Right:Sergeant David Sheppard, manager of Family Violence Unit Cranbourne police, was one of the panelists at Cranbourne Secondary College’s domestic voilence forum. 66811 Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Bridget Cook
CRANBOURNE Secondary College has been teaching students how to tackle issues that they could be faced with in the future.
Last month, the school held a “Living without violence’ forum for its 290 Year 10 and Year 11 VCAL levels, based on the issue of domestic violence.
Nine panel members from a number of related organisations spoke to the students, answered their questions, and raised hypothetical situations to explain what domestic violence is and how it is dealt with from all aspects.
The panel included representatives from organisations including Cranbourne police, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court, Department of Human Services and WAYSS – Domestic Violence Outreach Program and an emergency department nurse.
Cranbourne Secondary College student wellbeing co-ordinator Jan McAleese said they presented two scenarios to the panel, and then each member explained their role and the actions that would be taken in the situation.
“This is a sensitive topic,” she said.
“Despite the heavy duty content and nature of this subject, the response and level of interest maintained throughout the two-hour presentation, it was clearly very informative and successful.
“Feedback from students and staff has been tremendous.
“It was a worth while activity that we will certainly consider running again.”
