1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: It's the Happy Families podcast. 2 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 2: It's the podcast for the time pauor parent who just answers. 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,119 Speaker 3: Now today somebody that I'm just delighted to talk with 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 3: again on the podcast. He's been on The Happy Family's 5 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 3: podcast a couple of times now. 6 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: Paul Dylan. 7 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 3: He is an author, an education consultant. He is also 8 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 3: the Director of Data, Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia. 9 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 3: Paul has been speaking to I don't know, something like 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 3: seven hundred bajillion kids and parents and educators on an 11 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 3: every day, every year basis. I don't know any speaker 12 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 3: in Australia who has booked out as much as Paul Dylan. 13 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 3: And he's kindly taken a little bit of time to 14 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 3: have a chat with us today because school is just 15 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 3: around the corner. Paul, you've got a bit of a 16 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 3: frog in your throat, it some long COVID and you're 17 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 3: not one hundred percent, so really appreciate that you've taken 18 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 3: some time to have a chat about something that a 19 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 3: lot of parents of school leaders are starting to get 20 00:00:57,920 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 3: little bit worried about right now. 21 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 2: Justin thank you very much for inviting me to be 22 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 2: a part of it again. And yeah, unfortunately have long 23 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 2: COVID where I'm not breathing the best and I've obvious 24 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: throat in fiction, So apologies to anyone listening. It does 25 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:13,119 Speaker 2: sound sound a little bit like a mixed between Rod 26 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 2: Stewart and Brenda Acaro. At the moment, it's not a 27 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 2: particularly pleasant sound. 28 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 3: Well, we talked about changing the time, but you insisted 29 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 3: that we should do it today and I'm grateful. So 30 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 3: at the moment a year twelve wrapping up. We're in 31 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 3: the early part of November. We've got kids that are 32 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,320 Speaker 3: heading off to schoolies in the next couple of weeks. 33 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 3: It's only just around the corner now Gold Coast, Victor 34 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 3: Harbor and South Australia. In WA it's called the Lever's 35 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 3: Party or the Leaver's Time. I've got a daughter who's 36 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 3: doing Year. 37 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: Twelve right now. She's thinking about going to Barley with 38 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: a couple of friends. 39 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 3: I have reservations about that, Paul, and so I just 40 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 3: want to have a chat with you about the general 41 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 3: school is vibe. You've been to schools a few times 42 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 3: as an older observer and have participated in some of 43 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 3: the organizational aspects of it. 44 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: What would you think because the media hypes it up right. 45 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 3: The media says schoolies is a couple of weeks of 46 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 3: year twelve school leaders, debauchery and drunkenness, and anything that 47 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 3: you can imagine going wrong will go wrong. What's your 48 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 3: experience and would you agree with that general media hype. 49 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 4: Well, I've been to quite a few schoolers events over 50 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 4: the years. Recently. 51 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 2: I think I went to the Gold Coast one in 52 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 2: twenty nineteen just before COVID, and I went to the 53 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 2: Victor Harville, and I think in maybe twenty sixteen, the 54 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 2: other ones a little bit long ago. But look, in 55 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 2: my experience, I find I've found them to be incredibly 56 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 2: well organized. Young people are out to absolutely have a 57 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 2: good time. But did I see incredibly poor drunken behavior 58 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,399 Speaker 2: and kids lying around in gutters and fights and things 59 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 2: like that. Absolutely not. No, that doesn't mean that doesn't happen. 60 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 2: Of course, those kind of stories, and we have had 61 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 2: some tragedies occur over over the years at schools events, 62 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 2: But for the most part, I think these are very 63 00:02:56,639 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 2: well organized. And if young people go to those well 64 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 2: organized ends, those ones that like the Gold Coast one, 65 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 2: for example, Victor Harbor in Wa, it's Bustleton, they actually 66 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 2: have a really good time, and I think parents for 67 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 2: the most part, can be fairly. 68 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,639 Speaker 4: Confident that their kids are as safe as possible. 69 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 3: I think that this distinction is probably pretty important for 70 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 3: most parents. I know that Barley's becoming increasingly popular. Before 71 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 3: we chatted on the podcast just now, you were mentioning 72 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 3: Fiji is really becoming quite popular for Sydney siders and 73 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,839 Speaker 3: maybe those in Melbourne as well. And Byron Bay has 74 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 3: obviously started to really escalate in the last few years 75 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 3: with Byron Bays and just the hype around the place. 76 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 3: They're not all organized and there's a lot of stuff 77 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 3: that happens even on the Gold Coast, Victor Harbor, Buston, wherever, 78 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 3: where there are kids that are doing stuff not at 79 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 3: the organized activities. And your real specialty is alcohol, and 80 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 3: are the drugs The risks that kids are facing, I 81 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 3: presume are essentially going to be drug related. 82 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 2: That reasonable certainly alcohol related, I mean that's really what 83 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 2: it is. Other drugs certainly come into it for some 84 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 2: young people, but the vast majority it is alcohol that 85 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: is the most significant issue because I mean many of 86 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 2: them will be eighteen and certainly they can access alcohol 87 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 2: if they don't access if they can't access it themselves, 88 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 2: quite often the parents are providing it to them. So 89 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 2: alcohol is the absolutely number one. Look the last couple 90 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 2: of school with events I went to, certainly it was 91 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 2: obvious that there was more illisted drug use than I. 92 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 4: Had seen in the previous years. 93 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 2: Certainly not completely kind of crazy, and you know, you 94 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 2: weren't seeing open drug markets and in the middle of 95 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 2: the street or anything like that. I think what we 96 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 2: have to remember is that young people are their adolescents. 97 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: Their brains are wide in a different way. They don't 98 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: always make the best decisions, and what's happening is they're 99 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 2: all kind of a mass in this one place, and yeah, 100 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 2: things can go wrong, bad decisions can be made, But 101 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 2: I think it all really comes down to the foundations 102 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 2: that parents have set years and years before when it 103 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 2: comes to these kinds of situations. If they have good, 104 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,239 Speaker 2: strong family values they have you know, a young person 105 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 2: is not going to all of a sudden make a 106 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: decision to take in the legal drug if it's just 107 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 2: not in them to do that. But certainly those young 108 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 2: people who want to do that are going to be 109 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 2: able to access them in these environments. 110 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 4: I think the real concern. 111 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 2: About school is that has occurred over the recent times 112 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 2: is this move to for some reason to transport your 113 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 2: child to another country. 114 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 4: I mean, that is just beyond me. 115 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 2: I mean, why would you think that it would be 116 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: a good idea for school leavns to go to a 117 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 2: place like Bali. Fiji is exactly the same. These are 118 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 2: once again very much organized events. They go into a 119 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 2: resort and it's just massive. Young people are kept in 120 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 2: a resort in Fiji and then Balley they kind of 121 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 2: go wild around Koter. Yeah, this whole notion of parents 122 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 2: thinking that somehow that is safer than the Gold Coast, 123 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: and that is certainly one of the reasons why parents 124 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 2: started sending their kids to Fiji. They didn't want to 125 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: send them to the Gold Coast. They perceived that as 126 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 2: far more dangerous and it was kind of like have 127 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 2: you been there? You know, all they're seeing is the 128 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 2: media and not realizing that actually it is a very 129 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 2: well controlled event. 130 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. 131 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 3: So I've got my third daughter finishing year twelve just now, 132 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 3: and she's still up in the air about whether or 133 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 3: not to go with a few of her friends. 134 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: They're going to Balley. 135 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 3: The prices are astronomical now, and I don't think she's 136 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 3: going to be there, but we're having these ongoing conversations. 137 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: We'd rather stay here for a. 138 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 3: Host of reasons, but primarily if something were to go wrong, 139 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 3: and I know the odds are fairly low, but if 140 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 3: something were to go wrong, we would much rather have 141 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 3: access to Australian health resources, but also the safety resources 142 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 3: that around us, in terms of policing and in terms 143 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 3: of the way the Australian system is set up. So 144 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 3: we're having that conversation, I reckon I think that we 145 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 3: probably need to highlight a couple of other things. The 146 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 3: first is that my read of the data, and you're 147 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 3: in the data more than I am in this particular area, Paul, 148 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 3: but my read of the data is that adolescents in 149 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 3: Australia are consuming less alcohol than they ever had before, 150 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 3: and also less less of drugs than they have had before. 151 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 3: With a couple of little exceptions and bumps here and there, 152 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 3: but primarily, our kids are making safer, healthier choices than 153 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 3: any generation previous, and they're also less likely to be 154 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 3: involved in sexual activity at lower rates than they ever 155 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 3: had before. You seen that in the data and would 156 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 3: you say that that should give parents any sort of 157 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 3: comfort or do you think that it really it's just 158 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 3: there's more to. 159 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: It than that. 160 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 2: Well, I think our problem with data at the moment 161 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 2: is that COVID has delayed a lot of the normal 162 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 2: data that we would see most brains school based young people. 163 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 2: We have it. So they called the ASSEID SERVE the 164 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 2: Australian Secondary School Act on Drug Survey. The last one 165 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 2: that was conducted was twenty seventeen and released in twenty eighteen. 166 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 2: There was going to be twenty twenty data, but of 167 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 2: course because of COVID, it wasn't collected. 168 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 4: The twenty twenty two. 169 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 2: Data has now been collected and hopefully I would imagine 170 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 2: they're going to rush it out very very quickly. I 171 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 2: can't imagine they're going to hold it for very long, 172 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 2: and so it'll be really interesting to see what has 173 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 2: happened in that five year period. Certainly in terms of 174 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:31,239 Speaker 2: what I have seen, I'm certainly going back into schools 175 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 2: this year and speaking to the kids face to face 176 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 2: instead of online. We're still seeing the alcohol trend I 177 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 2: believe going down. I think we will be pleasantly surprised 178 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 2: with that. I can't imagine that it would have gone 179 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 2: back up. It's certainly not what I'm seeing When it 180 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 2: comes to a list of drugs, though, it's going to 181 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 2: be very very interesting because of course the drugs that 182 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 2: you said were a bit of a blip with the 183 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 2: drugs that you tend to use when you're socializing, so ecstasy, 184 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 2: for example, MDMA, cocaine to some extent in the wider population. 185 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 2: For two and a half years, these kids really haven't 186 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 2: been able to socialize. They certainly haven't been to nightclubs 187 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 2: or music festivals or things like that. So it's going 188 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 2: to be very interesting to see what happens there whether 189 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 2: you are going to see that increase. What I think 190 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 2: we have to remember though, is that socializing has certainly 191 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 2: changed over the through COVID, and that's where young people 192 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 2: are more lightly to drink alcohol or use other drugs. 193 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 2: And of course, when you're talking about the class of 194 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two that in some states, particularly WA and 195 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 2: South Australia have had it harder than in previous years. 196 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 2: I mean, they really weren't affected in Class of twenty 197 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 2: twenty to Class of twenty twenty one, the class of 198 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two had it really tough year ten, year 199 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 2: eleven and year twelve, and they beginning of the year 200 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 2: for those two states, who's really tough, really tough. So 201 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,559 Speaker 2: I think this is a class a cohort that it's 202 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 2: going to be very interesting to see how they celebrate 203 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 2: at schoolings. Are they really going to significantly let their 204 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 2: hair down? Last year's school has occurred, but realistic a 205 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 2: lot of kids didn't go. 206 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: Yeah alone number this year. 207 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 4: But I think what will happen is you're going to see. 208 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 2: But that said, you know, I was in South Australia 209 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 2: this week and I always say how many of you 210 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 2: are going to the schools festival? And it was about 211 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 2: half of each cohort. Now that's down on what has 212 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,199 Speaker 2: been previously and when I'm going to school. When I 213 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 2: went to schools across New South Wales asking them all Queensland, 214 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 2: Queensland is always almost all of them because of the 215 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 2: Gold Coast event which is so well organized. But in 216 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 2: New South Wales once again it was around that half 217 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 2: a lot of them weren't going. 218 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:41,199 Speaker 4: And if they are. 219 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 2: Doing anything, they're doing it kind of in small groups 220 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: somewhere by themselves. So it'll be very interesting to see 221 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 2: the numbers. But I do believe that those who want 222 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 2: to go and want to go to specific places can 223 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 2: often tell what your kid's going to do or what 224 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 2: they want to get up to b where they. 225 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 4: Asked to go. 226 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 2: Because, to be quite honest, if you're asking to go 227 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 2: to Bali, you want a very specific type of holiday. 228 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 2: You want to be away from mum and dad as 229 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 2: far as humanly possible, and yeah, it's. 230 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 4: A drinking holiday, Ballei. 231 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 2: To be honest, I mean if you look at most 232 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 2: young people who are going, you speak to the red 233 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 2: frogs who go there for Bali, they say it's a 234 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 2: very different culture than the ones who would go to say, 235 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 2: for example, the Gold Coast or Barron. 236 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: This is doctor Justin Courson. I'm here with Paul Dylan. 237 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 3: He's a professional speaker at the head of data and 238 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 3: somebody who knows more about what our kids are getting 239 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 3: up to when it comes to alcohol and other drugs 240 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 3: than pretty much anybody in the nation, if not the planet. Paul, kids, 241 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 3: whether it's fifty percent or seventy percent or thirty percent, 242 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 3: there's going to be a whole lot of them at 243 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 3: schools this year. Probably the biggest school is that we've 244 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 3: had in a few years as a result of the 245 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 3: bounce back from the COVID restrictions. 246 00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 1: If parents have got. 247 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 3: Kids that are thinking of heading away of the organized 248 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 3: activities or to their own activities somewhere smaller with a 249 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 3: small group of friends, what do you think the top 250 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:07,559 Speaker 3: three conversations are that we need to be having with them. 251 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 2: I always say the most important if you're worried about 252 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 2: if you're worried about them going. My number one question 253 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 2: I always say to parents you should ask your child 254 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 2: is tell me why I shouldn't be worried. It's a 255 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 2: really really, really really good question to ask young people 256 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 2: because it doesn't put them on the spot about what 257 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 2: are you going to do? Or I'm worried about you 258 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 2: doing this or worried about that. It's basically saying to them, okay, 259 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 2: I want you to think about it and give me 260 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 2: the reasons why I shouldn't be worried. And hopefully what 261 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 2: that does is it will it will encourage them to 262 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 2: kind of say, well, now my friends have been put 263 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 2: putting this and this and this into place, we have 264 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 2: thought through this. You know, that kind of question is 265 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 2: really really powerful and when I've tested that with kids 266 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 2: and said, well, what would you answer? 267 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 4: How would you answer that? With your parents? 268 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:58,840 Speaker 2: They come up with great answers. It's like, you know, 269 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 2: we will always have a designated person, you know, who 270 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 2: does not drink. We will make sure that you know, 271 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 2: we have a set amount of alcohol and we do 272 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 2: not drink anymore after that. We don't go and purchase 273 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,559 Speaker 2: more afterwards. Simple things like that that kids can come 274 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 2: up with, and it will lease parents' minds as well, 275 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 2: because you know, these kids are growing up, and to 276 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 2: be quite honest, school is is the last opportunity parents 277 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 2: will ever have to ask those kind of questions because 278 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 2: they're now, you know, they're now actually legally adults. And 279 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 2: to turn around and try to put restrictions on young 280 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 2: people when they're when when are older than eighteen. 281 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 4: Or over is really really hard. Now. 282 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 2: Of course, what happens in your home is actually you know, 283 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 2: you have your rules about what happens at home, and 284 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 2: if you want them to come home and not come 285 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 2: home drunk and blah blah blah blah blah. 286 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 4: Absolutely, to my mind, you actually have the right. 287 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 2: They could be thirty five years old. It's your rules 288 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 2: and your family I mean, my father has that and 289 00:13:54,840 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 2: I'm sixty two. But I think when it comes too 290 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 2: it's that perfect opportunity to have that very last conversation 291 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 2: about a whole range of issues and really putting it 292 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 2: onto their of how are you going to look after yourself? 293 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 2: Tell me why I shouldn't do well. 294 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 3: I'm just thinking about one or two other conversation pieces 295 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 3: that we might have with our kids. Something that strikes 296 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 3: me is, and I've had this with two of my 297 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 3: kids already, I'm about to have it with a third one, 298 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 3: and that is, if anything happens, just call me. Like 299 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 3: you could literally be in the worst situation ever, just 300 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 3: call me. Don't leave it to somebody else to ring, 301 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 3: don't leave it to your friends to get you out 302 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 3: of a situation. 303 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: Just call me and I'll work out what I can 304 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: do to help you. 305 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 4: I don't know, I said to young people. 306 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 2: Also, I think what's very important is that the whole 307 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 2: idea of school this is quite frightening for an awful 308 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 2: lot of parents. So I say to like, I'm going 309 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 2: to w a do a series of leavers talks that 310 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 2: I just talk about leavers with some of the year 311 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 2: twelves that I've met over the years, and you know, 312 00:14:58,240 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 2: one of my big things I say to that your 313 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 2: parents are scared, So you know what, just be a 314 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 2: really great kid for three or four days that you're away, 315 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 2: or have a long you're away for just make sure 316 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 2: you call them at least once a day, not a text, 317 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 2: just a quick call say look, everything's fine, I'm alive, 318 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 2: and that's all you need. Because that kind of stuff 319 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 2: really really cementsa creates it. I think if parents put 320 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 2: a rule in about saying I need you to call 321 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 2: me every day, all that kind of thumb work. That 322 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 2: kind of stuff is as you said, it's much more 323 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 2: about pushing down on kids. But I think to say 324 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 2: to kids, if you've got some of your your year 325 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,400 Speaker 2: twelves friends around, you know, say to them, just make 326 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 2: sure you call him my more dad at least once 327 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 2: a day, just so that they know you're fine. It's 328 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 2: a scary time. 329 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 4: Paul. 330 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 3: A great conversation, and I think a lot of parents 331 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 3: of your twelve kids will we appreciative of the things 332 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 3: that we've discussed today, the things that you've shared. Are 333 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 3: there any last words before we wrap this up? 334 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 4: Well, I think that the key is and I've already 335 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 4: said it is. 336 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 2: I think parents need to remember that offers them the 337 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 2: very last opportunity, realistically to have all of these conversations 338 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 2: about safety, because what school is does is it kind 339 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 2: of magnifies all of those safety issues that they're going 340 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 2: to be facing for the next I mean, any parent 341 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 2: who thinks that when they've left school and they've got through, 342 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 2: oh they've got to the end of it, it hasn't 343 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 2: even started. 344 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 4: I mean eighteen to twenty five. 345 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 2: It's a really scary kind of time, and this is 346 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 2: going to be your last opportunity as a parent to 347 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 2: kind of open this conversation and hopefully have that discussion 348 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 2: about safety in a way that is not emotionally charged, 349 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 2: but to kind of say, look, I love you, I 350 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 2: care about you, and we just want you to be safe, 351 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 2: and bad things can happen, but we put things into place, 352 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 2: we trust each other. You know, well, you can have 353 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 2: a great time, memorable time that will stay with you 354 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 2: for the rest. 355 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 4: Of your life. 356 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 3: Paul Dylan the founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training, 357 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 3: Australia data professional, speaker, former school teacher, author and a 358 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 3: guy who knows his stuff. What a great an important conversation. 359 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Paul, Thank you, Justin. 360 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 3: The Happy Families podcast is produced by Justin Roland from 361 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 3: Bridge Media and Craig Bruce is our executive producer. For 362 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 3: more info about the things we've talked about today, check 363 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:11,640 Speaker 3: out Paul's website. 364 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: You can just google Paul. 365 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 3: We'll link to him in the show notes, and you'll 366 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 3: also be able to find out where he's giving talks 367 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 3: for school students, parents, teachers and everyone else right around 368 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,439 Speaker 3: the nation. We'll link to all of that, and if 369 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:24,920 Speaker 3: you'd like more information about making your family happier, visit 370 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 3: us at happy families dot com dot au.