COUNSELLING CONNECTIONS

News from College Counsellors Br Roger Vallance fms &
Mrs Marijke Keller

R U OK? Day Celebrated at Saints

Because the national date of R U OK? Day is in the middle of our end of year block exams, Saints celebrates R U OK? Day for our College community in week 9 of Term 1. This year we have Mr Mark Allen as guest speaker.

Mates for Mates Stronger Together

Parents-in-Touch

Mark Allen will speak to Parents Wednesday 22 March in Lennon Hall from 5:30 to 7pm. An experienced educator, Mark well understands the pressures and demands on families. His focus will be on practical means of nurturing bonds. There will be ample opportunities for questions. You are welcome to bring a friend. This is a free event. Access the flyer below and feel free to share it with your friends.

Mark Allen.pdf

R U OK? Activities

Thursday 23 March is our R U OK? Day

Our day starts early, as the pavement artists will be hard at work on our theme of “Mates for Mates” and “Stronger Together”. Pavement chalks will be supplied. There will be prizes for the best artwork, so please encourage your sons to add creativity to the themed drawings. Boys are encouraged to bring to school and wear once at school a silly hat and/or a silly tie.

Mark Allen will speak to the boys in assembly and there will be house activities to help reinforce the message that we need to look out for each other, support each other and help each other.

Vapes and Social Media - What Parents Can Do

Safeonsocial.com

Vapes are, unfortunately, readily available and very accessible to teenagers (and in some cases tweens), as many are purchasing them through social media platforms. While vaping products were initially marketed as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, growing evidence suggests they are very harmful.

Vaping has become increasingly popular among Australian teenagers, with some studies indicating that over one in 10 high school students have tried vaping. A recent study by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales has revealed that social media platforms allow Australian teenagers to easily purchase vaping products.

The study found that traditional retailers are no longer the main source of vaping products for teens. Instead, 28% of high school students buy these products through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. Disturbingly, 80% of these buyers were not asked to verify their age. This poses a great concern since vaping products contain nicotine, which is harmful and highly addictive for young people. Vaping product sellers advertise their wares on social media by using hashtags such as #vapeforsale or #vapesforsale. The unregulated nature of the vaping market on social media platforms raises additional concerns:

There is no oversight of the quality or safety of the products being sold.
There is no way to ensure that the products are not made of highly toxic liquid, or the vape itself has been tampered with.
Teenagers who purchase vaping products through social media are also at risk of being scammed or ripped off by sellers.
They may meet up with strangers to collect the goods they purchased online.
They can post pictures, videos and descriptions of their products and provide information about how to purchase them that bypasses restrictions.

The Australian government took some steps to address the issue of teenagers buying vapes through social media. In 2019 legislation was passed to make it illegal to sell vaping products to minors, and in 2020, the government introduced new regulations that require all vaping products to be registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

What parents and carers can do to help combat teens buying vapes through social media:

Talk openly and honestly with children about the dangers of vaping and the potential consequences of getting involved in illegal activities like buying vapes through social media. Open communication is key. Encourage your child to talk and offer support without judgment. It is never too soon to start this conversation.
Educate yourself about the risks associated with vaping and the strategies that schools are using to combat the problem. This will help you to better support your children and work collaboratively with schools to address the problem.
Establish clear rules and consequences around vaping. Make sure your child understands the consequences of vaping, including the potential health risks and legal consequences.
If you are made aware of a young person buying vapes online or through social media, report this to the app and the police. This can help prevent further illegal activity.
Keep an eye on your child's behavior, grades and social activities. If you notice any changes, talk to them and address any concerns you may have.
If your child is addicted to vaping, seek professional help. Talk to your child's doctor or a mental health professional for support. It is important to be proactive about your child's health and wellbeing.
Attend school meetings and stay informed about policies and programs aimed at preventing vaping in schools. Advocate for stronger regulations around the sale and distribution of vapes, including stricter enforcement of age restrictions and tougher penalties for those who sell vapes to minors online and off.

To report information about the suspected illegal sale of these products, please contact Crime Stoppers via https://www.crimestoppers.com.au

Additionally, The Sunday Mail, 10th March 2023, p.9 headlined that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is establishing an inquiry to investigate the scale and consequences of adolescent vaping in Queensland. Click here to read this story.

Premier Launches Vaping Probe.pdf

To contact Br Roger phone: 4052 9135 or email: brroger@cns.catholic.edu.au