YEARS 9 & 10
HEALTHY BRAIN
SMART CHOICE
PART 1
COURSE OUTLINE
Introduction
Introducing Healthy Brain – Smart Choice Part 1 online modules for Year 9 & 10 students. Under the umbrella ‘Save Your Brain’ (SYB) series, reinforces an understanding of how the brain develops, particularly in adolescent years. In so doing, it introduces students to the impact of substances and other risk taking behaviours which can harm such development. Importantly it covers how students can make healthier decisions that will affect their brain and body, particularly in peer settings. Students will investigate and be encouraged to initiate action for change, when they discover unhealthy settings within their friendship groups.
Healthy Brain – Smart Choice Part 1 Year 9 & 10 curriculum supports students to develop knowledge, understanding and skills to create opportunities and take action to enhance their own and others' health and safety with regard to choices they make about harmful substances and other risky situations. Peer pressure is a focus, as is strategies to avoid risky situations such as vaping, ability to refuse alcohol and other drugs in social settings. Students develop skills to manage their emotions, understand the physical and social changes that are occurring for them and examine how the nature of their relationships changes over time.
The content provides opportunities for students to contribute to building a positive school environment that supports healthy, safe and active choices for everyone. Students also explore a range of factors and behaviours that can influence health, safety and wellbeing.
Expected Benefits
Prevent teen uptake of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and other illicit drugs via:
-
Increased health literacy of drug harms and the volatility of substances.
-
adoption of social/negotiation skills to resist unwanted social requests related to drug taking.
-
Greater awareness of opportunities, capacity and willingness to seek early help.
Be well informed on the following topics:
-
alcohol and other drugs
-
food and nutrition (FN)
-
mental health and wellbeing
Program Development
The program has been inspired by recent research in the United States through the Institute of Behaviour and Health and other research that shows the importance of ‘Protective Factors’ in child and youth development.
The program has been developed through a combination of research and experience from educators/teachers, neuroscientists, mental health experts, drug and alcohol researchers. It has received feedback from schools, sporting groups, parents and grandparents and will be regularly updated with ongoing feedback.
Schools and Education Providers linked to the Towards Healthier School Communities project will be invited to be first to trial the program.
Cyber Safety
Online safety can be best managed if teachers/parents ensure that material accessed is age appropriate and regularly monitored, especially during periods of individual or group research. In addition, each module should be introduced with an overview and concluded with a debrief.
For Teachers
Healthy Brain - Smart Choice Offers:
Flexibility of content and choice of tasks within each module, to enable tailoring course work to the needs and priorities of their students.
Teachers will know that our experiences and actions affect the way our brains develop with positive role models and interactions from family members and other a such as club leaders, coachers, teachers, friends and social group.
Quality feedback, reactions and experiential learning add to the student’s ‘tool kit’ by helping them to learn:
-
Assertive behaviour skills
-
How to establish and manage changing relationships – offline and online
-
General health and wellbeing activities
-
What impact Social / emotional health has on general well being
-
Observe real resilience skills in action that support resilient behaviour
-
See how others demonstrate coping skills and ‘help seeking’ strategies
Each Module is linked to the Australian Curriculum.
Format & Topics
This online program comprises two 45-minute flexible, modules/sessions that focus on:
Module 1: Facts & Myths about Drugs & Alcohol
(including vaping)
Module 2: Mental and Emotional Health
The Pedagogy of online sessions includes explainer videos, information from drug experts and neuroscientists, interactive discussion with young people and activities related to Units of Enquiry to apply learnings.
Links to the Australian Curriculum
Key learning areas -
Health and Physical Education, Technologies
General capabilities -
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability, Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding.
Want to get involved?
REACH OUT
If you are interested in participating at any level, or want more information, please contact Jo Baxter at Drug Free Australia