Year six students took part in the pilot program, run by the City of Mandurah Community Safety Team.
The City of Mandurah, with the Mandurah Local Drug Action Team, launched the 'Smart Generation' program aimed to educate communities, young people and parents about the harms associated with adolescent alcohol consumption.
As part of the pilot members of the City of Mandurah Community Safety Team visited Falcon Primary School to talk to a class of Year 6 students, discussing the risks involved with alcohol.
Mayor Rhys Williams said the program was just one element of the City's long term strategy to build a happier, healthier and safer community.
"We know only too well the long term impacts caused by adolescent alcohol use," he said.
"These are complex issues and while they will take time, and we will work in a collaborative way with our partners, we don't shirk from our responsibility to do the best we can to make our community a better place in the future."
The Smart Generation Strategy, which was developed by Deakin University, has two components:
- Supply monitoring – checking to make sure our liquor outlets are not supplying minors with alcohol.
- Talking to parents and pre-teens though the school setting about the importance of delaying alcohol use for as long as possible, and for parents to set rules to prevent adolescent alcohol use.
The Falcon Primary visit included both parents and students, learning about brain damage and developmental risks associated with consuming alcohol too early in life.
At the end of the day the students take back a letter from the Principal and a homework task.
The homework encouraged parents to talk openly with their kids.
The Mandurah City team is also running a pilot program at North Mandurah Primary School, and if successful, the City hopes to expand the program to more schools.
"I love the idea the City is going beyond the rates, roads and rubbish stereotype,' Mayor Williams said.
"We take ownership of our problems and we put in best practice, evidence based programs that will make real difference in the future, even if the real results of these initiatives might not become clear for decades."
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