www.firstnationstelegraph.com
YOUTH WEEK MARKED IN STYLE ON PALM ISLAND
by Susan Cullinan Young people on Palm Island have enjoyed a week of fun activities organised by Red Cross while at the same time learning about how to keep themselves safe. Red Cross partnered with the Palm Island PCYC to present a week of activites that celebrated National Youth Week. Red Cross Senior Program Development Coordinator Walbira Murray said the highlight was the launch of the Binge on Life short film, which young people had helped to write and film. “There were 300 people at the launch which was absolutely fantastic,” Walbira said. “Binge on Life will be used to facilitate sessions around minimising the harms of alcohol.” Other activities run by Red Cross as part of Youth Week and funded by the Australian Government were photography workshops, CPR training and
disaster preparedness. “This is in line with Red Cross’ ongoing commitment to supporting people in most need,” Walbira said. “Red Cross is committed to increasing our work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to support
families and communities as they determine and lead their own solutions to achieve positive change”. Binge on Life activities have seen Red Cross working with young Palm Island people to develop their own strategies and messages to promote healthy living and keeping themselves safe, particularly in terms of alcohol use and its harmful affects. Another highlight was a performance by prominent Indigenous hip hop trio The Last Kinection who are also no strangers to the island. A main feature of the Binge On Life project has been the Night Café which is facilitated by Red Cross in partnership with PCYC. Further music and film workshops are also planned in the near future. The images of horses and the avenue on Palm Island were shot by Palm Island young people as part of the photography workshops facilitated by Red Cross and Fuji. Page 1