.

!Welcome to the final edition of the Communities That Care (CTC) Newsletter for 2013. !It was with great pleasure that I recently participated in the Launch of the CTC 2012 Healthy Neighbourhoods School Survey Data Report for the Mornington Peninsula. !It was very encouraging to see the measurable outcomes and results from the implementation of the strategies contained in the 2007-2012 Community Action Plans for the Mornington Peninsula. !Over the past five years, CTC has been able to achieve these outcomes because of its philosophy that encourages the community to work together in developing solutions to local issues.   Solutions that are found through community partnerships made up of

local people, schools, agencies, community groups and service providers who come together to create positive prevention based strategies to help and assist our young people on the Mornington Peninsula. !I congratulate the Committee and everyone who has participated and contributed to the success of CTC on the Mornington Peninsula and I thank you for your ongoing support and involvement with this very worthwhile initiative. !Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. - Mayor Cr Antonella Celli !

MAYOR’s MESSAGE

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Preparation for distribution of the 2014 edition of the Mornington Peninsula Parents Alcohol and Other Drugs Resource Book is underway. We recently welcomed Richard van Orsouw (Flinders Christian College, Tyabb Campus) onto the Advisory Committee and are grateful for the input he will give to this initiative. The booklet is in it’s 6th year of distribution and is a valuable resource for parents of Yr 7 students from all secondary schools across the Mornington Peninsula. The booklet provides a range of information relating to alcohol and other drugs and equips parents with knowledge around the effects of alcohol and other drugs on adolescent brain development as well as safe partying. It also includes practical strategies around creating resilient adolescents, supporting young people, legal facts and where to seek help when needed. Roll out of this edition to schools will take place in February 2014. !“As parents today we worry bout what we can do with our children in respect to the issues that are facing them in society. The Mornington Peninsula Parents’ Alcohol and Other Drug Resource Book is a comprehensive and vital resource for parents in the area.” (Anne Kadiric, Parent , Toorak College)

2014 MornIngton PenInsula Parents’

Alcohol And other drugs

resources Book

GIrls Empowered Group wIth YMCA

In term 3, a six week program called Girls Empowered was implemented on the Southern Peninsula for eleven year 8 girls living in the Two Bays and Rosebud to Portsea areas. A Communities The Care (CTC) staff member co-facilitated the program alongside the coordinator of Rye Youth Services. The course covered topics such as self identity, models of empowerment and overcoming a victim mentality. The course also incorporated practical sessions such as yoga,

h e a l t h y e a t i n g accompanied by talks about nutrition and a women’s circle. Al l sessions were facilitated by local w o m e n . T h i s p r o v i d e d a n opportunity for girls t o g e t t o k n o w

women from their local communities who could impart wisdom and connect with them in the future if they so wished. A creative arts therapist joined the group on the last day and took the girls through a process of realising and releasing their dreams, marked by the releasing of balloons at the Rosebud Foreshore. This was a special moment for all involved and quite significant for the girls participating. As the program provided an opportunity for the participants to share on issues in their lives, many have chosen to continue on with the Mentoring program delivered by RYE Youth Services for young people living on the Southern Peninsula. This program addressed strategies in both the Two Bays Community Action Plan, of improving nutrition and the Rosebud-Portsea Community Action Plan of providing mentoring opportunities to young people.

DID YOU KNOw . . . !!Over the past 10 years agencies using CTC

Data and Community Action Plans have successfully gained $12,922,100!

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EvIdence-Based program ‘FrIends for LIfe' broadenIng It’s reach Into MornIngton

PenInsula  Schools  !Communities that Care (CTC), in collaboration with the broader Mornington Peninsula Shire Youth Services team, are very excited to be bringing the evidence-based Friends For Life program to more schools across the Mornington Peninsula. !Al Curtain, community education worker with the SHINE team from Family Life said "The SHINE Team at Family Life have been providing Friends For Life program at a number of schools throughout the Peninsula for over 6 years. We have worked with Communities That Care around collaboration and empowerment with young people and over 20 schools both primary and secondary. It is always a pleasure to work with the team at CTC in the context of providing recognition, skills and opportunities with the children and young people we work with!” The well established working relationship between Family Life and CTC has resulted in a partnership being formed around the delivery of the program to more Mornington Peninsula schools. !The entire CTC and youth services team participated in a 2 day intensive training workshop on the 30th September and 1st October and received training in the full Friends For Life suite of programs, covering children youth and families. !Friends for Life is an evidence-based program intentionally chosen from the CTC catalogue of evidence-based programs as it is specifically designed to address the CTC prevention target of depressive symptoms. The CTC Healthy Neighbourhood’s Schools Survey data reports show no improvement in people reporting depressive symptoms at a rate of 25% between 2002 and 2012. Reducing youth rates of depressive symptoms is a shared community concern and priority for CTC and many other key agencies. It is hoped that by working together to broaden the reach of the program, a reduction in young people experiencing depressive symptoms can be achieved. !The Friends for Life program is a cognitive-behavioral therapy program designed to be used in the classroom that aims to increase the resilience and happiness of young people. The program teaches young people cognitive, emotional and behavioral skills for managing feelings and coping with life challenges with a positive and resilient attitude. It promotes important personal development concepts such as identity, self-esteem, problem solving, self-expression and building positive relationships. Term 3 and 4 saw Youth Services begin their work in partnership with staff from Family Life in delivering the Friends for Life program to Year 5 students at Boneo Primary School.  The students participated in sessions on Monday afternoons over a six week period and were able to articulate the key messages and learning’s from the program.  !Friends For Life will become a core program for Youth Services that will be delivered in primary and secondary schools across the Mornington Peninsula over the coming years.

DID YOU KNOW . . .

Alcohol Use by Year 7 young people has halved over the

past 10 years.

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Year 9 Alcohol and Adolescent Parent InformatIon EvenIng at Padua College

On Wednesday 11th September, approximately 8 0 p a re n t s a n d s t u d e n t s f ro m b o t h Mornington and Rosebud Padua College campuses attended an information evening organised by Communities that Care (CTC). CTC Ltd, our national body organised for a number of schools across the state to participate in a workshop, with renowned Psychologist Andrew Fuller, utilising the ‘creating conversations model’ to assist communication between young people and their parents of the harms of underage Alcohol use. !The project aimed to enhance youth road safety by reducing adolescent alcohol use – a risk factor for road accidents and injuries for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. To do this, the project aimed to assist young people and their families to adopt national alcohol guidelines that discouraged adolescent alcohol use before the age of 18. The project was supported by a grant from the Victorian Community Road Safety Partnership Program (VCRSPP) to Communities That Care, a registered state-wide group with the Program. !The workshop aimed to equip participants with knowledge and tools around young people and alcohol. Each Year 9 group presented what they had learnt. The following key messages were conveyed: based on the NHMRC guidelines regarding supply of alcohol to young people under 18 years of age: !

• Evidence supporting the importance of delaying alcohol consumption by young people under 18 years of age to reduce significant health and social issues and injury risks.   

• Reducing the supply of alcohol by parents to young people – secondary supply legislation.

• Reducing the sale of alcohol to

underage drinkers via liquor outlets. Dr Bosco Rowland (Deakin University School of Psychology) presented on the evening and spoke to the National Medical Health Research Councils guidelines, outlining the latest scientific evidence relating to alcohol and the developing adolescent brain. Senior Sergeant Andrew Horscroft, a parent at the school, presented on the legal issues and most powerfully conveyed stories that highlighted the tragic human cost of teenage alcohol consumption. The evening also showcased the work of eight Year 9 finalists, who produced s o m e s t u n n i n g d i g i t a l a n t i - a l c o h o l advertisements, while a talented group of students entertained with a thought provoking dramatic presentation on teenage choices and partying with alcohol. !We are grateful for the strong partnership we have forged with Padua over this important issue and the opportunity the school provided for students to participate. Continuing the focus of decreasing alcohol misuse and harm amongst youth has been a continual priority for CTC over the past 11 years and remains one of CTC’s Peninsula-wide priorities.

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WE NEED YOU!

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In 2002, 1 in 3 young people had a Favourable Attitude to Drug Use. In 2012 this

had reduced to 1 in 20

DID YOU KNOW . . .

!Local Area Group (LAG) meetings will commence early in the new year & we need you! !The six LAGs cover the following Mornington Peninsula areas:

1. Somerville - Tyabb - Baxter

2. Hastings - Crib Point - Bittern - Cerberus 1. Somerville - Tyabb - Baxter

2. Hastings - Crib Point - Bittern - Cerberus 3. Mt Eliza 4. Mornington Communities 5. Rosebud to Portsea and 6. Two Bays. !If you are interested in seeing prevention s t r a t e g i e s i m p l e m e n t e d f o r t h e improvement in health and wellbeing outcomes for young people within your local community & can commit to approximately 4 hours a month over approximately a 15 month period we are keen to hear from you. !“I found it inspiring to work with the LAG on the Mornington Peninsula. A very positive group of people and a very well thought out structure to keep things flowing smoothly. It was also great to see the secondary college students taking on their individual roles to work with us for positive outcomes for the whole community.” Judy O'Donnell (previous LAG member) !Please contact David Conley on 5950 1642 to register your interest.

CTC Staff Movements !What a year we have had in CTC with many changes happening across the team. We welcomed David Conley into the position of Team Leader, Strategic Outcomes. David has moved across from Team Leader Youth Services, a position he held for 24 years to lead the new strategic outcomes team, which incorporates CTC, SFYS and Early Years. David is a wonderful asset to our team with a wealth of knowledge on CTC and it’s history on the Peninsula. !

Sam Cochrane who has worked with CTC for over 5 years will leave us to begin Maternity Leave on January 16th . Sam has been a valued team

member, working alongside the Rosebud to Portsea and Two Bays LAGs for her

first 4 years before stepping into the position of CTC Coordinator for the past 12 months. Sam’s dedication and hard work has seen many programs and projects implemented for young people across the Peninsula. We are very excited for Sam and wish her all the very best as she begins a new journey into motherhood.

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MIndfulness In Schools Project !!!!!!

The mindfulness in schools project was funded by School Focused Youth Service in early 2012 to address anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms in students that can lead to improved engagement in education and educational outcomes. Communities That Care (CTC) data was used to support the funding application lodged by the Peninsula Meditation and Mindfulness (PM&M) group who are the lead group for the project. A working group was formed to assist participating schools in effective implementation of the project. The working group is made up of school staff, SFYS, CTC and PM&M representatives. This pilot project is taking place within Balnarring P.S., Dromana S.C and Somerville Secondary College.

The benefits of mindfulness practice are well documented and considered an evidence based approach to building resilience and improving mental health. Relaxation reduces stress and increases well being, mindfulness reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms and increases focus and meditation develops calmness and increases happiness.

Youth Services staff assisted in delivering mindfulness sessions at Somerville and Dromana Secondary Colleges throughout Term 4. Somerville Year 11 students elected to attend a session as a prelude to their end of year exams as did Dromana Year 10 students in their exam preparations. Students fed back they found the sessions very effective and demonstrated how the reduction in stress positively impacted their mental and physical well being, leading to better school performance. Currently all Dromana Secondary College staff are being trained in the delivery of mindfulness techniques and working towards incorporating mindfulness practice into the curriculum for the benefits of all students. !!

School Focused Youth ServIce !The work plan which will inform the work of School Focused Youth Service (SFYS) for the n e x t two years has been completed. Our focus is keeping vulnerable young people involved in education. The target groups are very early school leavers, young people in challenging family situations, and young people with mental health issues. Much of the data that was provided to inform the work plan and to provide evidence as to the choice of target group came from the Healthy Neighbourhoods Schools Survey: Mornington Peninsula Shire 2012. Activities that will occur as a result of the work plan include exploring better ways that schools and agencies can work together; identifying risk factors leading to disengagement and tracking students who appear to possess some of these factors to see whether they continue in education; implementing programs that may address these risk factors; undertaking an audit of services currently in schools and identifying any gaps; incorporating coordinated positive mental health practices in schools. Flexible funding is available to support the implementation of these activities with the endorsement of the governance group.

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Communities That Care (CTC) and Youth Services have continued to work together throughout 2013 to address strategies identified by the community in the six Community Action Plans (CAPs). Through Youth Services, the following programs were implemented. !F R e e Z A : F R e e Z A e v e n t s p r o v i d e a n opportunity for local young people to get together, utilise music equipment plan events, and build friendships. These events are particularly important in building a sense of belonging. FReeZA events occurred in both Hastings and Mt Eliza during Term 4. CTC data p r o v i d e s e v i d e n c e t h a t C o m m u n i t y Opportunities for Pro Social involvement are vital to young people in both LAG areas the events were hosted in. !Adopt A Hotspot: Term 4 has seen the implementation of this program begin with the first Adopt A Hotspot wall in Hastings. The project aims to deter graffitti by gathering committed community groups to adopt a wall and maintain it for a year. CTC data provides evidence that in this community opportunities for Pro Social involvement are a priority. !iConnect: iConnect has a focus on building community awareness and connectedness while also developing leadership skills, social connections and life skill enhancement. CTC data provides evidence that opportunities for Community Attachment are a priority for the Rosebud-Portsea area where this program took place.

CTC and Youth ServIces workIng

together to address LAG prIorItIes

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The Team here at CTC thank you for your ongoing support of CTC. We wish you a Safe and Happy Christmas and New Year and look forward to continuing to work

with you through 2014. !David, Sam & Rebekah

FestIval of Healthy LIvIng Update

‘WHAT MAKES YOU YOU?”    Around 200 students, drawn from 4 Peninsula schools, have been working on a creativity for wellbeing project with a local team of artists and well being professionals alongside their class teachers.   Over term 4, the students were asked to demonstrate ‘WHAT MAKES YOU YOU?” exploring through photography and text their ideas, feelings, hopes and dreams about their sense of belonging, identity and community.   !!!!!!!!!!The ‘EYE BELONG’ project has now culminated in a series of publications in which students share their images and thoughts.   EYE BELONG is coordinated by the Steering Committee of the Southern Peninsula Festival for Healthy Living (SP FHL) and facilitated by the Festival for Healthy Living/RCH group.   The SP FHL Committee draws together representatives from health, wellbeing, education and community sectors including; Boneo PS, Eastbourne PS, Peninsula SC, Rosebud SC, Shine/Family Life, Headspace, Medicare Local, Mornington Peninsula Shire, PCP, School Focused Youth Service, Peninsula Health and Seawinds Community Hub.   Communities That Care (CTC) played a key role in guiding the SP FHL  through drawing on CTC Community Action Plans,  representation on the committee, and CTC Data support for funding applications.   Planning is now underway with the students, schools and  partners for the 2014 consolidation phase of EYE BELONG.  

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