from YAPRap November-December 2006
A group of teenage girls have developed an educational DVD that aims to get young people talking about underage binge drinking.
The project, called BRINK, is an initiative of the Hornsby Community Drug Action Team (CDAT) and was designed in response to research that showed an increase in underage drinking among young women.
The DVD resource includes a 7-minute short film called Moonshine alongside other materials such as discussion questions and tips for keeping yourself safe if you do decide to drink.
The BRINK team of 13 teenage girls from different ages, schools and interests, came up with the project's name, wrote the script for Moonshine , decided on locations, and helped with the work on and off camera.
Co-facilitator for the project, Felicity Garland, who is also a member of the Hornsby CDAT and a counsellor at Clifton Adolescent and Family Solutions said: "The girls wanted to help young people explore the range of choices that are available to them when it comes to drinking. They didn't want to judge people's choices or tell them what to do by saying 'don't drink'.
"The BRINK resource gives young people the opportunity to act as peer educators and we hope that schools and other youth service providers will support young people to use the DVD for that purpose."
When asked what organisers found most challenging, Felicity said: "Recruiting young people who were able to commit to the project outside of school hours took a lot of time. I think the key is to choose an activity which they respond to, in this case it was film-making, and to allow them to be part of the decision making process at every stage."
The project was facilitated with the support of Hornsby Shire Council and Mission Australia's Clifton Adolescent and Family Solutions and funded by the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation, who contributed $20,000 to the project, and Community Drug Strategies who contributed $3,000.
BRINK was launched as part of April's youth week at the Hornsby Greater Union cinemas. The launch was attended by over 150 people including community members, local youth service providers and members of parliament.
BRINK was also screened to a group of school principles, ministers and education stakeholders at Parliament House earlier this month.
[Article from Drug Action newsletter by Community Drug Strategies branch, NSW Health]
More information
BRINK
Felicity Garland
(02) 9482 1366
garlandf@missionaustralia.com.au
On the booze
ABC2 interview about BRINK
www.abc.net.au/tv/australiawide/stories/s1749175.htm
Drug Action newsletter
published every 6 months, provides ongoing information on the implementation of the NSW Community Drug Strategy and specific community-based strategy initiatives.
www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/drugs_action
