P.A.R.T.Y Program

Year 12 students recently attended the Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) Program at Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) in Gippsland, where they gained valuable insight into the serious consequences of risk-taking behaviour.

Throughout the day, students participated in a range of interactive sessions within a hospital-simulated environment that demonstrated the real-life impacts of trauma caused by alcohol, drugs, unsafe driving, and other high-risk behaviours. The program encouraged students to reflect on the importance of making safe and informed decisions.

Students heard from emergency services professionals, doctors, nurses, allied health practitioners, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria paramedics, and trauma survivors who shared their personal experiences and professional knowledge. These sessions provided students with a confronting but valuable understanding of how quickly lives can change as a result of poor choices.

A particularly powerful part of the experience was hearing from trauma survivors who spoke openly about the lasting physical and emotional impacts they had faced following serious accidents. Their stories gave students a deeper appreciation of the long-term consequences that trauma can have on individuals, families, and communities.

Students also took part in practical activities in the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and rehabilitation settings. Using resuscitation mannequins and disability simulations, they experienced some of the challenges faced by patients recovering from traumatic injuries, including mobility difficulties and everyday tasks requiring assistance.

The hospital environment helped students better understand the realities faced by healthcare workers and patients every day. Many students reflected on how eye-opening and impactful the experience had been, and how much they had learned about personal responsibility, risk awareness, and the importance of making safe choices.

Maffra Secondary thanks Latrobe Regional Health and all presenters involved in delivering such a meaningful and educational program for our Year 12 students.