School Drug Education Project
The SDEP is funded by the Drug and Alcohol Office as part of the current Western Australian Drug Strategy. The Project is a joint initiative of the Association of Independent Schools of WA (AISWA), the WA Catholic Education Office (CEO) and the WA Department of Education and Training (DET).
The SDEP, launched in April 1997, modelled a comprehensive approach in the planning and implementation of drug education interventions in Western Australian schools. This approach was reflected in the strategies outlined in the Project’s strategic plan and included:
- drug education professional development and ongoing support for teachers in all schools
- the development of new drug education curriculum materials to support K-12 drug education within the context of a health promoting school framework
- the provision of drug education information for parents
- support for the development of school drug policies and guidelines for a whole-school approach to K-12 drug/health education and management of drug issues for all schools
- support for parent and community participation in the development and implementation of drug education programs, policies and protocols.
The SDEP was based upon the Health Promoting Schools Framework. The model used a comprehensive approach to school health education which is widely acknowledged as best practice in promoting student health and in responding to health issues of concern for students. The model provided an ideal conceptual framework within which to develop effective drug education and intervention activities for students.
In 2003, a strategic alignment was made with the newly formed Road Aware Program to become School Drug Education and Roagd Aware (SDERA).
For further information about the School Drug Education Project contact School Drug Education and Road Aware on 9264 4743, 9264 5267 or sdera.co@det.wa.edu.au.
Back to topRoad Aware Program
In November 2000 Barry Elliot, a researcher in the field of road safety, presented a paper Review of Good Practice: Children and Road Safety Education [pdf 1.02MB] to the Road Safety Council of Western Australia about Australian and international road safety education programs. Elliot made recommendations for the development of a comprehensive road safety education program for Western Australia.
Subsequently, the Road Aware Program was created to form part of the Road Safety Council’s state-wide strategy Arriving Safely: Road Safety Strategy for Western Australia 2003-2007. Arriving Safely aims to reduce the overall number of road crash fatalities and injuries in Western Australia.
In 2003, a strategic alignment was made with the School Drug Education Project to become School Drug Education and Road Aware (SDERA).
The three priority areas identified to improve road safety for young people were based on the abovementioned research. They included:
0-4 year olds and their parents:
- an infant and child car restraint program;
- support to parents to improve child pedestrian safety and road use;
- road safety training for community health and child care workers;
- resources to encourage children and their parents to be involved in road safety.
4-14 year olds and their parents:
- greater emphasis on road safety in schools especially for Kindergarten to Year 3 through curriculum resources and professional development for school staff;
- statewide road safety support for teachers and parents, including online resources and take-home parent information materials.
15 – 20 year olds and their parents:
- a pre-driver (before L plates) program for young people (15 and 16 year olds) at school and out of school, including an opportunity for young people to sit the road rules test at school;
- a parent program to raise awareness about issues affecting young drivers and passengers and to promote increased supervised driving hours;
- a project targeting young people who are 'at risk' of not being able to get supervised driving experience;
- statewide community consultation with young people, schools, parents, local community based agencies and stakeholders; development of local and sustainable provision to support young people 'at risk' to achieve supervised driving hours.