RRISK Program Returns to Equip Teens with Life-Saving Skills

ROBERT HEYWARD

High school students in Northern NSW will soon have the chance to gain crucial knowledge about safe driving, drugs, alcohol, peer infuence, and partying as the Reduce Risk and Improve Student Knowledge (RRISK) webinars return this November. Registrations are now open for Year 11 students to participate in the webinars, which will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM on November 13, 14, and 15, 2024. Kathryn Watson, Acting Director of Integrated Care and Allied Health at Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD), emphasized the importance of the program. “The purpose of these webinars is to help young people stay safe on our roads and at parties. They learn how to support their friends and make safer decisions,” said Ms. Watson.

In NSW, young drivers under the age of 26 represent 14% of all licence holders but account for nearly 25% of accidental road fatalities. RRISK, a locally developed program, has been addressing these alarming statistics for over 20 years. Research shows that RRISK has a signifcant impact, with a 13-year study revealing that participants are 24% less likely to experience a crash and 42% less likely to crash at night compared to nonparticipants. To enhance the program’s effectiveness, participating schools receive lesson plan ideas to supplement the webinars. These include life-saving skills like placing someone in the recovery position, responding to drug and alcohol-related emergencies, and understanding the risks of vaping.

In addition to safety advocate Paul Dillon from Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia, the webinars will feature contributions from NRMA and Southern Cross University, offering students a wellrounded educational experience.

Last year, over 2100 students from 28 schools took part in the program, with around 80% of participants reporting increased confdence in their ability to stay safe while celebrating or driving. Follow-up surveys conducted fve months after the webinars showed students engaging in signifcantly more protective behaviours, such as looking out for intoxicated friends and calling for medical help when necessary.

Schools can now register for the RRISK program by visiting healthupnorth.info/ RRISK24