A successful collaboration between New Norfolk Neighbourhood Watch and the Derwent Valley Council has enabled the delivery of the latest Streetsmarthandbook to the senior students of New Norfolk High School.
The handbook is a Neighbourhood Watch publication for school leavers, the purpose being to support teenagers and their parents by providing personal safety information as a preventative approach to crime and personal risk. These issues reflect the key values and objectives for the NNNW team who believe that Connected Communities are Safer Communities.
The handbook addresses personal safety and crime related issues relating to emotional and physical health, employment, learning to drive, travelling, cyber-bullying, depression, social behaviour, substance abuse, and more. It also lists key organisations and helpline numbers for teenagers and families who need extra support and assistance.
New Norfolk High School Principal Stuart Lord says the books are a valuable resource to support student learning.
“These books cover important topics for the age group that are sometimes hard to have conversations about face to face. They provide a good resource that teachers can use to guide discussion and focus on these important topics, or simply provide the information to students without the awkward conversations that can prevent students from engaging.”
Though the delivery of the handbooks was initiated by your local Neighbourhood Watch group, the necessary funding was provided by the Derwent Valley Council, which appreciates the value of the publication and pressed ahead with delivery of the books during difficult pandemic times.
Mayor Ben Shaw says Council is pleased to play a role in these important conversations.
“By supporting the handbook, we’re enabling these conversations to be had with students just when they need them. We hope that the resource proves valuable and helps students, teachers and parents to navigate these subjects which can often be hard to talk about. Many of the youth that live in Derwent Valley will be our future residents and ratepayers, so it’s important to us that we help to set them up for successful futures.”
Spare copies are available from the front desk of the Council offices in Circle Street, with an online version (appropriate for most mobile devices) also available at: www.smarthandbooks.com.au/product/tas-streetsmart
