Term 4 2025 - Parents
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WELCOME TO OUR NOVEMBER E-NEWSLETTER
Dear *|FNAME|*,

End-of-year school holidays are coming up soon! Is your teenager completing high school and planning to join any end-of-school celebrations such as Schoolies/Leavers Week? Perhaps they are asking to attend parties and other social events now that the end-of-year break is upon us?

In this newsletter, you'll find several resources to help you ensure your child has an enjoyable time whilst remaining safe from alcohol and other drug harms.
RECENT HIGHLIGHT FROM US:
10 YEARS OF POSITIVE CHOICES!
DON'T MISS OUR FINAL WEBINAR FOR 2025,
12PM THIS WEDNESDAY
It's not too late to register for our free webinar Wednesday 26th November at 12pm Sydney time!

Join Dr Lauren Gardner and Mrs Natalie Gorgioski for this 1-hour session as they delve into how evidence-based substance use prevention and mental health programs OurFutures and PreVenture are being implemented in schools across Australia.

Both presenters will now also be joined by
David Brown, Dean of Students at Scotch College Melbourne, who will offer an educator's perspective on:
  1. The barriers and facilitators teachers experience when using mental health and substance use programs in schools
  2. Practical advice for delivering evidence-based education in the classroom
There will also be an opportunity to join a live Q&A session following the presentation.
 
REGISTER HERE
Interested but unable to attend? Make sure that you still register to receive the post-webinar recording + presentation slides!
 
CATCH UP ON OUR LATEST WEBINAR RECORDING
Physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, risky alcohol use, smoking, sedentary recreational screen time and poor sleep are the ‘Big 6’ risk factors associated with chronic disease. While these behaviours are high among Australian teens, parents can play a vital role in guiding their teen toward healthier behaviours. 

Want to learn how? Access the full webinar recording + slides presented by the Matilda Centre's Dr Lily Davidson and Dr Katrina Champion below. This webinar will provide:
WATCH IT HERE
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES

What parents can do to keep their teenager safe during Schoolies/Leavers' Week?

If your teenager is attending Schoolies/Leavers' Week, it's normal to feel worried for their safety and wellbeing. This factsheet offers practical strategies for talking to your teen about staying safe, and how you can support them while they are away.
 

Drugs A to Z Factsheet: Inhalants

Inhalants are volatile substances or solvents, often found in common household products, that a person sniffs or breaths in to feel intoxicated or ‘high’. Roughly 1 in 5 Australian high school students have used inhalants at least once. To learn about the different types of inhalants and their effects, click here.
 

Emergency+ app

Emergency+ is a free app developed by Australia’s emergency services and their Government and industry partners. The app uses GPS functionality built into smart phones to identify a caller's location in an emergency. To download the app or find out more information, click here.
 

Harm minimisation: How to talk to teenagers about staying safe

Parents play a key role in their teenager’s decision to use or not use alcohol and other drugs. This factsheet provides tips on how to talk to your teen about minimising harms related to alcohol and other drug use, and what you can do to help keep them safe.
 
RESOURCES FOR ABORIGINAL AND
TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITIES
As a parent, guardian or family member, you have a big impact on teenager’s lives and the decisions they make. You can help reduce the chance that teenagers in your family use alcohol (also known as grog), tobacco or other drugs. This includes creating strong relationships, being a good role model and setting rules around alcohol and drug use. For more ways that families can help protect teens against drug related harms, click here.
 
IN THE KNOW
A recent study has revealed that younger Australians are drinking less alcohol than previous generations. Generation Z (followed by Millennials) are far more likely to abstain and drink less overall compared to Baby Boomers. Check out our recorded webinar presented by A/Prof Michael Livingston to learn about why youth drinking has declined.
 
As the New Year approaches, many people start to think about or question the role that drinking alcohol plays in their life. This blog post explores what it means to be "sober curious", what's driving this movement among young people, and how you can support your teen in choosing to avoid alcohol.
 
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Want to stay up to date with the latest evidence-based drug education resources and prevention programs for young people, as well as relevant news, research and events?
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, X and Bluesky!
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 parents and families within your networks, and encourage them to subscribe here.
 
If you have any feedback or questions, please contact Positive Choices via our contact form or by emailing info@positivechoices.org.au. We will do our best to get back to you within 3 business days.
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