Term 4 2021 - Teachers *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* View this email in your browser WELCOME BACK TO TERM 4! Dear *|FNAME|*, Welcome back to Term 4! With COVID-19 restrictions easing, many school communities will be adapting to the return of face-to-face learning. In this newsletter, we'll be sharing the latest resources for drug and alcohol education and wellbeing that can be used online or face-to-face. Students may also be planning to attend more social events, and for final year students, schoolies or leavers' week. We'll be sharing resources that will help you empower students to make positive choices surrounding alcohol and other drug use. The Positive Choices portal for teachers and schools provides advice and information to help you talk to your students about drugs and alcohol. To access these resources: VISIT POSITIVE CHOICES WEBINAR RECORDING: RISK TAKING AND TEENS Did you miss our latest webinar? Catch up on the recording now! This webinar was presented by Paul Dillon from Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia. The webinar covered: Information on what risk taking and teenage rebellion is. Research around why teens are more likely to take risks. Practical tips around risk taking and alcohol and other drugs. WATCH IT NOW HAVE YOUR SAY We need your help to guide our ongoing improvements to Positive Choices. We are looking for school staff to complete an online survey and provide feedback about the Positive Choices portal. The survey will take between 20 to 30 minutes and all participants can enter a prize draw to win one of two $500 Prezzee gift vouchers. To take the survey: CLICK HERE RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS New factsheet: medicinal cannabis What is medicinal cannabis? Click here for information on the side effects and legal status of medicinal cannabis + the latest evidence for its use to manage medical conditions. Click here to see our other resources on cannabis. COVID-19 resources for teachers, educators and students The Student Wellbeing Hub has updated their list of COVID-19 resources to support students, educators and families during the pandemic. It includes resources to help support year 12 students through exams, including information on how to handle stress and support wellbeing. Click here to find out more. Climate Schools will become OurFutures Climate Schools is the most evidence-based alcohol and other drug prevention program in Australia, and it is currently free until the end of the year! Register your school here to receive evidence-based health and wellbeing education for secondary students. Make sure you stay tuned for the rebranded program ‘OurFutures’ which is launching next year (FREE in Term 1 and 2, 2022). Learn more and sign up here to receive updates. Schoolies and other social events With the end of the school year coming to a close, your students may be planning to attending more parties and social events. It's important that students are equipped with information on the possible harms of alcohol and other drugs. Use the Drugs A-Z factsheets in your health education classes and start the discussion about making positive choices. Drink spiking When someone adds alcohol or another drug to a person’s drink, without their knowledge or consent, then the drink is “spiked”. Drink spiking can cause serious harm to the victim. This factsheet for students provides information on the symptoms of drink spiking and tips on what to do if their drink is spiked. RESOURCES FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITIES How can teachers and schools protect students from drug harms? Teachers are the greatest source of health-related information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Creating a safe and welcoming school culture and celebrating cultural identity and diversity are important ways to reduce alcohol and drug related harms. Learn more here. IN THE KNOW How can we help young people who experience anxiety and drink to cope? Transitioning out of high school is a time of significant change for young people and can be associated with heightened anxiety and increased access to alcohol. Read this article to find out how the Inroads program helps young people manage anxiety and keep alcohol use within safe limits. A recent Australian paper looked at the decline in adolescent drinking over the past two decades. They reported that alcohol seems to be a less central feature in the lives of adolescents and that more young people are choosing to not drink and are experiencing less stigma for their abstinence. ORDER YOUR FREE BOOKLETS! Get your FREE copy of the teachers and schools booklet for more information about school-based drug prevention. There is also a student version that can be used in your health education classes! ORDER NOW The aim of this e-newsletter is to provide our subscribers with information about drug prevention resources, and to share relevant news and events. Please help us spread the word by forwarding this newsletter to other teachers and educators in your networks, and encourage them to subscribe here. Copyright © 2024 Positive Choices, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. The Positive Choices newsletter is sent out once every term, and contains updates and information relating to the Positive Choices website. Recently published newsletters will take 48 hours to be listed on this page.