Canada Bay

  Donate

Alcohol Education Workshop proves a hit with students!

Alcohol Education Workshop held by The Burdekin Association as part of the Canada Bay Library Project

The Burdekin Association recently conducted an Alcohol Education Workshop as part of the Canada Bay Youth Space Project, in collaboration with Concord High School. Thirty Year 9 students actively participated in these informative sessions.

Throughout the workshops, Year 9 students delved into topics such as the impact of alcohol on decision-making, the hazards associated with excessive alcohol consumption, the physiological effects of alcohol on the human body, and the crucial importance of responsible drinking. 

One engaging activity involved students wearing “beer goggles”, simulating the experience of intoxication. This exercise aimed to provide a firsthand understanding of the challenges posed by impaired perception. The beer goggles functioned by altering the participants’ view, affecting their balance and stability. This alteration made it challenging for students to walk in a straight line or perform seemingly simple tasks such as pouring a drink, reading a tongue twister, picking up a coin, or maintaining a straight path while walking. 

Through this immersive activity, students gained valuable insights into the effects of alcohol on one’s abilities and behaviour.

The students expressed favourable opinions about the interactive components of the workshop, emphasising how these hands-on experiences greatly enriched their comprehension and heightened their awareness of the potential hazards and risks associated with excessive drinking.

The students gained insight into:

  • How alcohol influences decision making.
  • The impact alcohol has on a person’s ability to drive.
  • The consequences of mixing alcohol with energy drinks.
  • The importance of responsible drinking
  • Safety measures that you can put in place to help yourself and your friends.
Year 9 Student wearing beer goggles
Trying to walk in a straight line while wearing beer goggles.
Attempting to pour a standard drink while wearing beer goggles.
Student trying to walk in a straight line while wearing beer goggles.
Student trying to walk in a straight line while wearing beer goggles.
Attempting to read a tongue twister while wearing beer goggles.
Attempting to read a bus timetable while wearing beer goggles.
Playing Twister while wearing beer goggles.

Other key learnings the students gained from the experience:

(In their own words)

  • Eat something before you go out, so that you’re not drinking on an empty stomach.
  • Always have someone with you and look after your mates.
  • Call the ambulance if needed.
  • Lay the affected person in the recovery position while waiting for help.
  • Alcohol can harm your brain.
  • Don’t drink and mix alcohol (depressant) with energy drinks (stimulant).
  • Vomiting doesn’t always help you to sober up.
  • Don’t drive home from a party if you drink alcohol.
  • Alcohol takes one hour to be processed by your liver.
  • Call the ambulance on 112 on your mobile if you need help.

The giveaway fidget spinners provided by The Burdekin Association were a tremendous hit among the students. The QR code on the fidget spinners directed people to ‘Your Room’, a “Community Drug Action Team” (CDAT) resource hub for up-to-date and accurate information on alcohol and other drugs.

The positive feedback, high level of engagement and enthusiastic participation from the Year 9 students indicate that similar workshops can be valuable tools in educating and raising awareness among students on critical issues related to alcohol consumption. 

For more information on the Canada Bay Youth Space Project, please click here.

Emerging Leaders Mentoring Program

Burdekin recently partnered with the City of Canada Bay Council and Ethnic Communities Council of NSW to deliver the Emerging Leaders Mentoring Program.

The aim of the program was to help build participants’ skills in leadership, advocacy and community engagement, enabling participants to become more effective leaders in their neighbourhood.

The program was funded by the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s NSW Social Cohesion Grants for Local Government. Special thanks to Deputy Mayor Stephanie Di Pasqua, Deputy Mayor of the City of Canada Bay and mentors April McCabe, People & Culture Advisor at City of Canada Bay and Vivian Kosseifi, Nurturing Emerging Communities Officer, City of Canada Bay – Library & Community Services. Many thanks also to the rest of the team.

Our CEO, Justene Gordon and Out-of-Home Care Manager, Jacqui Gildaly both provided presentations as part of the program. Team Leader Stephen Dukich joined as a mentor.

“On Saturday I finished up as a mentor on the Future Leaders Canada Bay program. This was a great program to be a part of and I am really thankful for the opportunity to be a mentor representing the Burdekin Association. I’ve learnt so much from the presenters April McCabe, Vivian Kosseifi and the rest of the team.

This program pushed me to think outside the box as a mentor, allowed me the chance to guide and role model for a mentee and make great connections.

The sessions were packed with worthwhile information and there were great key speakers Sally Sitou , Justene Gordon and Jacqueline Gildaly. Definitely a worthwhile project to be a part of.”

Stephen Dukich, Team Leader, The Burdekin Association

For the last 18 months, Burdekin has partnered with Canada Bay Libraries to deliver the Youth Space Project. Canada Bay Council Facebook

The Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW (ECCNSW) is the peak body for all culturally and linguistically diverse communities in New South Wales. Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW Facebook

More about the program – Emerging Leaders Mentoring Program

Emerging Leaders Mentoring Program

We acknowledge the Aboriginal people of the Cadigal and Gayamaygal Clans. We acknowledge the Country on which we live, work, and gather as being Aboriginal land.

We acknowledge the lands, waterways and skies that are connected to Aboriginal people. We honour them and pay our deepest respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

We respect their rightful place within our communities, and we value their ancient cultural knowledge and practices.

Aboriginal Flag
Torres Straight Island Flag

We deeply respect that this will always be Aboriginal land and we will honour and follow the first peoples’ values in caring for the Country and for preserving their culture.

We deeply value that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the oldest living culture in the world and we will continue to work with their peoples and communities to ensure their cultures endure and remain strong.