Self Defence Program

The final Thursday of Term 3 marked the commencement of a five-week self-defence program, continuing into the early weeks of Term 4. These sessions are held at The Winged Dragon martial arts centre, located within Leisure City Epping, and are designed to equip students with essential self-defence skills for their personal safety in the unlikely event of a physical confrontation.

The program is led by Sensei Lucky Pandelidis, a highly experienced martial artist with over 40 years of expertise across multiple disciplines. In addition to his extensive martial arts background, Sensei Pandelidis has worked in high-profile security roles at venues such as the MCG, Flemington Racecourse, and various nightclubs. His deep experience with managing aggressive situations makes him an invaluable instructor for our students.

Beyond promoting physical fitness, these classes provide students with potentially life-saving skills, empowering them to protect themselves should they ever encounter a dangerous situation.

Cyber Savvy Program - STRIDE

The "Cyber Savvy" program, presented by Jordan and facilitated by Stride, is an online safety initiative aimed at students focusing on maintaining a positive online reputation and addressing cyberbullying. Over 3 sessions, students engaged in interactive activities and discussions that emphasised safeguarding their digital presence, being upstanders against cyberbullying, and seeking adult support when needed. Jordan discussed how to navigate apps safely, emphasising the importance of protecting personal information and sharing images responsibly. He also provided strategies for preventing cyberbullying and encouraged students to seek support when faced with online threats. The program focused on critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and social skills, equipping young people with practical strategies for navigating the online world responsibly and effectively.

In addition to online safety, Jordan also taught students valuable life skills such as goal setting, self-motivation, and managing stress and anxiety. Through engaging discussions, students learned how to develop self-discipline, set realistic goals, and apply strategies for staying focused and motivated. Jordan also provided practical tools for coping with stress and anxiety, helping students navigate both their online and offline lives with greater resilience and confidence.

Harm Immunisation

To educate our students on how they can be safe around substances, Robert delivered a 2-day Harm Minimisation Workshop, covering a range of topics including alcohol, marijuana and ketamine. Using resources and information from Harm Reduction Victora, he provided education to the students on how different substances effect our brain and various parts of the body. He delivered information around safe use strategies and informed the students about how they can implement them to keep themselves and their friends safe if ever in the company of such substances.

While it is strongly encouraged that students avoid engaging with illicit substances and alcohol, we recognise that young people may face peer pressure, mental health challenges, and a natural inclination toward risk-taking behaviours. The goal is to provide support and education to help students make informed and healthy choices to keep them safe.

PRC Newsletter

Plenty River College’s vision is to empower students to achieve, through education, their personal best and to become positive, confident and productive members of our globalised world.

Issue 4 · 12 Nov 2024

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