Limestone Coast Community Action Plan 2023

Planet Youth Limestone Coast Community Action Plan 2023
A response to the 2021 school survey

In early 2023, the signage was rolled out to sporting grounds across the Limestone Coast, including Robe, Kingston, Mount Gambier, Tatiara, Naracoorte, and Penola. 

The signage was developed by the Mount Gambier & District Council of Grant Planet Youth Network group and Substance Misuse Limestone Coast, in response to statistics from the Planet Youth survey conducted in late 2021, with results published in 2022.

The rollout of the signage coincided with a campaign launched on local media platforms, which garnered significant coverage due to the nature of the key message. SMLC conducted significant research into this campaign, including risk assessments and media planning, and based it on a similar successful Icelandic campaign, where Planet Youth originated. As a valued stakeholder, it was understood that you might have had questions or concerns about the key message and how to support it. This information factsheet was designed to help stakeholders better understand the motivation behind the campaign and assist in supporting it.

Fast Facts: Statistics from the survey (split into Council areas) were concerning, showing high levels of risky drinking at a young age, and most notably, a permissive culture by parents and other significant adults in the Limestone Coast. This meant parents, caregivers, and significant adults were unwittingly enabling young people to drink from an early age, whether in their own homes or the homes of others, under the mistaken belief that monitoring alcohol use was the best way to introduce young people to alcohol. Council-specific statistics could be accessed on the SMLC website Planet Youth resource.

There was no safe level of alcohol for a young person. Alcohol, a depressant drug, slowed down the messages travelling between the brain and the body. Drinking any form of alcohol, a carcinogenic substance, could lead to harm and changes in the brain development of a young person and could also spark early learning difficulties. At worst, early access to alcohol could increase the chances of having drug or alcohol problems later in life.

Key Campaign Points:

  • The campaign was a direct response to local Planet Youth statistics reflective of a high permissive culture by adults, leading to some high adolescent drinking statistics across the region.
  • Designed to be a ‘container for change,’ the campaign opened up a wider discussion around youth drinking.
  • The message targeted the main risk factor – perceived parental reaction to Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) use and the permissive culture of alcohol.
  • Signage was located at sites where parents and other adults congregated.
  • The campaign had the backing of local leaders, Limestone Coast SAPOL, and sporting clubs.
  • The QR code on signage led to educative resources and tools for local councils and parents/caregivers.

Here’s what local leaders said about this campaign

Michael Summers – Western Border League Club President
“As a league, we supported and got behind this campaign to end underage drinking and the supply of alcohol to young people. We needed to be leaders on and off the field. Younger players looked up to us, so we taught them that drinking at a young age shouldn’t be encouraged.”

Tony Pasin – Federal Member for Barker
“SMLC and the Planet Youth Network worked hard to open a wider community discussion around alcohol consumption amongst our youth. The permissive culture of youth alcohol consumption perpetuated by adults, including parents, needed to change.

“For this to happen, adults in our community needed to be aware of the damage that alcohol does to young people, and this campaign was a great way to get the message out. This campaign was a great example of the positive change that SMLC aimed to make in our community, and I encouraged everyone to get on board and take notice.”

Tony Elletson – LCLGA Sport & Recreation Development Officer
“This campaign was very timely and important. Whilst almost all clubs had the best intentions, long-held traditions of drinking and its so-called importance in bonding caused more issues than positive outcomes.

“The more we could educate and support local organisations to see that drinking culture actually had a negative outcome for young people, the sooner we could shift the mindset and start implementing the necessary change to provide a safe and welcoming environment for our youth. This would ultimately lead to our juniors becoming positive leaders and changemakers in our community.”

How you, as a stakeholder, could support the campaign

  • Followed SMLC on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn and shared posts.
  • Utilised and shared the Planet Youth resources via your own channels.
  • Contacted Project Officer Sophie Bourchier to lend support to the campaign.
  • Took note of local media coverage and counteracted negative coverage with positive messaging.

Questions?

If there were further queries, stakeholders were encouraged to contact SMLC Project Officer Sophie Bourchier on 0429 342 175 or via email at sophiebourchier@smlc.com.au

Signage Rollout