Originally created as Microsoft Word Document on Friday, 21 December 2001 and took 1491 minutes to write. Published online Wednesday, 6 Janurary 2010.
Cooperative Education Major Report: Ballarat Local Drug Action Plan
Introduction
Cooperative Education placements should be compulsory. The valuable knowledge students are exposed to, skills that they develop and values that they acquire gives more than a semester of textbooks and lectures ever could because it is reality. No passes or minimal fails.
The Ballarat Healthy Community Program (BHCP) employs a Cooperative Education student each semester. In semester two 2001 they required another student to assist the BHCP with the many projects that it encompasses. The major focus of the placement included assisting the Community Safety Officer in the development of a Ballarat drug action plan.
This report follows the process of the Ballarat Local Drug Action Plan’s development. From ensuring community ownership and participation, to preparing the Plan for Council and the launch. It will illustrate just one layer of skills and knowledge harvested from the Cooperative Education placement. Other skills and knowledge are outlined at the end of the report where the student’s learning objectives are evaluated.
The opportunity to learn what the workplace has to offer, whether it is good or bad while still completing a degree, can create a difference in professional outlook for a student. If more students are given the chance to participate in a Cooperative Education placement then this can only mean their degrees and employment opportunities are enhanced.
The Ballarat Safe City Program and Community Safety Plan
In 1996 the City of Ballarat created the Ballarat Healthy Community Program. This program would become the catalyst and driver for a number of health promotion initiatives within the community. The Ballarat Safe City Program (funded by the Department of Justice) is a project of the Ballarat Healthy Community Program and facilitated the development of the drug action plan.
In 1999 the Ballarat Safe City Program undertook an extensive community consultation process. The result was a comprehensive picture of the major safety, health and crime concerns to the Ballarat community. The role of the Safe City Program’s Senior Management Team was to identify these concerns and create initiatives addressing these issues. Alcohol and drug concerns were to be addressed through developing a local drug action plan.
The link between Ballarat and the Drug Policy Expert Committee (DPEC)
Around the same time as the Ballarat Safe City Program completed the Community Safety Plan, a parallel process was occurring. The State government’s Drug Policy Expert Committee (DPEC) was researching into the state’s drug problem. In November 1999 recommendations were made by DPEC, in which the state government acted on with the new initiative Its Our Problem – Let’s Fight It Together. Funding was then made available through this scheme focusing on areas such as prevention, rehabilitation, saving lives and local drug strategies and enforcement.
After DPEC consulted twelve regional areas, one of these being Ballarat, Dr. Penington chair of DPEC then addressed Council in late August 2000. He urged that drug issues be approached as a health issue first then as a crime issue.
The decision was made to allow the Ballarat Healthy Community Program take on this role as it was best suited to coordinate the discussions and debates needed to conceive a drug strategy in Ballarat.
Actions not Reactions Forum
The Ballarat Healthy Community Program through the Safe City Program took the initial step of holding a forum in February 2001. The forum ‘Actions not Reactions’ enabled a broad spectrum of over seventy service providers from Ballarat to create a process for the future development of a set of workable shared strategies and initiatives relevant to the local community and services. Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre was involved in the facilitation of the forum developing a process for active community participation. The City of Greater Geelong and Youth Substance Abuse Services also played a role in the forum.
From this forum three working groups were created - prevention, harm minimisation and improving local community spaces. The people present at the forum self elected to become members of these groups. The working groups met monthly over a three-month period and then on an intermittent basis to face the complex and challenging issues required to develop a local drug action plan.
During the initial meetings all three working groups went through a process identifying the risk factors leading to drug misuse and/or the impact drug misuse has on the individual and the community. In subsequent meetings implementation initiatives were explored to address the issues relating to the risk factors and those factors that affect the individual and community. Existing programs and projects within the community were included as implementation initiatives to ensure there were no double ups of projects. This will also raise the awareness of existing programs.
Process of the draft Ballarat, Local Drug Action Plan through Council
Once a draft of the Ballarat, Local Drug Action Plan was finished the document was required to go through a public comment period. For this to occur, the Corporate Managers Group (CMG) made up of the three lines of management from the Council departments viewed the draft. They then approved the document to be moved to the Council Forum where Councillors discuss the document and raise any queries with the referring officer or author. The document is then presented at a Council Meeting the next week. During a meeting the public are allowed to be present. Council Meetings involve Council deciding whether to endorse the recommendations. In September 2001 the recommendation for the draft of the Ballarat, Local Drug Action Plan to be released for public comment was endorsed by Council and given a time frame of four weeks.
The public comment period
The public was made aware of the draft’s public comment period through a media release soon after Council gave their endorsement. Copies of the drug action plan were distributed to libraries around Ballarat and a copy was held in the Town Hall for people to view. People who wished to comment on the draft were required to view the document and then send by post or email comments to the Ballarat Healthy Community Program.
The working group members were sent copies of the draft to review and self-help groups in the community such as Families Anonymous were also asked to participate in the drafting process. Further consultation during this time was requested of families and drug users, who were given surveys to fill out. Analysis of the survey information has been incorporated as an initiative of the drug plan.
Overall feedback from the public comment period was positive. Minimal amendments were required and no new major concerns were raised, however some content within the draft was addressed in a more specific fashion. The comments received were documented in a table with the persons name, agency, and suggested amendment and whether or not the change was incorporated. This ensured there was no double up of information, any major points overlooked or incorrect interpretation. The suggested amendments were then taken to a final meeting held in October 2001 with the working groups. The group members had the opportunity to review the document once again and clarify any concerns.
Preparations for final endorsement
In mid October after the last working group meeting, plans for printing the document and the launch were underway pending Council’s endorsement in mid November. The focus was shifting from the content of the plan to its format and aesthetics. A graphic designer who had produced other pieces of work for the Ballarat Healthy Community Program – Safe City Program was commissioned to do the artwork for the drug action plan and invitations to the launch. Firstly the draft with its amendments had to be completed and accompanied with the table of suggested amendments, ready to go through the Council process to be endorsed.
The first step in the Council process was CMG. After their approval the final Ballarat Local Drug Action Plan then went to a Council forum and then Council meeting, where the Councillors without hesitation endorsed the final plan on 14th November.
Process for launching the Ballarat, Local Drug Action Plan
The steps taken to prepare for launching the Ballarat Local Drug Action Plan are listed below:
- Date – The date of the launch depended on when the plan was endorsed, what other events were scheduled for the BHCP and when the plan could be printed. December 13th 2001 was the tentative date depending on the availability of guest speakers.
- Guest speaker – The Minister for Health Mr. John Thwaites was the first choice for a guest speaker and to launch the plan. A letter was written to him several months in advance requesting his presence for the launch. The letter was written to emphasise the importance of the drug action plan and the presence of media. The date of the launch was made flexible allowing him to choose another day in the same week. Another choice for a guest speaker was Prof. Margaret Hamilton Director of Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre. She served as a back up and as it turned out, the Minister was unable to attend. Therefore Prof. Hamilton was contacted and the arrangements were made through her secretary via phone or email.
- Venue – The venue was required to link with the drug action plan and stand out as being different. Therefore City Oval in Saxon House was chosen because football is included in the plan under the initiative of “Good Sports” and being a sport, it also contributes to preventing drug misuse through social connectedness. Saxon House seats 150 people, which was an adequate size for what was expected at the launch. The venue was viewed approximately four weeks before the launch and confirmed as a booking.
- Entertainment – The entertainment was dependent on what was available in Ballarat. After approaching three different performers a decision was made. The three-piece band of Sparks Fly was chosen due to their laid-back funk sounds. They were also keen to perform as they had written songs about drugs and could see the importance of such a document for Ballarat.
- Briefs and agenda – The briefs for the speakers were given to them approximately four weeks before the launch. The briefs were written like a speech and the speaker had an opportunity to read it as is, or highlight the main points and talk about it for himself or herself. The Master of Ceremonies (MC) was given to John McClure who is the Chairperson of the Ballarat Safe City Program. He was required to hold together the formal proceedings and also give the history of the guest speaker. The agenda was organized to detail the events of the morning from the time of the welcome to the thank you and gift presentation. Each speaker was also given a copy of the agenda.
- Invitations – The major job before the invitation design was organising the mailing list. This time consuming task required a sorting of correct names, title and addresses from the database on the computer. The invitations were designed, printed and sent out so people had three weeks to reply. The RSVP was a week before the launch. This allowed sufficient time to finalise the catering and name tags.
- Catering – Due to Prof. Margaret Hamilton having to leave by 11:30am this placed a restriction on when the launch could be held. Therefore the catering had to be suited for either morning tea or an early lunch. It was decided to cater for an early lunch. The caters were notified of the launch and what food was required for example, vegetarian and gluten free. The final numbers were given a week before the launch after the RSVP deadline. It was decided the food would be after the speeches.
- Media release – The media release for the launch of the drug plan was sent to the media a few days prior to the launch. Within the release, information on the background of the plan, who will be present at the launch and who to contact for more information was included.
- How to launch the plan? – The options for this included a drawstring opening or flipping the material back to reveal the Plan. It was decided to use a piece of material and flip it over the back of a board with a poster of the front cover of the plan under it. Prof. Margaret Hamilton and the Mayor of Ballarat were chosen to launch the plan.
- Nametags – From the RSVP list the nametags can be organized. It is important to include first name, second name and the organization from where they are from. Extra tags were taken on the day to ensure that those who turn up and didn’t RSVP receive a nametag.
- Set up – Setting up of the launch was started the night before. This allowed all the displays to be placed on the walls and the arrangement of tables and chairs. It also gave an opportunity to check things like cutlery, coffee cups, glasses, how the urn works, if there are enough power leads and how to set up the heat and cooling.
The steps taken to prepare for launching the Ballarat Local Drug Action Plan are listed below:
¨Date – The date of the launch depended on when the plan was endorsed, what other events were scheduled for the BHCP and when the plan could be printed. December 13th 2001 was the tentative date depending on the availability of guest speakers.
¨Guest speaker – The Minister for Health Mr. John Thwaites was the first choice for a guest speaker and to launch the plan. A letter was written to him several months in advance requesting his presence for the launch. The letter was written to emphasise the importance of the drug action plan and the presence of media. The date of the launch was made flexible allowing him to choose another day in the same week. Another choice for a guest speaker was Prof. Margaret Hamilton Director of Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre. She served as a back up and as it turned out, the Minister was unable to attend. Therefore Prof. Hamilton was contacted and the arrangements were made through her secretary via phone or email.
¨Venue – The venue was required to link with the drug action plan and stand out as being different. Therefore City Oval in Saxon House was chosen because football is included in the plan under the initiative of “Good Sports” and being a sport, it also contributes to preventing drug misuse through social connectedness. Saxon House seats 150 people, which was an adequate size for what was expected at the launch. The venue was viewed approximately four weeks before the launch and confirmed as a booking.
¨Entertainment – The entertainment was dependent on what was available in Ballarat. After approaching three different performers a decision was made. The three-piece band of Sparks Fly was chosen due to their laid-back funk sounds. They were also keen to perform as they had written songs about drugs and could see the importance of such a document for Ballarat.
¨Briefs and agenda – The briefs for the speakers were given to them approximately four weeks before the launch. The briefs were written like a speech and the speaker had an opportunity to read it as is, or highlight the main points and talk about it for himself or herself. The Master of Ceremonies (MC) was given to John McClure who is the Chairperson of the Ballarat Safe City Program. He was required to hold together the formal proceedings and also give the history of the guest speaker. The agenda was organized to detail the events of the morning from the time of the welcome to the thank you and gift presentation. Each speaker was also given a copy of the agenda.
¨Invitations – The major job before the invitation design was organising the mailing list. This time consuming task required a sorting of correct names, title and addresses from the database on the computer. The invitations were designed, printed and sent out so people had three weeks to reply. The RSVP was a week before the launch. This allowed sufficient time to finalise the catering and name tags.
¨Catering – Due to Prof. Margaret Hamilton having to leave by 11:30am this placed a restriction on when the launch could be held. Therefore the catering had to be suited for either morning tea or an early lunch. It was decided to cater for an early lunch. The caters were notified of the launch and what food was required for example, vegetarian and gluten free. The final numbers were given a week before the launch after the RSVP deadline. It was decided the food would be after the speeches.
¨Media release – The media release for the launch of the drug plan was sent to the media a few days prior to the launch. Within the release, information on the background of the plan, who will be present at the launch and who to contact for more information was included.
¨How to launch the plan? – The options for this included a drawstring opening or flipping the material back to reveal the Plan. It was decided to use a piece of material and flip it over the back of a board with a poster of the front cover of the plan under it. Prof. Margaret Hamilton and the Mayor of Ballarat were chosen to launch the plan.
¨Nametags – From the RSVP list the nametags can be organized. It is important to include first name, second name and the organization from where they are from. Extra tags were taken on the day to ensure that those who turn up and didn’t RSVP receive a nametag.
¨Set up – Setting up of the launch was started the night before. This allowed all the displays to be placed on the walls and the arrangement of tables and chairs. It also gave an opportunity to check things like cutlery, coffee cups, glasses, how the urn works, if there are enough power leads and how to set up the heat and cooling.
Review of the launch
Overall the launch was completed successfully. Approximately 50 people attended, close to what was expected and the number who replied to the invitations. The start was delayed by ten minutes because Prof. Hamilton was running late, however no one seemed to unsettled as many were chatting or listening to the live background music.
The media were out in full force waiting for Prof. Hamilton to arrive. Once she entered the building she was requested to pose for photos with the Mayor, Cr. David Vendy. This added to the time delay but was necessary for the publicity of the Plan.
John McClure, the MC held together the formal proceedings and ensured that Cr. David Vendy and Prof. Margaret Hamilton were appropriately introduced and thanked. Prof. Hamilton had the total attention of the audience and successfully relayed her message of support and congratulations to those who developed the Plan. She also gave a clear reminder that they need to remember their roles as professionals and keep tackling alcohol and drug issues.
The catering was 10 minutes late but arrived just as the last speech was finished. Due to starting later the formal proceedings went longer than stated on the invitation, therefore many people had to leave straight away. A lot of the food was left over but for those who stayed it was a good finish to the launch along with the music by Sparks Fly that put everyone in a good mood as they left.
Review of the launch
Overall the launch was completed successfully. Approximately 50 people attended, close to what was expected and the number who replied to the invitations. The start was delayed by ten minutes because Prof. Hamilton was running late, however no one seemed to unsettled as many were chatting or listening to the live background music.
The media were out in full force waiting for Prof. Hamilton to arrive. Once she entered the building she was requested to pose for photos with the Mayor, Cr. David Vendy. This added to the time delay but was necessary for the publicity of the Plan.
John McClure, the MC held together the formal proceedings and ensured that Cr. David Vendy and Prof. Margaret Hamilton were appropriately introduced and thanked. Prof. Hamilton had the total attention of the audience and successfully relayed her message of support and congratulations to those who developed the Plan. She also gave a clear reminder that they need to remember their roles as professionals and keep tackling alcohol and drug issues.
The catering was 10 minutes late but arrived just as the last speech was finished. Due to starting later the formal proceedings went longer than stated on the invitation, therefore many people had to leave straight away. A lot of the food was left over but for those who stayed it was a good finish to the launch along with the music by Sparks Fly that put everyone in a good mood as they left.
Learning Objectives: Knowledge
To understand how a professional balances their duties and values within the ethos of the organisation that they work.
During this placement I had the opportunity to experience working in a large organisation and appreciate the efforts of those already working there. At first I struggled with the procedures and ideals that were set in concrete in which everyone seemed to obey. I struggled because of having little exposure to such an environment. I was used to life as a student and working part time in cafes and restaurants.
The key to being able to balance the duties and values of the organisation with those of my own is to know the organisation well and find the differences between their values and mine. However if when exploring the organisation and many of the duties and values have more conflicts with my values, then I may have to decide whether working there is the best thing for me.
To understand the links between health promotion and psychology and employment opportunities that exists catering for each.
My main interest is in psychology. Therefore while completing this placement I wanted to find the links between health promotion and psychology. Within Ballarat there seems to be various opportunities for mixing both fields.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) have a Mental Health Promotion Officer. Although this does not deal directly with psychology, the area of mental health is of interest to me. I had the opportunity to attend a Same Sex Attracted Youth Suicide Prevention Workshop organised by the Mental Health Promotion Officer. Through this I was able to make contact with the Mental Health Promotion Officer and approach her later to discuss further what is involved in her field of work.
Centacare is a non-profit organisation of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat that assists people experiencing marriage and family problems. Among the services they offer are counselling and mental health education in schools. These are the areas that most interest me and would look to find more about.
Another area that I found of interest was Life Education. This is a comprehensive resource utilised by primary and secondary schools, parents and the community to help reduce harmful drug use. Experienced qualified teachers must undergo specialised post-graduate training to work in Life Education. Therefore I would contact them and find out whether it is a career I would want to pursue and see if they offer fieldwork.
Completing this placement has opened up a whole new area of employment opportunities that I was unaware of. Health promotion still appeals to me but I now know that I prefer working one on one with people rather than in an office setting on organisational projects, as I completed during this placement.
Learning Objectives: Skills
To develop and enhance skills needed to utilise modern technology for presentations, reports and communications, for example power point, video and web page creation.
Through this placement I have had the opportunity to experiment with different forms of technology. For the two presentations that I was required to complete for fieldwork I used a mixture of power point, video and/or overhead. I was never a huge fan of computers. Therefore, the problems that I experienced trying to get the technology working only confirmed my dislike of the equipment that “makes life easier”. However, by encountering these challenges I was able to test my limits and see that I can perform under pressure, given my preparedness and underlying ability to interact with people.
To develop and enhance written skills which vary in application for submissions, reports and newsletters.
Over the course of the entire placement I was able to continually develop my writing skills. At the start of the placement it was difficult to vary and write in the appropriate style. At university I was used to writing using only one style. During the placement it took awhile for me to pick the differences and produce pieces of writing that did not need to be drafted five times.
I was given numerous pieces to write including funding submissions, media releases, newsletters, briefings for the drug plan launch and a letter inviting the Minister for Health to launch the drug plan.
I believe my writing skills have improved but still more work needs to be done. However what I have learnt I will be able to apply at university and this will hopefully enhance other areas of my professional career.
Learning Objectives: Values
To foster integrity throughout my placement in regards to self-evaluation and in dealings with professionals or organisations that I have contact.
I have aimed to be honest with myself regarding my work and performance during the placement. I believe this has helped me to achieve what I did by adapting to different situations and taking on board others critic of my work.
I have always considered my position in the Ballarat Healthy Community Program and presented the organisation in a professional manner. This includes adopting the appropriate ethics and striving for the organisations’ vision.
The major lesson I have learnt is that I need to be honest with myself and honestly be myself. I don’t have to change and try to be like others in the work place. It is important to keep my personality shinning through because if I don’t a different person will emerge that finds it even harder to fit in and complete the necessary work.
This Cooperative Education placement has taught me valuable life lessons. Lessons that apply not only in my professional career but also in other aspects of my life.