City Gathers to Receive Funding for Binge Drinking Initiative

Minister for Youth Donna Faragher presented the cheque to the City of Melville, on behalf of Lotterywest, in the City’s Reception Lounge.

Health Promotion Officer Janet Armarego said the project, titled ‘The Gathering’, included the development of an educational resource, focusing on the harms of under-age binge drinking. “The DVD will comprise a hard-hitting story of a group of adolescents coming face-to-face with binge drinking’s consequences,” she said.  “The resource is to be used by schools and youth-focused organisations to decrease acceptance by young people of problematic behaviours associated with drunkenness; increase awareness of the associated harms; and identify and reinforce strategies currently used by young people to potentially reduce alcohol-related harm. The project also aims to discourage the secondary supply of alcohol to juveniles.”

“The project concept was initiated as a result of the Melville Alcohol Accord* identifying the issue of young people’s alcohol consumption, and the secondary supply of alcohol to juveniles at a local level. As a way of addressing the issue the City resolved to develop a user-friendly, contemporary resource. In order to successfully apply for a Lotterywest grant, we needed to demonstrate input from the community, stakeholders and the target group, in addition to showing how the project would respond to a community issue. The resource is being developed in conjunction with stakeholders and the production script is being workshopped with upper school students in several high schools,” she said.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said young people were our future and they needed to be made aware of the potential gravity of some of their actions. “This is not about stopping youth from having fun and enjoying themselves,” he said.  “We encourage the youth of our City to reach their potential, have a voice that is heard in the community and have a good time. However, the City is well aware that unfortunately binge drinking is becoming an increasingly accepted behaviour among some young people. We are endeavouring to protect their welfare through this project – and are thankful that Lotterywest and the State Government have recognised it as being worthwhile.”

‘The Gathering’ follows on from the success of the City’s 2007 award-winning DVD ‘6’. A similar resource, supported by Lotterywest and State Government funding, ‘6’ addressed issues faced by adolescent males, including self-esteem, suicide, sexuality, relationships, crime and drink driving.

*The Melville Alcohol Accord, established in 2004, is a meeting group coordinated by the City of Melville and attended by local licensees, WA Police and the Drug and Alcohol Office