Paul Spooner suggested the following 3 initiatives for consideration at the forum:

Findings from Action Groups – Suggested Solutions/Action Steps: 

Group 1 – Parents

·         Develop networks and stronger personal connections for better communication between parents, and between parents and children –   e.g.  telephone; email social gatherings; parent support group; parent networking group;  interactive communication between kids and adults

·         Help-line for parents

 ·         More exposure of the issues / sharing of information through newsletters; media

·         Education programs for parents; well-advertised thru media; schools; etc. laminated sheets – with info. about programs; services on it.

·         Conduct regular meetings to involve parents; PTAs – with guest speakers, e.g. medical/health workers; clean and sober people

·         Include addiction as a school subject

·         Better advertising of community meetings (e.g. the D&A Forum) – don’t just rely on newspaper ads

·         Establish general parent support groups in local areas -          or better support and advertise the existing ones

·         Develop fridge magnets – with information / strategies / tips for parents re. adolescent substance use; plus info. about services, etc.-      A "Be alert AND alarmed" fridge magnet – Fact sheet on the effects of binge drinking.

Group 2 – Community and Culture

·         Place a “tax” on festivals and other larger events in Byron – contribute this money to the community and to support youth activities

·         Alcohol tax – put $ back into the community

·         Restore and re-open the YAC

·         Establish youth-friendly venues to promote community and cultural activities for young people – e.g.-          the YAC-          skate parks-          games gallery-          sports grounds

·         Develop a legitimate ‘public place’ (drug & alcohol-free) for young people to gather – e.g. railway park; ‘top’ park

·         Address the lack of public transport – light rail; bike tracks  

Group 3 – Young People

·         Young people need a free place to hang –a hall, or other venue, where they can socialize (alcohol-free); play loud music; parent-free, e.g.-          surf club-          YAC

·         Place a tax on alcohol advertising and on mixed spirits (the ones aimed at young people)

·         We need public transport – especially after hours

·         Sporting facilities – bike tracks; skate park

·         A ‘Safe Partying Squad’ – to support young people at night when they’re out at festivals; in town; etc.

·         A stronger ‘youth voice’ – e.g. youth news; meetings of young people from different schools

·         Affordable entertainment and reliable transport

·         Check that people are not drunk before they enter an event (e.g. festivals) – breath tests

·         Invite reps. From the pubs (e.g. Tom Mooney) to next meeting  

Group 4 – Education

·         Teach emotional literacy in schools

·         Mentoring programs – based around 12-step programs; Alateen; N.A.; etc.

·         Use the media, and sporting heroes to promote awareness about alcohol and other drugs

·         Approach NA and AA – for speakers to come to schools   

Group 5 – Services and Programs

·         Better (public) transport for young people – a priority

·         Night events for young people, e.g.-          YAC-          Mullum pool; Brunswick Heads-          Ocean Shores

·         Support for parents-          mentoring-          training-          health

·         Skate park – project

·         Safe sleepovers – program

·         Support ‘Educational Beats’ – as a way of promoting safe partying for young people-          set up website-          ‘Lovebites’ – take into schools

·         Extend ‘Street Cruise’ – $$$