Wellbeing

Paul Dillon Seminar 

A student perspective...

When we first heard that we were having yet another alcohol and drugs talk, our initial reaction was not excitement or curiosity for what we might learn but rather the relief of missing out on a maths period. Figuring we were about to be talked at for two hours about not drinking or doing drugs by someone we didn’t know, trust or respect, we filed into the performance theatre with low expectations. However, within the first few minutes of Paul Dillon’s presentation – our entire year group was silent and listening intently. 

Paul Dillon’s approachable and entertaining personality, combined with his respectful approach of conversing with us, rather than talking at us, meant we digested large amounts of information and advice to help us make smarter, safer decisions when navigating adolescence. 

Paul covered three topics during his time with us – alcoholism, drug use and vaping. He approached each topic with sophistication and eloquence, ensuring we gauged the important messages whilst entertaining us in the process. 

Paul managed to make a very serious topic relevant and relatable to a room of 15- to 16-year-olds. All the information was supported by scientific evidence, it was non-contestable. Additionally, he shared many harrowing stories of real-life examples where drinking underage had resulted in tragic injuries and death. We could relate to these stories on a personal level as most of the kids were around our age. Hearing about these tragic accidents ensured that our full attention was directed at learning strategies to avoid such situations. 

He made some very important points and delivered them in an entertaining and engaging way. We learned that if you’re planning to drink, you should have a ‘fistful of food’ an hour and a half beforehand. This is because a closed fist is about the size of your empty stomach and will slow the rate in which alcohol enters the bloodstream and the brain. Paul also introduced us to the concept of ‘water time’, where you must always drink a glass of water before consuming any alcohol. Alcohol causes your body to expel fluid at a higher rate than usual, therefore drinking water maintains hydration within your body and decreases the intensity of an oncoming hangover. 

He did not preach to us about never drinking alcohol, but rather taught us strategies to look after intoxicated people. If they are awake, they should be sat upright on a sturdy chair, keeping their airways and oesophagus upright is crucial, people can easily choke on small amounts of bile when lying flat or slumped. You can offer a drunk person water, but never force them to drink it. A bucket is preferable to a toilet or sink if a drunk person needs to vomit because facial contact with the bucket will not chip their teeth or break their nose. Avoiding bathrooms also means avoiding large panes of glass which are extremely dangerous for drunk people with impaired depth perception and movement. Most importantly, if a drunk person becomes unconscious, call an ambulance immediately because their life is now in danger. 

Paul made it clear his goal was teaching us ‘to be that little bit safer’ when partaking in risk taking behaviours, and not pleading with us to never take drugs or drink because this would achieve nothing. Drinking and partying can be very risky for teens, as he proved with multiple examples. 

Paul communicated honestly and openly, treating us with the utmost respect and understanding while he shared information, advice and statistics that could save lives in the room.  His presentation was an invaluable guide to the dangers of teenage partying, and we look forward to his return. 

Instagram - @dillonpauldarta

Nina Smedley

Niamh Webster

Audrey Hedley 

Helen Suthers

GRIP Leadership Conference 

On Monday 24 October, the prefect team for 2022-23 attended the GRIP leadership conference in Dubbo, NSW. This conference is held throughout Australia over 100 times a year, with many schools coming together to talk and collaborate on leadership topics. The day consisted of many activities, including seminars on how to make assemblies come alive, and building relationships with the people around us as well as games and fun performances. 

There was lots of interaction with other schools, getting to know each other and being able to explore our view on leadership within our schools. 

The conference was led by some amazing people who guided us a range of discussion topics, real life examples and practical strategies to use within our school context. This allowed us to put our learning into perspective and we worked together to understand the environment and culture of the school which we can influence as school leaders. It was a fantastic day to begin our journey as school leaders, and to motivate and inspire us to become the best leaders we can over the next year.