1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:00,480 Speaker 1: So we know that. 2 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 2: Earlier in the week we did well, we did hear 3 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 2: that the Northern Territory Government's made some announcements in relation 4 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 2: to a campaign around vaping that's going to be rolled 5 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 2: out in territory schools. It's aimed to educate teenagers about 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 2: the harmful effects of vaping. 7 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: But it'll involve posters social media. 8 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 2: There's going to be newsletters and other tools that will 9 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 2: inform kids as well as parents, carers and teachers about 10 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 2: the health impacts of the habit. 11 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: But one local school has gone a step further. 12 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 2: They've implemented their own measures in an effort to try 13 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 2: to stamp out the habit. Now joining me on the 14 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 2: line right now is the Darwin Middle School principal Marcus Dixon. 15 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:40,279 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Marcus. 16 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 3: Good morning, Katie, Good morning to you. 17 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 2: Great to have you on the show, and I know 18 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 2: that well, Darwin Middle School, you've done a few things 19 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 2: to try to tackle vaping. 20 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: Firstly, tell us how big. 21 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 2: An issue has it been for you at the school 22 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 2: in recent times. 23 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 4: Well, I'm happy that I thought that it's less of 24 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 4: an issue now because of the proactive. 25 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 3: Position we've taken. 26 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 4: The last year there was a trickle of stories coming 27 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 4: from the students to say that in the early part 28 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 4: of the year there was vaping occurring in bathrooms and 29 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 4: we weren't even really that familiar or embraced for this information. 30 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 4: And then it became a situation where kids used to 31 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 4: started to report on a more frequent basis and say, 32 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 4: somebody's vaping and somebody's doing this, and we realized, of 33 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 4: course of this it was actually going on. So we 34 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 4: took a step to try and make these bathroom facilities 35 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 4: as safe and as pleasant as possible for everybody, and 36 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 4: I spoke to the school board and we installed vape 37 00:01:54,320 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 4: senses in all the bathrooms. Now, obviously it's nothing spectacular 38 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 4: in the sense that you and I have been traveling 39 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 4: on airplanes for years where to do it, or the 40 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 4: stewards on the planes will say, you know, we have 41 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 4: a faithal arm in the bathrooms. But the reality is 42 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 4: they're very good instruments, and they're very sensitive and they 43 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,959 Speaker 4: do tell us if somebody is actually vathing in a bathroom. 44 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 4: Because it's a basic human right that every child should 45 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 4: be able to access a fresh, clean bathroom during the 46 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 4: school day and not feel intimidated or affected by somebody 47 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:36,519 Speaker 4: else's decisions. 48 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 3: So it's what. 49 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 4: We did to change our school environment. 50 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 3: It's been very successful. 51 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 1: So Jelly, what was the reaction from students? 52 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 4: Oh, Look, to be honest with you, let's face it, 53 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 4: it's not like everybody is vaiting. I think nationally, I 54 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 4: think they're talking about seventeen percent percentage of kids vaping. 55 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 4: But can you imagine, you know, high schools are tricky 56 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 4: places to navigate on the human journey anyway. 57 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, just imagine walking into. 58 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 4: A bathroom where there's people standing around doing something like vaping. 59 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 4: It's quite intimidating, isn't it. So the reality is is 60 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 4: that most students were saying to me, we want fresh, 61 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 4: clean bathrooms that we can access, and we don't want 62 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 4: to be exposed to people that are vaping in those bathrooms. 63 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 4: So we had the support of the student body and 64 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 4: they were very happy to see me and the leadership 65 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 4: group and the school board actually takes some action to 66 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,119 Speaker 4: make sure that their basic rights weren't eroded. 67 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: And so, how effective have you found the detectors to be. 68 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 2: Are you getting many callouts from the alarms or has 69 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 2: it deterred. 70 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 4: Some Well, look, it certainly certainly has to turn it enormously, 71 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 4: But I wouldn't say it's like a one size fits all. 72 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 4: I mean, you wouldn't necessarily put a vake sensor in 73 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 4: school X or y. In my context, I've found it 74 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 4: really useful. But what happens anyway, just so you know, 75 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 4: is that when if a vape is detected in a bathroom, 76 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:26,799 Speaker 4: my phone or my leadership group's phones, my assistant principals, 77 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 4: senior teachers get a buzz to say, you know, let's 78 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 4: say bathroom, first floor, boys ten forty three, there's been 79 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 4: a vight alarm detected. And then, of course what we 80 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 4: can do is we can proceed there, or we can 81 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 4: review the school security cameras for public areas to see 82 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 4: who entered that space at that time, and then we 83 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 4: can follow the matter up, interview the students. 84 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 3: Et cetera, et cetera. 85 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 4: So that's the actual process. But I can assure you 86 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 4: that the students here are fabulous people. They're beautiful souls, 87 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 4: and they're very they're very good citizens, and they were 88 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 4: right behind this concept of. 89 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 3: Securing their school, yes, so that. 90 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 4: It was a safe and positive place, and it has 91 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 4: been a positive step. 92 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 2: And I guess it's like anything, isn't it The large 93 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 2: majority are doing the right thing. It is, you know, 94 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 2: it's always a minority that is sort of you know, 95 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 2: that are maybe not making the best choices and doing 96 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 2: the wrong thing. And it seems to me, Marcus, and 97 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 2: please correct me if I'm wrong, but it does seem 98 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 2: to me that you know, I guess that we've all 99 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 2: been on this education journey when it comes to cigarettes 100 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 2: and the harmful effects of cigarettes over the years, and 101 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 2: all understand the impact that that can have on your body. 102 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: But I just don't know that I really don't know 103 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 2: that young people understand how dangerous vaping can be. 104 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,720 Speaker 4: Well, that's that's the beauty of what you were talking 105 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 4: about prior about this campaign. What's really good about it 106 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 4: is we're putting a line in the hand and we're 107 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 4: saying making a clear message to the community vaping is bad. 108 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 4: Vaping is not good for your health or well being. 109 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 4: They thing will waste your money and make you an 110 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 4: addict for something that doesn't. 111 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 3: Feed your body or feed your soul. It's just another dependency. 112 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 4: And I think it's really good to what we're saying 113 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 4: now is we're saying quite clearly we're against this and 114 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 4: then we're backing it up with some information in an 115 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 4: education campaign that's going to clarify that with a kid. 116 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 2: And Marcus, do you, as the principle of Dawa Middle School, 117 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 2: do you sort of have any further plans when it 118 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 2: comes to different measures to reduce that vaping. 119 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 3: Well, what I'm going. 120 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 4: To do is I'm going to fully support the initiative 121 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 4: of the government. I mean, it's a good, strong, clear message. 122 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 4: It's about making sure that students have that information because 123 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 4: let's face it, these people that are selling baits, they 124 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 4: are targeting young people. The vabes that we used to 125 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 4: see quite frequently that we're not seeing now due to 126 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 4: the improvement in the monitoring of this particular problem. 127 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 3: They were called moths, and. 128 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 4: They're very bright colors, you know, like they're oranges and 129 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 4: vibrant oranges, vibrant greens. 130 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 3: They've got trendy little pictures. 131 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 4: On them, and they are definitely targeted towards a young 132 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 4: people and teenagers and adults not going to feel very 133 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 4: sophisticated putting a bright plastic thing up against. 134 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 3: Their face in a nightclub. Are they This is more for. 135 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 4: Kids, And I think we have to definitely take a 136 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 4: real strong stance here because it is our duty and 137 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 4: it is responsibility to help kids as they transition from 138 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 4: childhood to adulthood because teenagers they always like to lock 139 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 4: into risk and experiment stuff, and what we need to 140 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 4: do is actually explain to them what is actually happening, 141 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 4: because the vape machine is a complex mechanical thing which 142 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 4: is doing them no good at all. Yeah, and just. 143 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 2: And it does seem as though it's, you know, it's 144 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 2: something it's a it's a terrible phenomena that you know 145 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 2: that seems to be sort of you know, the kids 146 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 2: don't realize. I don't think how bad it is for them, 147 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 2: and like you said, it's very much marketed towards them. 148 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 2: And you know, I've even heard of situations where kids 149 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 2: are sort of connecting to people that they don't know 150 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 2: via social media to then get their hands on vapes. 151 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 2: It's like, it's all pretty pretty bad situation. 152 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: Really. 153 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 3: Well, we were doing about smoking yesterday. 154 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 4: And years ago, years and years ago. I mean smoking 155 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 4: was a significant problem in high schools and it's gone now. Yeah, 156 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 4: when our dad's gone. I can't even remember the last 157 00:08:55,720 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 4: smoking incident I dealt with. Because people the couples. 158 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 3: Things that happened, wasn't it that they regulated? They've introduced. 159 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 4: Policies around providing people with real information. When I was young, 160 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 4: people didn't know about smoking, we didn't take it particularly seriously. 161 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 4: And then of course they've put in legislation to change 162 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 4: the dynamic of this product being solved as easily as 163 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 4: it was in the past. 164 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 3: So it's really. 165 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,839 Speaker 4: About Yeah, a lot of people are thinking, oh, this 166 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 4: is a safe alternative to smoking. Well, it's not safe. 167 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 4: It was designed to get people off a drug, and 168 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 4: now it's become a drug within itself and that has 169 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 4: to be dealt with. 170 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree, and we don't want our kids getting 171 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 2: their hands on these vapes. 172 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,319 Speaker 1: Marcus. Really good to talk to you this morning. 173 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 2: I appreciate you having a chat to us and letting 174 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 2: us know what Dale Middle School is doing to, you know, 175 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 2: to try and reduce vaping within the school. 176 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 4: One last thing, Yeah, sure, So you know, look, I'm 177 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 4: in advocacy for the young people in the NY territory 178 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 4: and I want them people in the Norn territory and 179 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 4: know that there is a small minority of kids that 180 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 4: we don't want this minority to grow. The students that 181 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 4: had to come to this school, and Northern Territory schools 182 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 4: in the whole are beautiful souls and their adolescents and 183 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 4: it's a difficult space and time for them as they 184 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 4: develop into young people. But I can assure you I've 185 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 4: got total confidence in my student body and I see 186 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 4: some fine young people walking around Darwen, so I think 187 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 4: that needs to be the overall understanding in the community too. 188 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, good stuff. No, Look, I'm the parent, you know, 189 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 2: of a of a twelve year old and a ten 190 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 2: year old, and I am that sports and different events 191 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 2: with our young people very often. And I agree there's 192 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 2: so many great young Territorians. There is no doubt about that. 193 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 2: And there are future there the way forward there is 194 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 2: and it's bright. Our future is bright. 195 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 3: It is, indeed, it's very bright. 196 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 4: I'm very confident we've got lovely people here. 197 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. Oh Marcus, good to chat with you this morning. 198 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:00,959 Speaker 2: I really appreciate your time. 199 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 3: All right, you have a great day you too. 200 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: Thank you.