01 - Department of Education and Communities - NSW Government

PARTNERSHIPS IN PUBLIC EDUCATIONOne of the main activities of theNSWSRC for 1997 was school andcommunity involvement programswith an emphasis on actions tocounter violence.A state SRC conference DrugsExist, Know the Risk was held inAugust. The object was to makesure students were armed withenough information to run theirown education seminars for theirpeers in the 40 school districts. Thestudents worked with DSE andother drug education officers todevelop new education strategieswhich can be used in NSW highschools.The NSWSRC was involved indepartmental initiatives including:• school attendance and the roleof the home liaison officers• child protection• the middle years of schoolingproject• school canteen guidelines• anti-violence programs.The NSWSRC expanded its rolewith government and nongovernmentdepartments and wasinvolved in consultation with:• the Kids’ Helpline• the Australia Day CouncilYouth Committee• the Federation of Parents andCitizens Association• the Civics and Citizenshipbenchmark project• the NSW Committee onUnderage Drinking from theDepartment of Gaming andRacing• the Youth Liaison Officer, NSWOmbudsman.Minister’s Awards forExcellence in StudentAchievementThe Minister’s Awards forExcellence in Student Achievementhonour outstanding students as theygraduate from Year 12. The Awardsacknowledge achievements in awide range of student endeavours.In 1997 33 students fromthroughout the state received theaward for a wide range ofacademic, sporting, leadership,cultural and communityachievements.The 1997 recipients were:• Danelle Ayers, Eden MarineTechnology HS• Luke Baitch, Bathurst HS• Charmaine Benefield, Macintrye HS• Simon Bird, West Wallsend HS• Jade Bond, Bulli High HS• Michael Brennan, Monaro HS• Allison Brien, Grantham HS• Shane Butcher, Bidwill HS• Mark Butlin, Alstonville HS• Celia Carrol, Sydney Girls HS• Andrew Carter, Courallie HS• Karen Crawley, St George Girls HS• Ryan Crompton, Forster HS• Alison Fletcher, Kingscliff HS• Sarsha Gorissen, Tumut HS• Kim Greenway, Sydney SecondaryDistance Education• Alison Hicks, Whitebridge HS• Emma Jamieson, Kooringal HS• Samantha Kerslake, Cromer HS• Naomi Lang, South Grafton HS• Belinda Mercer, Mountview HS• Gregory Noonan, Wee Waa HS• Nathan Pedretti, Broken Hill HS• Karen Ngar Lee Quan, James Ruse HS• Kirsty Reid, Kiama HS• Tracey Richardson, Shoalhaven HS• Davina Rooney, Hornsby Girls HS• Tim Scott, Kelso HS• Connie Stuck, Casino HS• Harry J Vaneris, Randwick Boys HS• Scott Wallace, Canowindra HS• Catharine Williams, Canobolas RuralTechnology HS• Matthew Zadow, Kooringal HS❝Because students who know their peers’viewpoints are taken seriously and they’relistened to, there’s a sense of well beingthat carries to the whole school❞Christine Taylor, PrincipalCammeray Public School.Percentage of Schools with StudentRepresentative Councils or SchoolParliaments1995 1996 1997Primary Schools 61% 68% 68%Central Schools 88% 86% 95%High Schools 96% 97% 97%Schools for SpecificPurposes 9% 11% 13%All schools 61% 71% 72%DSE Annual Report 1997 57