A program to enhance the mental well-being of young people in the Hepburn Shire will continue to run in 2018, thanks to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation Victoria announcement of $20,000 funding for the Hepburn Local Drug Action Team.
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Hepburn Health, in partnership with Daylesford Secondary College and other community organisations and businesses, ran a 19-week youth-focused training and education program in hospitality and tourism.
Hepburn Health program manager Ally Parnaby said The Cook, The Chef and Us program for years 9 and 10 students helped build self-confidence and engagement with education.
“A lack of engagement in education and employment can be a factor for long-term health issues due to a lack of connection to community,” Ms Parnaby said.
“This year’s program did achieve the aims of re-engaging young people in school and giving them ideas about future employment and connection.”
The Hepburn Local Drug Action team was one of sixteen community drug action partnerships to receive funding to prevent harms from alcohol and drugs in their local area.
Alcohol and Drug Foundation Victoria manager Eamonn O’Toole said evidence showed communities taking action to prevent drug and alcohol use could have long-term benefits for communities.
“We know that if we can engage young people and provide protective factors, they are less likely to engage in alcohol and drug related harms,” Mr O’Toole said.
The 16 students who participated in The Cook, The Chef and Us program learnt a range of personal and practical skills, including food preparation and handling, as well as communication and job seeking skills.
The program included learning hospitality skills at the Convent Gallery, biscuit making at Red Beard Historic Bakery, and job-seeking skills at Grill’d Ballarat.
Participants received safe food handling and barrister training.
Ms Parnaby said a lack of engagement was an issue for every community where for some, traditional education wasn’t the right fit.
“I think now without having technical skills, the options are limited for the people who don’t necessarily want to follow that pathway of academia and university,” Ms Parnaby said.
“This program is about broadening the options for education.”