Kids Making Choices

Kids Making Choices is an art based early intervention crime prevention program, offered to Year 6 classes with a high component of CALD background across the Illawarra. The workshop based program is held with six priority schools per year, at the Wollongong PCYC. The day explores concepts around self esteem, personal values, peer pressue, setting goals and the consequences of positive and negative choices. The day also includes a halal barbeque and a popular sports session with local Police Youth Liaison Officers.

Objectives of Kids Making Choices workshops:

• to assist and enable CALD young people to understand and explore values that are important to them and society
• to explore concepts around positive and negative choices, self esteem and peer pressue
• to develop personal competencies for the transition to high school, particularly how to deal with peer pressue
• to learn to communicate effectively and set personal goals
• to use values and character strengths to make positive choices.

Program Description:

The approach adopted by focuses on raising young people's awareness of the importance of developing personal values, competencies and character strengths that will empower them to understand and consider alternatives to a variety of situations.

The two day workshops are structured as follows:

• A two part behavioural workshop which focuses on the importance of developing values, self esteem, positive habits, living by principles and setting goals
• A two part discussion, role play and photography workshop to enable CALD youth to express artistically their understanding of peer pressue, positive and negative choices and their consequences.
• Sports activities facilitated by PCYC staff. An indoor gym circuit course and dodgeball give young people the opportunity to work as part of a team and develop strategies to achieve goals, along with an opportunity to bond and interact in a positive framework with local YLO Police Officers.

Outcomes of the program:

• Students will be aware of skills such as being proactive, understading the importance of developing good habits, learning to set goals and to prioritise, learning how to use these skills in a school environment, with friends and at home
• Students develop an increase ability to recognise and express the issues and values that are important to them
• Students understand the importance of making positive choices and taking decisions based on those values that are relevant to them and society.

For more information on the program, contact:

    Sarah Chisholm
    Project Coordinator
    Phone: (02) 4229 7566
    Email: sarah@iecc.org.au